Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ dinner with my husband, steamed egg: Cham

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch: location and hours

Cham Dwaejitgan (참돼짓간) Jongno Main Branch is at 1-89 Piccadilly Plus CGV 1F, 1 Donhwamun-ro 5ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea, and it is open daily 12:00-23:00. I'm not sure whether the restaurant has its own parking, so I'd suggest using a nearby car park.

Why we picked a pork belly place near Jongno 3-ga Station

We had to stop by a gold and silver shop, so my husband and I came to the Jongno 3-ga Station area for the first time in a while~ By the time we finished, it was already dinner time, so we naturally started looking for something to eat. We were both craving meat that day, so I searched for the best pork belly places in Jongno!! While reading reviews, one place caught my eye: Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch..!!

How long is the dinner wait at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch?

When we arrived for dinner there was a line, and we got in after waiting about 20 minutes. Just as expected, it was pretty crowded, and since people were already waiting out front, we signed up for the waitlist right away~

While we waited, I noticed all kinds of customers, from solo diners to groups of friends and big parties. It seems like a lot of people seek this place out as a go-to pork belly spot in Jongno 3-ga.

Atmosphere and seating

The inside of Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch was bigger and cleaner than I expected. The tables weren't cramped, and it looked like a fine spot for an evening get-together.

The staff were friendly in guiding us, so even though it was our first visit, we could eat comfortably. Our table was tidy too, so we sat down in a good mood. If atmosphere matters to you when choosing a pork belly place near Jongno 3-ga Station, this should work well.

Ordering pork belly and neck, and the basic table setting

We were really hungry, so we ordered pork belly and pork neck (moksal) as soon as we sat down, and the meat was ready quickly after we ordered. I think waiting made us even hungrier, and we just stared at the door for the meat... (so hungry...!!)

It wasn't just the meat. The side dishes that came with it were varied too, which I liked~ As a proper Jongno pork belly spot, even the basic setup was pretty generous!!

Pork belly grilled with water dropwort

At Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch, the meat came with assorted vegetables, pickled scallion salad and more, and the combination was great~ There was also water dropwort (minari, a fragrant leafy herb) that you can grill together with the meat. The aromatic minari and pork belly went together better than I expected :)

Instead of just eating plain meat, you can enjoy it in several ways. Wrapped in lettuce or paired with the side dishes, it tasted even more fragrant!!

How much is the meat at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch?

Meat at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch runs roughly ₩16,000-₩19,000, and on top of that, the staff grill it for you.. !! We ordered black pork belly and pork neck ~ !

Steamed egg with the meat

Steamed egg (gyeran-jjim) is a must with meat, so we ordered it along with the black pork belly. It came out with a bigger portion than I expected, which made me happy.

The texture was soft and fluffy, and eating it with the meat felt even richer~ After a spoonful of hot steamed egg, I felt like I could taste the meat better too.

Thin grilled potatoes, unlike other BBQ restaurants

What set Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch apart from other BBQ places was the thinly sliced potato. You grill it together with the meat, and it's quietly a real treat...!!!

Eating the golden grilled potato with the meat worked well. It's thin, so it's easy to eat without feeling heavy, and it's fun to use like a wrap~ A unique touch you only get at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch!

Why the wait made sense once we ate

The pork belly itself was tasty at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch, but I also liked how varied the accompaniments were. I liked that you can enjoy it in several combinations instead of just eating plain meat.

My husband said the meat was in good shape and was happy with it, and we both ate until we were full. After eating, I could kind of understand why there was a wait. Good places really do draw people in.

Good for dates, friend gatherings and company dinners?

We came as a dinner date, but Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch also looked fine for a friend get-together or a company dinner. The tables are roomy, and having the meat grilled for you is a plus, I'd say..?! Grilling meat yourself is such a hassle, right?

Would we return? And remote queuing

This time we mostly had pork belly and neck at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch, but now I'm curious about the other cuts..! There's a good variety of meat, so I'd like to try other menu items too.

I came looking for a pork belly place in Jongno 3-ga and my satisfaction was higher than expected. I plan to stop by again next time I'm in Jongno. If you're torn about where to eat pork belly in Jongno, Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch seems like a good choice.

There was a wait, but the food came out fast and overall we could eat comfortably. Remote queuing is also available in advance, so if you're looking for a pork belly place in Jongno 3-ga, how about Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch~?!