Songpa jokbal restaurant with flying fish roe rice balls: Narae Jokbal

Location and hours of Narae Jokbal Songpa Direct Branch

Narae Jokbal Songpa Direct Branch Address: 18 Baekjegobun-ro 45-gil, 1st floor, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea 317m from Songpanaru Station Exit 1 Hours: Daily 11:00 - 2:00 (next day) Group-friendly, takeout, delivery, reservations, baby chair

There are so many good restaurants in Jamsil's Songridan-gil, and I recently went to Narae Jokbal, a new jokbal spot that just opened. Narae Jokbal Songpa Direct Branch is right near the entrance to Songridan-gil's main street, so it was easy to find. Parking is tough around Songridan-gil, so I'd recommend using the nearby Songpa Women's Culture Center public parking lot.

A hip vibe that doesn't feel like a typical jokbal restaurant

Most jokbal restaurants tend to be old or plain-looking, but Narae Jokbal was hip in a way that didn't feel like a typical jokbal place at all — the interior was spacious, clean, and comfortable to eat in.

There were disposable aprons and a baby chair ready to go, so it seemed like a good place for families to eat out too.

How to order and what comes free

At this Songridan-gil favorite, Narae Jokbal, participating in a Naver review event gets you a free flying fish roe rice ball or drink, so keep that in mind if you're visiting. You order using the tablet at your table, and dining in gets you fresh fruit makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles), sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew), and even patbingsu (shaved ice dessert) all for free — it felt like such great value.

Domestic premium jokbal, small size — just right for two

We ordered the domestic premium jokbal small size and a flying fish roe rice ball. Vegetables, kimchi, and sauce to eat with the jokbal came out first — both the jokbal and the side dishes here were plated beautifully and neatly. There was also a self-serve bar in a corner of the restaurant where you could grab extra if you needed more, and it was kept incredibly clean.

After a short wait, our food came out. The premium jokbal small size had both tender collagen parts and lean meat, so you could eat whichever you preferred.

The jokbal was well-seasoned, with no gamy smell, and soft and chewy — really delicious. The premium jokbal small size was just the right amount for two people to eat until full.

I ate it with the kimchi that came alongside, and dipped it in the salted shrimp and various sauces too.

Free fresh fruit makguksu

This is the free fruit makguksu. Cold makguksu is a must with jokbal, and this one was made with blended fruit seasoning, so it was sweet and tangy and really tasty, with plenty of crunchy vegetables and a generous portion.

Eating the jokbal together with the makguksu cut through the richness, and the spicy kick was great.

Sundubu-jjigae and flying fish roe rice ball

Also free was the sundubu-jjigae, which had a hearty amount of soft tofu in it, and surprisingly it went well eaten together with the jokbal and the flying fish roe rice ball.

The flying fish roe rice ball came with disposable gloves so you could make it yourself — the popping texture of the flying fish roe was fun, and there was a generous amount to enjoy alongside the jokbal.

Finishing with old-style patbingsu

If you let the staff know ahead of time as you're finishing your meal, they'll make you a patbingsu. It was the old-school style I hadn't seen in a while, piled high with red beans, roasted bean powder, and cereal — cool, sweet, and great as a dessert. Getting both the meal and dessert taken care of in one place — nice 👍

To sum up

Narae Jokbal Songpa Direct Branch is a favorite on Songridan-gil. Since it just opened, the interior is stylish and clean, making it a good spot for a date, a family meal, or drinks with friends. The tender, soft jokbal with no gamy smell was delicious, and getting makguksu, sundubu-jjigae, and patbingsu all free on top of it made for a filling, great-value meal. There are also various affordable lunch specials, and since there's no break time and the hours are long, it's a good place to visit whether you want a meal or a drink. If you're looking for a good-vibe jokbal restaurant on Songridan-gil, give this place a try.