Skin-on pork jowl at Samseong Jungang Korean BBQ: Gukbo Garden
In short
Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch is a premium hanwoo beef and Korean pork restaurant right outside Exit 3 of Samseong Jungang Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The skin-on pork jowl (kkeophangjeong) 160g is 31,000 won, pork neck 160g is 27,000 won and the hanwoo soft tofu stew is 13,000 won, all cooked at the table by grilling staff. The jowl was so good it was reordered after one bite, and the pork neck never turned dry or chalky.
Good to know
- Location
- Right outside Exit 3, Samseong Jungang Station (1F and 2F)
- Hours
- 11:30–23:00, open daily
- Break time
- 15:30–17:00
- Last order
- 22:00
- Pork neck
- 160g, 27,000 won
- Skin-on pork jowl
- 160g, 31,000 won
- Hanwoo soft tofu stew
- 13,000 won
- Seating
- Large main hall, private room for groups on 2F
- Service
- Tableside grilling by trained servers, ice cream for dessert
- Price reference
- ₩13,000 ≈ $9.6 (2026-09-15)
as written by the visitor on Sep 16, 2026
Today I'm introducing Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch, a premium hanwoo (Korean beef) and hanpork (Korean pork) specialist in Samseong-dong. Hours are 11:30–23:00, break time 15:30–17:00, last order 22:00, and it's open every day, no closed days.
Where is Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch, and do you need a reservation?
Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch is right in front of Exit 3 of Samseong Jungang Station. Ride the escalator up and you're literally right there.
The inside is huge.
It would've been a disaster if we hadn't booked ahead..! It was seriously packed. There's also a private room on the 2nd floor for group parties.
True to its reputation as a company-dinner mecca, they carry a wide range of drinks too.
What is on the menu at Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch?
Gukbo Garden's signature menu items are 1++ no.9-grade hanwoo and premium YBD-breed pork known for its rich juiciness — raw ribs and marinated ribs. The pork lineup includes seasoned marinated ribs, raw ribs, and raw pork neck, plus 'emperor' flower jowl and skin-on jowl. Hanwoo options span top-grade raw ribs, marinated ribs, salchisal (chuck flap), anchangsal (skirt), flower sirloin, raw rib meat, chadolbagi (brisket), and more.
They also have three hot-pot dishes that are apparently trending right now — 1++ hanwoo minari hot pot, hanpork belly kimchi hot pot, and zucchini gochujang hot pot — which sound great as drinking snacks too.
The banchan side dishes served with the meat
The basic side dishes come out generously too. For a side-dish addict like me, this was perfect, haha. Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), mul kimchi (watery kimchi), macaroni salad, seasoned crab, pickled onions, various pickles, mu-saengchae (radish salad), geotjeori (fresh kimchi), and 4 kinds of sauce.
What we ordered: skin-on pork jowl, pork neck and soft tofu stew
- Pork neck 160g ₩27,000
- Skin-on jowl 160g ₩31,000 × 2
- Hanwoo soft tofu stew ₩13,000
Tableside grilling service: the staff cook the meat for you
At Gukbo Garden Samsung Main Branch, every meat order comes with a dedicated grilling service. A skilled staff member grills it right in front of you, so there's no grease splatter and you can just relax and focus on eating. Great for family dinners with kids too!
Wow.. the staff member had golden hands! She grilled it so perfectly, haha.
She grilled the rest of the pork neck too.
Skin-on pork jowl 160g: the best pork jowl in Seoul
The skin-on jowl was legendary; maybe because of the breed's rich flavor and juiciness, even sliced this thin, the texture and taste were incredible.
Because it's pork jowl with the skin still attached, the chewy texture and the savory fat flavor are both maximized.
So.. good.. I think I'm going to be craving skin-on jowl from now on.
I tried it the way our server recommended — her best combo — and it was way better. Delicious with well-cooked green onion dipped in the oil-salt sauce, and just as good with namul (seasoned vegetables) and pickles.
I took one bite of the skin-on jowl and, haha, immediately ordered more.
Pork neck 160g: why this cut never tastes dry
So is the pork neck lacking in comparison? Definitely not. Because they use top 0.3%-grade cuts, there's none of that usual pork-neck dryness — the balance of lean meat and fat is excellent.
When grilled, the meat is packed with juice inside, so I really hope you try the raw pork neck too. If you've always disliked pork neck for being dry, come to Gukbo Garden. It might change your mind.
When drinking beer with your senior colleague, this is how you're supposed to do it, haha (apparently drinking it this way causes less bloating!).
Hanwoo soft tofu stew and the free ice cream dessert
We also ordered a rice dish partway through — I was torn because the doenjang (soybean paste) stew is supposedly the best, but I wanted something spicy so I switched to soft tofu stew. Hanwoo soft tofu stew, ₩13,000 — good enough to put dedicated soft tofu stew restaurants to shame. Since the meat here is so good, I figured the sides would be great too, and sure enough they were. The kind of taste that makes you polish off a whole bowl of rice.
After finishing, you can even have ice cream at the end. Dessert is on point too, really~ And it's not just plain ice cream — there's chocolate shell topping and fruit rings too. Ah, if only my office were closer, I'd want to have every work dinner here forever..!!
A premium dining space where top-grade meat and polished service come together to make you feel truly taken care of.
From the neat banchan spread to the meat grilled by an expert to the clean dessert finish, nothing here is missed. If you're looking for a good restaurant in Samseong-dong or a Korean BBQ spot near Samseong Jungang Station, be sure to visit 'Gukbo Garden' :)
Where it is
608 Samseong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1F, 2F)서울특별시 강남구 삼성로 608 1층, 2층
