Charcoal pork belly and bulgogi near Yangjae Citizen's Forest, Seoul

The weather's been so unsettled lately and I suddenly craved meat with that deep smoky charcoal flavor, so my friends and I went hunting for a proper charcoal-grill spot with real retro vibes!

I'd always wanted to find a place that gives you that real charcoal flavor, and I finally found the perfect spot (๑˙ꄃ˙๑)♡⃛

It's called Gamdol Yeontan Jip (감골연탄집), and I'd heard so much buzz about it before even going that my expectations were sky-high!

Getting there from Yangjae Citizen's Forest Station, and parking

It wasn't hard to find at all, and the retro-charm exterior caught my eye right from the entrance of the alley!

If you're driving, there's plenty of dedicated parking behind the restaurant, so I parked easily and headed in ( •̀ᴗ•́ )و♡ The moment I stepped inside, the nostalgic, old-school interior instantly grabbed my attention.

That retro vibe you rarely see these days was so charming! There are also private rooms set up for gatherings, which looked great for group visits.

The owner greeted us with such a bright smile that my mood improved the second I walked in ( •̀ω•́ )✧

Real charcoal fire, and what we ordered

The first thing I noticed as soon as I sat down was real charcoal! A lot of places these days use fake flames, but here they loaded up actual charcoal, and the heat was seriously intense.

First, we picked the popular menu items.

We ordered charcoal bulgogi for two and salt-grilled pork belly for two without any hesitation! We also got a cold bottle of beer to go with the meat, and the table was all set (๑•̀ㅁ•́๑)✧

Basic side dishes: grilled kimchi and green onion kimchi

The basic side dishes came out shortly after, and just looking at the kimchi told me it was going to be delicious! The well-fermented napa cabbage kimchi was so good that we threw it right on the grill and cooked it — combined with the savory fat, it was absolutely incredible ♡⃛

There was also sharp, spicy green onion kimchi with insane savory depth — a perfect match with the meat! You could tell from the basic side dishes alone that the owner has serious skill.

How the salt-grilled pork belly and charcoal bulgogi tasted

First they laid the salt-grilled pork belly on the scorching hot grill! Thanks to the intense heat, the surface of the meat got crispy while sealing in the juices perfectly (๑˙ꄃ˙๑)♡⃛

Taking a bite of the golden-brown pork belly, the outside was crispy and the inside was juicy, with savory flavor bursting with every chew! Wrapped with a bit of the grilled kimchi and green onion kimchi, it kept going down without a hint of greasiness.

Next we carefully grilled the charcoal bulgogi! That faint, distinctive charcoal smoky aroma spread through the whole piece of meat, and just the smell alone was driving me crazy. The sweet-savory yet spicy sauce had soaked deep into the meat — it was seriously a rice thief ( •̀ᴗ•́ )و♡

The moment I put a slightly charred, golden-brown piece of bulgogi in my mouth, the smoky flavor that spread through my whole mouth was beyond what I imagined! Paired with a cold, refreshing glass of beer, all my stress vanished instantly 🍻

Doenjang jjigae with clams and crab

And the dish that exceeded my expectations even more was the doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew)!

It's the kind of stew simmered down to a rich, thick broth, and the ingredients were amazing. It was packed with clams and crab, giving it a deep, refreshing seafood flavor, and it even had fragrant nutted parsley in it!

Scooping a spoonful of the thick broth and mixing it into rice, the savory, deep umami flavor hit hard ( •̀ω•́ )✧

It was on a whole different level from an ordinary stew you'd normally get — the flavor was so deep we scraped the pot clean to the last bite.

How was it as a spot for company dinners or family gatherings?

The deep smoky flavor from real charcoal, the exceptionally juicy meat, and the side dishes made with real care — everything about this place was perfect!

If you want to enjoy a special charcoal grill in a retro atmosphere, I definitely recommend visiting. I'm going back again soon for sure!