# Charcoal pork belly and bulgogi near Yangjae Citizen's Forest, Seoul - By Yunseul (https://superchart.com/en/@before-the-bill-3/) - Written Sep 8, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Seocho, Seoul - Sponsored: This review was written after receiving a complimentary meal from the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@before-the-bill-3/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@before-the-bill-3/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/index.md) ## In short Gamdol Yeontan Jip Yangjae Citizen's Forest Branch is a real-charcoal grill restaurant on Gangnam-daero 6-gil in Seocho, Seoul. The writer and friends ordered two servings each of salt-grilled pork belly and charcoal bulgogi with beer, then mixed rice into a rich doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) loaded with clams, crab, and fresh nutted parsley. With a retro interior, private rooms, and dedicated parking, it's a solid pick for group dinners or family gatherings. ## Good to know - **Ordered**: Charcoal bulgogi (2 servings), salt-grilled pork belly (2 servings), 1 bottle of beer, doenjang jjigae - **Basic side dishes**: Well-fermented napa cabbage kimchi, green onion kimchi - **Parking**: Dedicated parking behind the restaurant - **Seating**: Private rooms available - **Location**: 1F, 12 Gangnam-daero 6-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea *as written by the visitor on Sep 8, 2026* 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! ![First photo from visiting Gamdol Yeontan Jip Yangjae Citizen's Forest Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-01-6pvmm-900.webp) ![Atmosphere at charcoal grill restaurant Gamdol Yeontan Jip](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-02-1kyl4-900.webp) 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)♡⃛ ![Gamdol Yeontan Jip signboard](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-03-778hm-900.webp) 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! ![Exterior of Gamdol Yeontan Jip seen from the alley entrance](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-04-4rqo8-900.webp) ![Retro exterior of Gamdol Yeontan Jip](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-05-13sx5-900.webp) ## 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! ![The alley and entrance in front of the restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-06-lr8i8-900.webp) 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. ![Real charcoal grill placed on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-07-8ehro-900.webp) First, we picked the popular menu items. ![Table setting with ordered charcoal bulgogi and pork belly](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-08-1ifaw-900.webp) ![Plate of raw salt-grilled pork belly](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-09-xfjwv-900.webp) ![Plate of seasoned charcoal bulgogi meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-10-1irrc-m-900.webp) ![Meat placed on the charcoal grill](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-11-16wwg-900.webp) ![Pork belly cooking on the grill](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-12-1mvhu-900.webp) ![Close-up of meat grilling over charcoal heat](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-13-qwu19-900.webp) ![Table setup for charcoal grilling](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-14-182go-900.webp) ![Side dishes served alongside the meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-15-1o49q-900.webp) 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)✧ ![A bottle of beer ordered with the meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-16-167xn-900.webp) ![Basic side dishes of napa cabbage kimchi and green onion kimchi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-17-log8v-900.webp) ### 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. ![Salt-grilled pork belly cooked over charcoal](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-18-n4z3i-1200.webp) ## 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 🍻 ![Golden-brown grilled charcoal bulgogi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-19-pw8ga-900.webp) ![A piece of bulgogi with smoky charcoal flavor](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-20-o7q01-900.webp) ## 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! ![Thick doenjang jjigae with clams and crab](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-21-17pm2-900.webp) ![Doenjang jjigae served with a bowl of rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-22-1u5mt-900.webp) 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. ![Table at Gamdol Yeontan Jip after finishing the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-23-4b1r0-900.webp) ## 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! ![Retro interior atmosphere inside Gamdol Yeontan Jip](https://img.superchart.com/images/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi-24-85u8q-900.webp) 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! ## Where it is - Gamdol Yeontan Jip Yangjae Citizen's Forest Branch (감골연탄집 양재시민의숲점) - 1F, 12 Gangnam-daero 6-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 서초구 강남대로6길 12 1층 - 37.4673039, 127.041905 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EA%B0%90%EA%B3%A8%EC%97%B0%ED%83%84%EC%A7%91%20%EC%96%91%EC%9E%AC%EC%8B%9C%EB%AF%BC%EC%9D%98%EC%88%B2%EC%A0%90/@37.4673039,127.041905,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@before-the-bill-3/gamgol-yeontan-yangjae-samgyeopsal-bulgogi/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt