Seoul Korean BBQ with a self-serve kimchi bar in Jongno: Meongseokjip

The evenings have gotten a little cooler lately, perfect weather for outdoor BBQ (yajang), right? I just can't skip Jongno at a time like this ㅠㅠ when you think outdoor BBQ, you think Jongno!! haha. Today I was hanging out around Ikseon-dong and wanted grilled meat outdoors, so I went to Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch.

Jongno 3-ga is famous for its pojangmacha (street tents), but there are also tons of outdoor BBQ restaurants tucked into the alleys, and once the weather turns nice the whole vibe changes completely!

Where is Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch, and how do you walk there from Ikseon-dong?

Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch is at 7 Donhwamun-ro 11da-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, in an alley close to Jongno 3-ga Station. It's not far from the Ikseon-dong hanok street either.

Meongseokjip is a place where you can really feel that outdoor BBQ atmosphere while grilling meat — the outdoor seating and lively vibe seemed to be enjoyed by everyone, from young people to parents' age groups. A Jongno 3-ga BBQ spot that's easy to reach from Ikseon-dong👍🏻

So it's a great route for grabbing a coffee in Ikseon-dong first and then coming over for dinner, which is exactly how we visited haha. Explore Ikseon-dong during the day~~ then grill meat outdoors in the evening.

What is the outdoor yajang atmosphere like at Meongseokjip?

Meongseokjip isn't the quiet, calm kind of BBQ restaurant — it's closer to a bustling place full of people's chatter and the smell of meat grilling everywhere. Which actually suits Jongno perfectly><

A single grill pan sitting right on a green table.

At the next table, they're also grilling meat and having a soju or two. Exactly the Jongno outdoor-BBQ vibe you'd imagine.

Besides the outdoor seats, there are also indoor tables, so you can choose depending on the weather or how busy it is.

I've also used the indoor seating before, and it let me eat a bit more relaxed compared to outside.

Meongseokjip menu prices: skirt steak and aged pork belly at 18,000 won each

For our Meongseokjip order, we picked skirt steak (₩18,000) and aged pork belly (₩18,000). Looking at the menu, there's actually quite a variety of meat cuts.

• Meongseok Set ₩55,000
• Aged pork belly ₩18,000
• Skirt steak ₩18,000
• Pork jowl ₩19,000
• Flower collar meat ₩19,000
• Beef short rib meat ₩24,000
• Beef chuck flap ₩24,000

We ordered the skirt steak and pork belly!! The moment the meat hits the pan, the outdoor BBQ properly begins lol.

The skirt steak was nicely thick, so it had a good chew to it with each bite. I prefer not to overcook it, just browning the surface nicely, haha, that's my style.

Like in the photo, there's a moment when the meat cooks and the juices rise to the surface, and that's exactly when you should eat it haha. The pork belly was grilling alongside too. Actually, meat isn't the only thing being grilled here!!!

You have to grill kimchi and bean sprouts along with the meat, it's an unwritten rule. Anyway, trust me on this!!

Grilling self-serve bar kimchi, bean sprouts and garlic on the pan

Meongseokjip's self-serve bar has lettuce, kimchi, bean sprouts, and garlic, so you just take as much as you need haha. Honestly, this self-serve bar was my personal favorite part. Just take what you'll eat~~~

Especially the kimchi and bean sprouts — don't just eat them as side dishes, grill them on the pan too.

Once the pork belly starts releasing fat, lay the kimchi out along the side~ pile on the bean sprouts~ add the garlic too~ just looking at the photo makes me want to eat it again ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

Kimchi eaten plain and kimchi grilled on the pan taste completely different.

Kimchi with a bit of meat fat soaked in, eaten with a piece of skirt steak — the kind of taste that makes you crave soju. I had driven today so I passed ㅠㅠ

The grilled bean sprouts were also crunchy and a bit spicy, which paired really well with the meat haha. And it's so convenient that you don't need to call the staff every time a side dish runs out — you can just go grab more yourself~~

Pork kimchi stew and the other rice and stew dishes

It feels like something's missing if there's no soup while eating meat, right? So we added Meongseokjip's pork kimchi stew for ₩9,000!

It came out bubbling away in a stone pot. It kept boiling even while I was taking photos, so just looking at it felt warming.

After eating meat for a while, a spoonful of the kimchi stew broth totally reset my palate. We ordered extra rice to go with it too!

Besides the pork kimchi stew, the menu also had brisket soybean paste stew (₩7,000), kimchi fried rice (₩7,000), and steamed egg (₩5,000) haha. I saw quite a few reviews mentioning finishing off the meat with kimchi fried rice.

Drink prices at Meongseokjip: soju, beer and makgeolli

Looking at the fridge, it was fully stocked with soju, Terra beer, makgeolli, and soft drinks. Soju ₩5,000, beer ₩6,000, makgeolli ₩4,000, drinks ₩2,000.

A pretty date in Ikseon-dong is nice, but sometimes a relaxed date grilling meat outdoors like this is even more fun.

Weekend wait times and the 1 hour 30 minute limit at Meongseokjip

Looking at the bottom of the Meongseokjip menu, it said meal time is limited to 1 hour 30 minutes on weekends and holidays. As I was leaving, they were starting to take a waitlist. And since this place is known for its outdoor BBQ, it can get crowded on weekend evenings haha.

If you definitely want outdoor seating on a Friday or weekend evening, it's probably best to head over a little early.

Is Meongseokjip in Jongno 3-ga worth a visit?

It was a day I wanted to eat meat while soaking in that outdoor-BBQ feeling in Jongno, and I really got to enjoy the atmosphere fully. We grilled skirt steak and pork belly. Grabbed kimchi, bean sprouts, and garlic from the self-serve bar and piled the pan full. And finished off with a hot kimchi stew.

It was exactly the combination I wanted from a Jongno 3-ga BBQ restaurant ㅠㅠ. The vibe leans more toward loud and easygoing rather than a quiet, romantic setting.

So it worked well whether meeting up with friends or heading over for dinner after a date in Ikseon-dong. On cool evenings, outdoor BBQ is definitely more fun than an indoor place. Piling up loads of grilled kimchi and bean sprouts with the skirt steak is what stuck with me the most lol.