Jongno Korean BBQ with dog-friendly outdoor seats: Tapgol Gongwon

Heading to a Jongno 3-ga outdoor Korean BBQ spot behind Cheonggyecheon

On a cool evening with a nice breeze, I went to Cheonggyecheon and then spent ages wondering where to eat. I headed toward Jongno 3-ga, and the atmosphere on the street was already so exciting haha. It had been all over social media, so I visited with my expectations sky-high! Tucked into an alley with such a lively feel, it was fun to find, too ✨

It is near Jongno 3-ga Station, so it should be really easy to reach by subway and on foot. It is deep in a busy alley, but the bright sign made it easy to spot even on my first visit.

Even from the outside, it had that retro charm and outdoor tent-bar feeling, which got my heart racing.

• Address: 1F, 124 Supyo-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Jongno 3-ga)
• Parking: Nearby public parking is recommended
• Hours: Daily 17:00–01:00 (closing early the next morning)
• Dogs: There is no official information on whether pets are allowed, but I brought my dog because it is an outdoor seating area

A lively outdoor setting with closely packed tables

The restaurant is set up like an outdoor tent bar, with a cozy interior that brings back old-school memories.

The tables are closely arranged, making it bright and great for cheerful conversation. It was the perfect space to sit beside a friend and grill delicious meat haha ✨ With that lively outdoor atmosphere on top, it is also ideal for a company dinner or group gathering. Crazy good.

It is such a popular restaurant that we put our name down at the entrance and waited. After taking a little look around the nearby pocha (Korean drinking-stall) street, it was suddenly our turn. 🙋🏻🙋🏻 The owner kindly showed us to our table, so we could finish ordering in a great mood.

Choosing quick-frozen pork belly and flower-cut pork neck

Once seated, I carefully looked over the menu posted beside the table and chose what to eat!

There were so many premium meats and meal options that I spent a while deciding. The prices did not feel burdensome, and the menu was well put together, so it was easy to order without worrying about my wallet. ✨ From the signature quick-frozen pork belly to hearty stews and fried rice, there were so many choices. Just looking at the menu had my mouth watering already haha.

Sizzling Grade 1 female-pig quick-frozen pork belly

The Grade 1 female-pig quick-frozen pork belly, eye-catching from the start, finally arrived.

Fresh pork belly had been flash-frozen, so its juices and savory flavor were wonderfully intact 🩷 The moment it hit the grill, it sizzled and cooked quickly—I was impressed. It was tender, and the more I chewed, the more that nutty flavor spread through my mouth. I almost lost my mind haha.

Flash-frozen flower-cut pork neck that was not dry

The Grade 1 flash-frozen flower-cut pork neck that we ordered to try alongside the pork belly was amazing, too.

It had a good balance of fat and lean meat, so it was not dry at all and had an excellent tender texture ✨

A cold, crisp glass of beer cut right through the richness, making it a perfect match.

The meat quality was so good that I enjoyed every last piece without getting tired of it haha.

Finishing with kimchi fried rice and green-onion kimchi

As we were finishing the meat, I added some savory kimchi fried rice so the meal would not lose momentum.

Well-fermented kimchi and savory seaweed flakes came together with the spicy seasoning for a perfect finish 🥹

Eating it with green-onion kimchi added even more flavor, and I just could not put my spoon down 🥹

With green-onion kimchi, bracken fern, kimchi, and other banchan (Korean side dishes), I filled up properly on carbs too. It could not have been a more perfect dinner haha.

An outdoor dinner for friends, dates, and dogs

The meat flavor, generous portions, and lively outdoor atmosphere all came together perfectly. With excellent quality for the price, Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch is somewhere I can confidently recommend to people around me.

Enjoying delicious meat while feeling a bit of nostalgia amid the busy city was healing itself. It feels so satisfying to have had such a perfect, no-fail dinner for the first time in a while haha.

The next time I come to Jongno, I definitely want to return with good people. It is perfect for a friends' gathering and just right for a date, too. I loved coming with our dog, Ppu Ppu. Since it is an outdoor setup, those looking for somewhere to bring a dog should stop by. Neighbors, when cool weather makes you crave delicious meat at an outdoor tent bar, be sure to visit at least once. So good.

Dog-friendly outdoor pork belly at Tapgol Gongwon in Jongno 3-ga