Jokbal restaurant in Jamsil Saenae for two: front-foot set, Manjok

I was trying to decide on dinner in Jamsil Saenae and suddenly wanted proper jokbal (braised pig's trotters) for the first time in a while, so I headed to Manjok Ohyang Jokbal Jamsil Sincheon Branch (만족오향족발 잠실신천점). Two of us went and ordered the jokbal set: a large jokbal plus tray cold noodles (쟁반막국수). The portion was generous, the jokbal was tender, and the whole lineup of sides was good, so we left full and happy. If you're looking for a jokbal place in Jamsil Saenae, it's worth a visit.

What are the atmosphere and service like at Manjok Ohyang Jokbal Jamsil Sincheon Branch?

Inside, it felt comfortable for a relaxed meal. Like at most jokbal places, some guests were having a drink with their food, and it looked fine for bigger groups too. The staff were friendly from ordering until the food arrived and looked after whatever we needed, so the meal started on a good note.

What's the difference between medium and large jokbal?

I was told that at Manjok Ohyang Jokbal Jamsil Sincheon Branch, the medium size uses the hind foot and the large size uses the front foot. Looking over the menu, we chose the set with large jokbal and tray cold noodles. There were only two of us, but we really wanted to eat jokbal properly, so we went big. Personally I prefer the front foot, so I picked the large without a second thought.

Side dishes and the free rice cake and dumpling soup

The side dishes were a good match for jokbal. It's tasty on its own, but with things like salted shrimp (saeu-jeot) or ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) you can mix up the combinations over one plate. The lighter sides also refreshed my palate between bites.

What I really liked here was the complimentary tteok-mandu-guk (rice cake and dumpling soup). When you order jokbal you sometimes want to add a cold or spicy soup, so getting a warm rice cake and dumpling soup by default is a great setup. It was as memorable as the jokbal itself.

You boil the soup at the table, so whenever I wanted some broth in the middle of the jokbal, I could take a spoonful. With rice cakes and dumplings in it, it felt like a proper side dish rather than a token freebie. Among Jamsil Saenae jokbal spots, getting warm soup like this is a real plus.

How does the large front-foot jokbal taste?

The large jokbal came out glossy and moist, sliced to a nice thickness. Seeing the big plate I'd been waiting for was satisfying already, and my chopsticks went straight in. Best of all, the tender texture that's the reason I love the front foot was definitely there.

The lean meat was moist rather than dry, and the skin was chewy, so they worked well together. Eaten warm, the flavor came through even better, and there was no off smell to worry about. It has a subtle, signature Manjok Ohyang flavor that isn't overly punchy, so you keep reaching for more.

With the front foot, it's fun to pick pieces with the right mix of lean meat, fat and skin. Since two of us ordered the large, there was plenty, and we enjoyed jokbal from start to finish. If you like tender jokbal like I do, going for the large and trying the front foot seems like a good idea.

How was the jokbal with tray cold noodles?

The tray cold noodles (jaengban makguksu) in the set had a sweet-and-sour sauce with vegetables, which made a fresh change between bites of jokbal. We ate the noodles after finishing a good amount of jokbal, and jokbal and makguksu really do go well together. The noodles are good alone, but putting a slice of jokbal on top gave a much richer taste.

After fully enjoying the tender, nutty jokbal, eating the noodles left my mouth clean, so I went back for more jokbal. If you want a Jamsil Saenae jokbal meal with a solid side too, the set with jokbal and tray cold noodles seems like a good fit.

Is it enough food for two people?

Two people eating large jokbal plus tray cold noodles was quite a feast. With the free rice cake and dumpling soup on top, the lineup never felt lacking. I liked being able to alternate between such different foods: jokbal, tangy noodles and warm soup.

It's good for a casual drink with a friend, and it looks fine as a meeting spot for a group sharing jokbal. On days when you want dinner and drinks in one place around Jamsil Saenae, this lineup suits it well.

Going back to Manjok Ohyang Jokbal Jamsil Sincheon Branch

Eating here confirmed once again that I prefer the front foot over the hind foot. I loved the moist, tender meat with the chewy skin, and the tray cold noodles kept me from getting tired of it until the end. If you're looking for a jokbal restaurant in Jamsil Saenae, the large front-foot size is worth choosing.

Beyond the jokbal itself, the tray cold noodles and the free rice cake and dumpling soup made the whole table very satisfying. The soup being included by default was a bigger plus than I expected, and the warm broth made the meal feel even more filling.

I went on a day when two of us wanted a hearty jokbal meal, and we enjoyed it fully. The tender front foot suited my taste, and the extras and friendly service were satisfying too. If you're weighing Jamsil Saenae jokbal options, keep Manjok Ohyang in mind for jokbal, cold noodles and warm soup all in one go.