Seoul Korean BBQ in Hapjeong, staff grill while you talk: Ijjok

What we ate at Ijjok Kimchi Samgyeopsal near Hapjeong Station

At Ijjok Kimchi Samgyeopsal (이쪽 김치삼겹살) near Hapjeong Station, I ordered 2 servings of pork belly, 1 serving of pork jowl, and a set that comes with steamed egg and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew). When I crave meat, pork belly is always the first thing that comes to mind, and what I liked here is that the staff grill the meat for you, so you can just relax and eat. This is the spread I had that day.

What's good about having staff grill the meat?

At Ijjok Kimchi Samgyeopsal, the staff grill the meat for you from the very start, so all you have to do is sit, wait and eat. At a BBQ place, tasty food matters, but when you have to grill it yourself, you're constantly flipping, cutting and making sure nothing burns, and it's hard to focus on the conversation, right? Here the staff do the grilling, so I could sit back comfortably and enjoy the meal. This kind of service feels especially convenient when you come with several people.

Two servings of pork belly: how was the taste?

The pork belly at Ijjok Kimchi Samgyeopsal came out golden on the outside and juicy inside. After our 2 servings of pork belly arrived, the staff grilled it to just the right doneness, and the nutty aroma rising as the meat cooked already had my appetite going. They also cut the golden pork belly into bite-size pieces, so there was nothing left for me to do and I could eat right away.

The rich, savory flavor of pork belly really came through. Because the staff grill it at the right moment, I didn't have to worry about it overcooking or burning, which was great. Taking a piece the moment it was perfectly done, I was reminded that freshly grilled meat is just delicious.

Kimchi and pork belly: the grilled kimchi combo

As the name suggests, the heart of Ijjok Kimchi Samgyeopsal is eating pork belly together with kimchi, and the staff grill the kimchi too. Pork belly with well-cooked kimchi is a great match: the richness of the meat blends with the tangy, spicy kimchi. In particular, the kimchi cuts the greasiness you'd feel from eating only meat, so I could keep going comfortably until the end.

Since the staff grilled not just the meat but the kimchi as well, I could eat even more comfortably. Picking up golden-cooked kimchi and pork belly together also goes well with rice or a drink. The two were far better together than eaten separately.

One serving of pork jowl: worth adding?

The pork jowl (hangjeongsal, the cut from the neck area) at Ijjok Kimchi Samgyeopsal has a chewy yet tender texture, which made it nice to alternate with the pork belly. The staff grilled the 1 serving of jowl too, and since the texture is clearly different from pork belly, I was glad we ordered them together. They grilled the jowl to a good state as well, so I could taste it right away.

The jowl got nuttier the more I chewed. If pork belly is moist and juicy, the jowl is chewier with a stronger savory flavor, so alternating between the two never got boring. It adds a different kind of fun from eating only pork belly, so if you love meat, adding the jowl seems like a good idea.

The steamed egg and doenjang jjigae that came with the set

The steamed egg (gyeran-jjim) in the set was warm and soft, and it went well with the meat. Taking a spoonful in the middle of all that meat, the soft, mild flavor made my mouth feel a lot more at ease. Meat and steamed egg really are a good pair.

And of course, there's the doenjang jjigae. When a warm doenjang jjigae comes along with the meat, the whole meal feels richer. The hearty stew went well with the meat, and it made for a filling finish to the meal.

Who is Ijjok Kimchi Samgyeopsal right for?

Ijjok Kimchi Samgyeopsal is a Korean BBQ place near Hapjeong Station that's especially convenient if you find grilling a hassle or aren't good at it, or if you're going with kids or a group. This time I ordered 2 servings of pork belly and 1 of pork jowl, plus the steamed egg and doenjang jjigae set, and I was happy to try several dishes together. Best of all, since the staff grill the meat from the start, I could eat comfortably and chat without worrying about the grilling.

What quietly matters at a BBQ restaurant is how well the meat gets grilled, and not having to do it myself definitely let me take a more leisurely meal. I could wait while the meat cooked and eat as soon as it was ready, so it felt easy, and I think it's also an easy place to visit for people who don't know the timing for grilling.

Especially when visiting a BBQ place with kids or eating in a big group, not having to grill the meat yourself felt like a big plus. Instead of eating in a frantic rush of grilling, I could focus on the food and take my time.

The pork belly was great with kimchi, and the pork jowl had its own charm thanks to its chewy texture. Adding soft steamed egg and warm doenjang jjigae made it a satisfying, filling meal.

Overall, the grilling service made for a comfortable meal, and the basic combo of pork belly and kimchi was delicious too. If you'd feel something missing with only pork belly, ordering the jowl as well gives you two different textures, and adding steamed egg and doenjang jjigae makes it even more generous.

Above all, since the staff grill the meat, you can eat it right at its tastiest moment, and I liked that. I think it's a comfortable place for people who find grilling a hassle or aren't good at it.

That day I had 2 servings of pork belly, 1 of pork jowl, plus steamed egg and doenjang jjigae, and I was really full and happy. If you like the kimchi and pork belly combo, it should make for a tasty meal, and it's a decent choice if you're looking for a BBQ place that grills for you. Next time I visit, I'd like to order the same pork belly and jowl combination again and enjoy it.