Myeongdong jokbal with kalguksu boiled at your table: Miss Jokbal

I went out to Myeongdong the other day and stopped for lunch at a Myeongdong jokbal spot that's perfect for a date course — Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch :) If you're looking for a spacious, Korean-food-centered date spot around Myeongdong or Euljiro, you'll probably be happy here!

Where is Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch, and what are the hours?

Sitting right in central Myeongdong, Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch is less than a 2-minute walk from Exit 5 of Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station, so it's super close to the station and easy to fit into a Myeongdong date route. Since it stays open daily until 3am, it's also a great pick for couples hunting for a late-night eats spot in Myeongdong.

• Address: 21 Myeongdong 3-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea (178m from Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station Exit 5)
• Hours: Daily 11:00 – 3:00 the next day (last order 2:00)

With plenty of seats, the place felt just as suited to group dinners or gatherings as it did to dates. True to its reputation as a Myeongdong date spot, it was packed with couples on dates as well as foreign customers~

Miss Jokbal menu and the price of the Emperor Jokbal

There were plenty of options to suit different tastes, from Miss Jokbal's signature garlic jokbal to spicy fire jokbal and half-and-half jokbal. We wanted something varied and generous, so we didn't hesitate to order the signature dish, the 'Emperor Jokbal' (₩58,000).

After ordering the Emperor Jokbal, the neat side-dish setup came out along with a burner for the kimchi kalguksu that gets cooked fresh at the table — a fast, satisfying system~ The tangy, spicy kimchi kalguksu kept simmering warm throughout the meal, which felt like a really thoughtful touch to the spread.

Two kinds of special sauce to go with the jokbal, ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), and clean-tasting pickled garlic were all set out neatly one after another.

What comes with the Emperor Jokbal set?

The main dish, the 'Emperor Jokbal,' arrived on a large round dedicated tray with a jaw-dropping, flashy presentation! It was piled high with tender, glossy jokbal boiled more than six times a day, ringed prettily like flower petals by more than 10 colorful side dishes.

Shrimp salad topped with plump boiled shrimp, savory glass noodle (cheonsachae) salad, and a tangy-spicy konjac and glass noodle mix

Tofu kimchi where tofu and stir-fried kimchi come together in harmony, glossy japchae (glass noodle stir-fry), and neatly rolled egg gimbap (seaweed rice roll)

Eating the meat, then cleansing your palate with the refreshing shrimp salad, then popping a bite of tofu kimchi or egg gimbap here and there — there was never a moment to get tired of it~

It really made us feel like we were being treated like royalty on our date.

How does the jokbal at Miss Jokbal taste?

The meat itself was soft with no gamey smell, and the skin still had that great chewiness — it was excellent. Eaten with fresh lettuce and napa cabbage wraps, savory dried radish salad, and fresh kimchi salad, it tasted clean and refreshing :)

Finishing with kimchi kalguksu boiled at the table

We finished the meal with the kimchi kalguksu boiled fresh right there on the table. As the tangy, cool kimchi broth came to a boil, they added the chewy kalguksu noodles and let them cook until bubbling.

One sip of that hot yet refreshing kimchi kalguksu broth cleared everything up and made for a satisfying, clean finish. The noodles were chewy and had soaked up plenty of the broth's flavor, so we ended the meal with a satisfying conversation right to the last bite.

Is Miss Jokbal worth it as a Myeongdong date spot?

If you're looking for a can't-go-wrong Korean-food date course in Myeongdong, or a jokbal restaurant that nails both looks and taste, I'd highly recommend Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch!