Insadong Korean BBQ that skips a 24-team wait: Meongseokjip

An Insadong Korean BBQ restaurant with such great hanok outdoor-seating vibes — Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch. This post covers: a recommendation for Insadong Korean BBQ, and my visit review of Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch.

I'm a travel influencer who's serious about eating and playing my way around. This time I went to a currently-hot Insadong Korean BBQ restaurant. Outdoor seating plus hanok atmosphere — I really loved this place! Let me get straight into the review.

Meongseokjip, an Insadong BBQ alley lined with outdoor tables

The Insadong BBQ restaurant I fell for on this visit is Meongseokjip. In front of the shop, along a narrow alley, there's a row of tables with a strong outdoor-seating feel. I didn't even go late, but the place was already full — it's clearly popular these days.

How long is the wait at Meongseokjip? Pick 'no preference' on Catch Table

At Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch you can register on Catch Table right outside the shop, choosing outdoor, indoor, or no preference. I registered with no preference, and even with 24 teams ahead of me, I got a call back quickly.

Since the indoor seats also have hanok interiors that feel like being outdoors, I'd recommend booking with no preference.

Meongseokjip menu: aged pork belly for two, steamed egg and kimchi fried rice

The menu is posted right beside the table. They serve the Meongseok set, pork belly, skirt meat, pork jowl, flower butt, beef short rib meat, beef chuck flap and more, plus hearty sides ranging from stews to kimchi fried rice. That day I ordered the aged pork belly for two, steamed egg, and kimchi fried rice.

I loved how the side dishes came out rustic and unpolished on the round table — it felt really homey.

The aged pork belly came out in a jar like this. The meat looked fresh, and the thickness felt just right.

Green onion kimchi at the self-serve bar: Meongseokjip does kimchi well

Extra side dishes that go well with the meat — garlic, bean sprouts, kimchi, ssamjang, lettuce wraps — are all self-serve, help yourself. There's even green onion kimchi at the self-serve bar, so if you like it, grab some. This place really is a kimchi spot.

They lay the pork belly on a well-heated grill.

The pork belly sizzling away looked really appetizing. With the atmosphere this good too, just sitting there is already enjoyable.

They cut the thick meat into hearty chunks. The cutting stage is always the part I can least stand waiting through — I just want to eat already.

The steamed egg almost every table at Meongseokjip orders

In the middle of all this, the steamed egg (gyeranjjim) showed up! I honestly hadn't planned on ordering it from the start, but since almost every table was ordering it, I followed suit. Wow, that fluffiness — I was glad I ordered it.

Filling up on warm, fluffy steamed egg before the meat's even done, with that savory aroma and soft texture — it's delicious, as expected.

Meat grilled well alongside kimchi, bean sprouts, and garlic.

The kimchi here is really delicious once grilled. You have to eat it with the pork belly. I'm craving it again just thinking about it.

The green onion kimchi is delicious too, and it also works great wrapped up with bean sprouts and kimchi in a lettuce wrap.

Finishing with kimchi fried rice on the grill

To finish, kimchi fried rice. Honestly I copied this too since basically every table was having it, and yeah — turns out there's a reason everyone gets it.

They put it straight onto the grill like this.

A bite with the moist fried egg on top is so satisfying and good. It was really delicious.

Is Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch worth it?

Meongseokjip, this currently-popular Insadong restaurant — the atmosphere is so good and the meat was delicious, so I'm already thinking about going again. Plus, even though the owner and staff were clearly swamped, service on our orders came fast and smooth, which made the whole experience even more satisfying. If you're looking for an Insadong Korean BBQ restaurant, I recommend Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch. That outdoor-seating atmosphere is truly the best.

Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch: address and hours

• Address: 7 Donhwamun-ro 11da-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: 12:00 – 23:55