Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ for two over soju: Chowon Restaurant

Why two friends picked Chowon Restaurant in Jongno 3-ga

Chowon Restaurant is an outdoor-tent-style Korean BBQ spot near Tapgol Park in Jongno 3-ga, Seoul. I visited with a friend for dinner in Jongno. That day I was looking for a place where we could relax over pork belly and a glass of soju while catching up. Chowon appealed to me because it captures that lively, old-school Jongno energy and outdoor-tent feel.

I usually enjoy pairing meat with drinks, so I didn't think twice about ordering the frozen pork belly. We were two, and we ordered two servings of frozen pork belly.

What is the atmosphere like inside Chowon Restaurant?

Chowon's biggest charm was definitely its atmosphere. Walking in, I felt a cozy, nostalgic vibe that's different from your typical BBQ restaurant. It had that outdoor-tent grilling feel, which let me really soak in the dinner mood.

When I meet a friend for a meal in Jongno, there's usually a crowd and a lively energy around, and Chowon captured that Jongno charm well. The sound of meat grilling mixed with people's conversations made for a comfortable, buzzing atmosphere I liked.

Clean, quiet restaurants are great too, but when you want to chat comfortably with a friend over meat and drinks like we did that day, this kind of atmosphere suits it better, I think.

Is two servings of flash-frozen pork belly enough for two people?

What we ordered was Chowon's frozen pork belly, two servings. Frozen pork belly comes sliced thin, which is its own particular charm. Because it's thin, it cooks fairly fast once it's on the grill, which made it easy to eat while chatting with my friend.

Grilling pork belly is fun from the sizzling start, honestly. As the meat cooked, the savory smell rising off it made me hungrier, and watching it turn golden brown made me want to dig in right away.

Two servings for the two of us was just the right amount for a meal with drinks. Conversation flowed naturally as we grilled, and there was fun in the middle of it all, picking off pieces as they finished cooking.

How does Chowon Restaurant's flash-frozen pork belly taste?

Chowon's frozen pork belly was fun to grill — the thin slices turned golden brown nicely. There was that distinct savory pork belly flavor, and cooked just right, it had a chewy texture along with a clean, light taste.

The texture changes depending on how long you grill the meat, and I personally like grilling the edges until they're golden brown. The crispy parts and the soft parts together made for a tasty combination.

As my friend and I kept grilling and eating, the conversation stretched on and the meal turned into a genuinely fun time. Pork belly pairs well with soju or beer, so it was a great choice for that evening.

Taking a bite of meat, a sip of a drink, chatting about this and that — it turned into a much more relaxed and enjoyable time than an ordinary dinner.

A Jongno Korean BBQ spot for drinks with a friend

The meat at Chowon was tasty, but what stuck with me most was the outdoor-tent-style atmosphere. It felt like a good place to visit for dinner with a friend in Jongno, or after work when you want meat and a drink.

These days there's fun in hunting down restaurants with a great atmosphere, and Chowon was a place where I could enjoy the particular charm of an old-school BBQ spot rather than a flashy, decorated space.

That day's meal — visiting with a friend, ordering two servings of frozen pork belly, grilling and chatting comfortably — was a good one. If you want to enjoy that outdoor-tent feel and pork belly in Jongno, Chowon is worth a visit. If I make dinner plans with a friend in Jongno again, this is a place I'd want to come back to.