Myeongdong jokbal restaurant, emperor platter for groups: Miss Jokbal

Why jokbal won out for dinner in Myeongdong

Miss Jokbal Myeongdong Branch, chewy jokbal with a seriously loaded table setting! Here's my review after eating the hwangje jokbal. I was trying to decide on dinner in Myeongdong and jokbal (braised pig's feet) came to mind, so I headed to Miss Jokbal Myeongdong Branch.

Myeongdong is packed with foreign tourists and good restaurants alike, and that day I was looking for something comfortable to share with a group, so I landed on jokbal. Miss Jokbal is pretty well known for jokbal in the area, and I was curious — when I actually visited, the atmosphere was relaxed and it felt like a great spot for a group meal.

Inside Miss Jokbal Myeongdong: room, mood and late hours

Miss Jokbal Myeongdong Branch stays open pretty late, so it seemed like a good option for dinner after shopping or sightseeing around Myeongdong.

Hwangje jokbal: the emperor platter built for a group

What we ordered that day was hwangje jokbal. I've always thought jokbal tastes even better shared with more people, and hwangje jokbal comes out as such a generous spread that it's a great order when you're visiting with a group.

While waiting for the food, I looked around the restaurant — it had a decent crowd, and given the Myeongdong location, it seemed like a fine place to bring foreign friends too. If you're looking for a Korean restaurant to visit with a friend from abroad, jokbal is honestly a pretty good choice. It looks impressive and it's a dish you can really only enjoy properly in Korea, so it's a nice way to give someone a proper Korean food experience.

How does the emperor jokbal taste? Chewy skin, tender meat

The hwangje jokbal finally arrived, and it looked appetizing at a glance. The first thing I noticed once I started eating was the chewy texture.

The meat part was soft and easy to eat, and the skin had just the right amount of chewiness, giving that signature jokbal texture. Jokbal can be disappointing when it's too dry, but this was moist and chewy all the way through, so I kept reaching for more.

The side dishes that fill the whole table

One thing I really liked about Miss Jokbal Myeongdong Branch was how generous the table setting was. The jokbal is delicious on its own, but eating it with the accompanying side dishes changed the flavor completely.

It wasn't just the jokbal sitting alone — several side dishes came out with it, so the whole table felt full. We wrapped the jokbal in lettuce wraps and paired it with the banchan (side dishes) in different combinations. Another plus of going with a group is that everyone can eat it their own way. The portion of jokbal itself was solid, and with the side spread on top, it made for a filling meal.

Friend gatherings, work dinners and meals with foreign friends

Jokbal works fine for two people, but personally I think it really shines when you visit with a bigger group — one order that everyone shares, and it pairs well with a drink too.

It also seemed like a good option for a dinner with friends or a company dinner. Myeongdong itself is easy to get to, which makes it a convenient meeting spot too.

Since it's located in Myeongdong, this also seems like a good option for anyone looking for a place to eat with foreign friends. Samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) or fried chicken are already well known, but Korean-style jokbal is a dish worth trying as something different. For a friend seeing jokbal for the first time, the look of it alone would be fun, and wrapping it up with various side dishes is a good way to experience the charm of Korean food. On top of that, the restaurant isn't too small and has a comfortable atmosphere for a group to sit together, so it felt easy to bring friends along.

Would I return to Miss Jokbal for a late dinner in Myeongdong?

When you're out and about in Myeongdong, shopping or sightseeing often pushes dinner later than planned, and I liked that Miss Jokbal Myeongdong Branch stays open until late.

It's a good spot to meet friends after work or drop by after shopping in Myeongdong, and it also suits a casual drink alongside jokbal in the evening. Above all, the jokbal was satisfying with its chewy-yet-tender texture, and the generous side spread made for a filling meal.

If you're looking for a menu in Myeongdong that a group can share, ordering the hwangje jokbal at Miss Jokbal Myeongdong Branch seems like a great choice. It suited a friend gathering, a work dinner, and a meal with a foreign friend equally well. I'm keeping this in mind as a place to come back to whenever I'm in Myeongdong craving jokbal!