Heater-side Korean BBQ in Jongno 3-ga: pork neck and duck, Tapgol

I was hunting for a Korean BBQ place with great outdoor-seating vibes in Jongno 3-ga and ended up at Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch (탑골공원 종로3가점). Jongno has plenty of BBQ restaurants and plenty of places with that outdoor street-dining feel, but Tapgol Gongwon caught my eye especially because of its unique interior.

It had gotten pretty cold, so I was worried about eating meat outdoors, but they had the heater next to our table cranked up, and it was warmer than I expected. This time I ordered the frozen flower pork neck and the frozen duck loin.

What's the outdoor vibe like at Tapgol Gongwon in Jongno 3-ga?

Under a huge Chinese-character sign, the exterior mixes bamboo with warm-toned lighting, so it stood out even from far away. It felt like arriving somewhere on a trip.

I especially loved the long line of outdoor tables out front. When I visited, it was buzzing with people grilling meat outside. Every table was grilling, chatting and eating under the lights, and it suited Jongno's lively energy perfectly.

Personally, this outdoor atmosphere was my favorite part of the visit. I'd worried a bit about the cold, but there was a heater by the table blowing warm air, so we weren't cold while eating. If you don't want to give up the outdoor-dining mood even in chilly weather, this might be a useful reference.

Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga menu and prices

Tapgol Gongwon sells not only frozen pork belly but also frozen flower pork neck and frozen duck loin. Since I came looking for a frozen pork belly spot near Jongno 3-ga Station, I checked the meat first. Prices on the menu at the time of my visit were as follows.

• Frozen pork belly 180g: ₩18,000
• Frozen flower pork neck 180g: ₩19,000
• Frozen duck loin 180g: ₩18,000
• Tapgol Set (2–3 people): ₩55,000
• Kimchi fried rice: ₩6,000
• Brisket doenjang (soybean paste) stew: ₩7,000

There was also a set menu where you can eat pork belly, pork neck and duck loin together, but we picked the meats we wanted to eat and ordered them individually.

Here they are: frozen flower pork neck and frozen duck loin! It felt a little different to see a frozen pork belly specialist also selling duck loin.

Tapgol Gongwon side dishes and the self-serve corner

The basic side dishes come on a big round tray, which gave me an old-school BBQ joint feeling. After ordering the meat, I looked over the sides, and there were kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts, namul (seasoned vegetables), ssamjang (dipping paste) and other things that go well with grilled meat.

What I liked most was the self-serve side dish corner! You can grab lettuce, garlic, chili peppers, kimchi and whatever else you need yourself, which is so convenient. When you're eating meat, you run out of wrap vegetables or kimchi fast, so it's great that you can bring as much extra as you want.

Frozen flower pork neck and frozen duck loin: how about ordering both?

At Tapgol Gongwon, I ordered the frozen flower pork neck and frozen duck loin together, so I could enjoy pork and duck in one sitting. The meat finally arrived, and I liked that we could eat both on one table.

We put kimchi and bean sprouts on the grill along with the meat. While the meat cooked, the kimchi sizzled too, which made the outdoor BBQ mood even better. Alternating between the frozen pork neck and the duck loin gave more variety than ordering just one kind of meat. At an outdoor spot like this, grilling the meat yourself feels like one of the joys of the meal.

Can you enjoy Jongno's outdoor dining in cold weather?

The most satisfying thing was that, thanks to the heater next to the table, we could enjoy a meal outdoors even on a cold day. Of course, how warm it feels may vary with the weather and where you sit, but when I visited, the heater was warm enough.

What I remember most is the atmosphere. The interior, with lights strung between bamboo and a stone wall, was unique, and the lights stood out even more once night fell. It felt different from an ordinary street-stall outdoor setup. It's a place to think of when you're planning an evening in Jongno 3-ga, or want to eat somewhere with atmosphere instead of an ordinary indoor BBQ place.

Overall verdict on Tapgol Gongwon in Jongno 3-ga

Tapgol Gongwon in Jongno 3-ga adds that outdoor-dining atmosphere to the pleasure of eating grilled meat. These four things stuck with me most.

• A unique outdoor interior mixing bamboo and lighting
• A heater that kept us warm even on a cold day
• A menu where you can order frozen pork neck and duck loin together
• A convenient self-serve side dish corner

Personally, I think it suits people who care about the atmosphere of a space as much as the food. If you're looking for a frozen pork belly spot near Jongno 3-ga Station or an outdoor Korean BBQ restaurant in Jongno, take a look at Tapgol Gongwon too. The mood felt especially right for a cool or chilly evening when you want to grill meat under the lights.