Korean BBQ in Jongno, Daegu: room for 16 & group seats for 30, Jangjak

What is Jangjak Saenggalbi Jongno Main Branch in Daegu?

Jangjak Saenggalbi Jongno Main Branch (벽돌생갈비 종로점) is one of the hottest new BBQ places to open in Jongno, Daegu. Even on a weekday evening, guests kept streaming in and there was already a wait, so I got curious and paid a visit.

What stood out most is that you can try the original brick-cut raw galbi that started in Bukchang-dong, Seoul, right here in Daegu, and the menu looked different from an ordinary galbi house, so my expectations were up.

How many people fit in the private rooms and group seating?

Group seating holds up to 30 people and the room up to 16. The interior mixes brick and wood tones for a great atmosphere, and the tables are spaced widely enough that it never felt cramped.

The ventilation is good too, so the smell of grilled meat doesn't cling to you too badly. I was happy about that.

The first thing I noticed walking in was that it's roomier than I expected, with a lovely vibe.

The 1st and 2nd floors are spacious, but the 3rd floor in particular has lots of private room seats,

so it works well for company dinners, group gatherings and family meals. I think people who want a quiet meal will be very happy here.

Bokbunja (Korean black raspberry) highball at Jangjak Saenggalbi

They also sell a bokbunja (Korean black raspberry) highball, which should satisfy the grown-ups who like a drink. The sweet raspberry aroma went nicely with the meat, and it's perfect for a light drink alongside your meal!

Side dishes and the complimentary cypress-steamed dish

The banchan (side dishes) were quite neat: lettuce geotjeori (fresh-tossed salad), kimchi, water kimchi, jangajji (pickles), garlic, ssamjang (wrap sauce) and more. Sides that pair well with meat were served cleanly, and I liked how tidy everything felt overall.

First, the complimentary pyeonbaek-jjim (steamed dish) comes out, and wow! Meat and shrimp sit on top of bean sprouts and mushrooms,

It's lightly steamed and great as a pre-meal starter. For a freebie, the spread was pretty generous.

You can take as many side dishes as you like from the self-serve bar, which was convenient, and there was no shortage.

Fresh galbi, 500g for 58,000 won: taste and value

The brick-cut raw galbi is ₩58,000 for 500g, and it was the dish I was most looking forward to that day. The aroma rose the moment it hit the grill, the marbling was great, and it looked special from the start.

Beef galbi at around ₩50,000 for 500g felt like very good value. Considering BBQ prices these days it's relatively easy on the wallet, and with a group you can order a variety.

Staff grilled the meat for us from start to finish, which made me feel well looked after, and I got to enjoy the meat at its best 🥩✨

The meat clinging around the bone had a crunchy texture that really impressed me. It's hard to find that at ordinary galbi houses, so I kept reaching for more. The more I chewed, the richer and nuttier the flavor, a real treat.

Dipped in the special seasoned sauce,

or just with the plain salt, it was delicious because the meat itself is so good.

For extra wrap greens, order on the tablet at the table and staff bring them over. A must-know tip if you love your ssam veggies 🥬

Is the bakpo pork galbi, 150g for 11,000 won, worth ordering?

The bakpo pork raw galbi is ₩11,000 for 150g. I ordered it because handmade bakpo galbi from Korean pork (hanDon) is hard to come by. The thinly cut meat cooked quickly on the grill and gave off a strong meaty aroma.

It kept hanDon's characteristic nuttiness and chewy texture, so pork lovers will be satisfied.

That nutty hanDon flavor was truly a work of art. The more you chew, the more juice and richness spread,

and with that chewy texture on top, it's the kind of taste you keep reaching for.

Doenjang jjigae to finish and the overall verdict

The signature texture of the brick-cut galbi, the handmade hanDon bakpo galbi and the free steamed dish were all satisfying, and

above all, with so many 3rd-floor room seats, Jangjak Saenggalbi Jongno Main Branch works well as a gathering spot.

After eating a good amount of meat, I finished with doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew). The broth was richer and spicier than the doenjang stew at typical BBQ places, so it worked well as a proper meal too.

Jangjak Saenggalbi Jongno: location, hours and parking

• Location: 38-1 Jongno, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea (1st–3rd floors)
• About 3 minutes' walk from Jungangno Station Exit 1, 5 minutes from The Hyundai Daegu
• Hours: daily 17:00–01:00
• Last order: 00:00
• Parking: nearby paid parking lots