Myeongdong jokbal that needs no shrimp sauce: Miss Jokbal

Miss Jokbal in Myeongdong: no expectations, instant fan

Miss Jokbal sells jokbal (braised pig's trotters) in Myeongdong, and since it's Myeongdong, I didn't walk in with huge expectations — but it was way, way better than expected. Honestly, when people say "Myeongdong restaurant" it tends to conjure up a tourist-trap image, so I wasn't going in with high hopes. I just casually thought I'd try some jokbal while in Myeongdong, and it turned out so much tastier than I imagined that I walked out totally won over.

Miss Jokbal

Address | 199-45 Euljiro 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul

Hours | 11:00 - 03:00

Last order | 02:00

Group seating available / takeout available / delivery available

Reservations available

How fast does Miss Jokbal fill up after opening?

When we walked in shortly after opening there were only a few tables, but right after we ordered, the place filled up in a flash — it definitely felt like there'd be a wait during peak meal times. Including us, there were about 3 Korean tables and the rest were foreign visitors, so it seems word has gotten around among international diners too?

Miss Jokbal Myeongdong menu and prices

Original Jokbal M ₩43,000

Bossam (medium) ₩41,000

Half-and-half Jokbal ₩49,000

Garlic Jokbal ₩45,000

Emperor Jokbal + Rice Set ₩66,000

Emperor Bossam ₩55,000

Why the kimchi kalguksu arrives first but is saved for last

As soon as we sat down, they brought out kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) first, but one sip of the broth and it was so spicy I decided to save it for after the jokbal, worried about my stomach. It looks unassuming with the finely chopped kimchi, but the umami in it is insane..

Emperor Jokbal, 58,000 won: what covers the table

Emperor Jokbal, ₩58,000. It comes in an enormous bowl that takes over the whole table — I'd say it's good for about 2-3 people. Along with the jokbal itself, it comes surrounded by salad, japchae (glass noodle stir-fry), mung bean jelly, and tofu kimchi, and every single component was delicious — my husband and I kept being surprised as we ate.

Obviously it's a jokbal restaurant so the jokbal itself has to be good, and it really was — so tender, zero gamey smell, moist and soft. Why did I walk in here with zero expectations just because it's a tourist spot in Myeongdong..?

How is the jokbal seasoned?

Some jokbal places barely season it and it just tastes plain, while others go overboard with seasoning so even the basic jokbal ends up too sweet and salty to eat comfortably. Miss Jokbal in Myeongdong hits a nice middle ground — seasoned just enough, not overly sweet — the level was exactly right for my palate.

The side dishes served with Miss Jokbal's pork hock

The cheonsachae (shredded jelly noodle) salad tossed in mayo, the mung bean jelly salad, the kimchi, and the pickles — all a perfect match with the jokbal.

The stir-fried kimchi cooked with tofu and the japchae were both equally delicious.

Go easy on the shrimp sauce: try the jokbal plain first

For my first bite, not realizing it was already seasoned, I loaded on a bunch of shrimp sauce and it was way too salty lol. It's seasoned enough that you could wrap it up and eat it plain with no extra sauce, so try the jokbal on its own first, then adjust to your taste!

The kimchi was decent too, but the aged kimchi stir-fry? That was much more my style.

And the gungchae (aster greens) and garlic pickles — need I say more~~

They also give you mala sauce on the side, and I had no idea mala and jokbal could pair so incredibly well. Now that I think about it, I used to absolutely hate mala, but somewhere along the way I've come to really love it lol. Though if it's too intense I still don't like it — gotta find that sweet spot.. (being human is complicated)

Finishing with kimchi kalguksu cooked at the table

Once we were getting pretty full, we dropped the noodles in and let it bubble away, then dug back in — this broth is seriously, seriously spicy. I'm weak with spice so my stomach was borderline hurting, and my husband was sweating buckets, but the broth was so good neither of us could stop. There's not even that much in it, so why is it this delicious?

The noodles were super chewy too, a perfect carb finish after enjoying the jokbal — though as I keep saying, it's ridiculously spicy haha. Writing this post now, I'm craving the jokbal again, and honestly that broth keeps popping into my head too lol..

What to eat in Myeongdong if you can't decide

If you're not sure what to eat in Myeongdong and you like jokbal, I'd recommend this Myeongdong jokbal spot, Miss Jokbal. If you assume it's a tourist-trap restaurant that can't be good, or think it's only popular because it's full of foreign visitors, I think it's worth breaking that assumption and giving it a try. It's open late too, so it'd make a great spot for drinks and snacks in the evening.