Sunday Korean BBQ in Jongno 3-ga: green onion kimchi refills at Chowon

I'd gone to a museum alone in Jongno 3-ga, wandered around inside Gwanghwamun, and grabbed a meal. In the evening my boyfriend finally joined me, and I suddenly craved BBQ from one of the outdoor tent (yajang) restaurants near Jongno 3-ga.

Where is Chowon Restaurant in Jongno 3-ga, and what are its hours?

📍 Chowon Restaurant Jongno 3-ga

• Address: 서울 종로구 종로17길 30 1층 초원식당
• Hours: 17:00 – 01:00

Chowon Restaurant on the outdoor tent street behind Jongno 3-ga Station

It wasn't even 6pm on a Sunday when we set off to soak up the outdoor tent atmosphere in Jongno 3-ga. The restaurants line up one after another right out of the station exit, and there were tons of people. Chowon Restaurant especially was packed with customers out front, so we couldn't walk straight in and had to wait a bit before getting seated. (The outdoor tent seats had a wait, so we ended up inside. Ugh.) I'm not sure if it's the good food drawing the crowds or the great outdoor tent vibe, but the atmosphere was definitely lively and fun!

Naengsam at Chowon Restaurant: 18,000 won per 180g serving

Chowon Restaurant's naengsam (frozen pork belly) is ₩18,000 per serving! Considering pork belly prices these days, it's not exactly cheap, but at 180g the portion itself was decent. You grill the naengsam right on the griddle, and eating it out at the tent somehow made it taste even better than at home or at a regular BBQ joint. The meat had no gamy smell and tasted great, and best of all, grilling the side dishes that came with it right on the griddle was such a good idea.

Green onion kimchi grilled on the griddle — refilled three times

The side dishes included bracken fern, bean sprouts, kimchi, green onion kimchi, and more. I figured grilling them on the griddle instead of eating them as plain sides would taste better, so I tried it — and eating it together with the meat was so good that I ended up refilling the green onion kimchi a whopping three times, haha. The combo with the naengsam was absolutely top tier.

Beef brisket doenjang stew, 8,000 won: savory old-school flavor

Added the fresh mussel doenjang stew! Chowon Restaurant doesn't serve soup with the meal by default, so this was ordered separately. It wasn't spicy or overly bold — it had that savory, homemade doenjang stew flavor like something your family used to make, and I loved that. A spoonful of doenjang stew between bites of meat is amazing. If you like a savory old-school style rather than the sharp, spicy stews that are common these days, definitely try it.

Steamed egg, 5,000 won: bouncy and fluffy

We also added the steamed egg. It's ₩5,000, but personally I was satisfied. Rather than the jiggly, soft type of steamed egg, this one had a bouncy yet fluffy texture that I really liked. Eating warm steamed egg alongside the meat was a great combo too.

How to enjoy the Jongno 3-ga outdoor tent scene

As of mid-September, you get to enjoy the outdoor tent atmosphere under a cool autumn evening sky. The tent street behind Jongno 3-ga has its own distinctly bustling energy, so time flies while you're grilling meat and chatting. Especially on weekend evenings, the tables around us filled up completely with people, and it really felt like a proper night out at the tents. If you're looking for a dinner spot near Tapgol Park, this location is also easy to find by searching for Tapgol Park outdoor tents.

Since naengsam cooks quickly, it was perfect for eating right away when hungry! Grilling the kimchi together with the meat and eating them at once wiped away a whole week's worth of fatigue!!

Is Chowon Restaurant worth it for Korean BBQ in Jongno 3-ga?

The restaurant isn't small, but it was packed full, and even when seats opened up they filled right back up — this place is genuinely popular. There was enough of a wait on weekends that I could tell it was busy, but after eating there, I understood exactly why so many people come.

The naengsam was delicious, but personally, the griddle-grilled green onion kimchi is what really stuck with me. The fact that I refilled it three times says it all, haha. Paired with the savory doenjang stew and the bouncy, fluffy steamed egg, it was a pretty satisfying meal overall.

And the bathroom — which quietly matters a lot at outdoor tent restaurants — was nice and clean. (Very important.) I liked that I didn't have to sacrifice bathroom quality just because it's a tent-style place. If you're searching for Jongno 3-ga restaurants or Jongno outdoor tents, this is one worth trying at least once. I'd especially recommend it for a day when you want to enjoy the loud, lively outdoor tent atmosphere with friends over grilled meat.