Korean BBQ near Eungam Station with a waiting-line prize draw: Yukjjip

On a day when I was craving meat, I went to Yukjjip (육쯥) near Eungam Station. It's right on the street leading to Bulgwangcheon stream from Eungam Station, so it's a great spot for a walk before or after your meal.

Yukjjip has two floors and is popular enough that there's a wait in the evenings.

Wait 20 minutes or more and you get a prize draw

If you're waiting at Yukjjip and it's over 20 minutes, you get to join a nostalgic prize-draw event. Here's what's up for grabs:

• 1st place: Yukjjip assorted platter
• 2nd place: Yukjjip thick pork belly
• 3rd place: doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew)
• 4th place: 20cm handmade sausage
• 5th place: a drink (alcohol excluded)

With prizes like these, I almost want to wait longer — as long as it's not a hot summer day, haha.

The location is great, but it's also an easy, staff-grilled Korean BBQ place, so it's good for taking your parents or having a get-together.

Yukjjip's pork is Jirisan Baro Handon: thick pork belly and gabrisal this time

Yukjjip says it uses Jirisan Baro Hanwoo pork, raised properly in the clean Jirisan region.

There's a Yukjjip assorted platter with thick pork belly and their signature pork neck, but this time we ordered thick pork belly and gabrisal.

What makes Yukjjip's patented grill pan different

Yukjjip says its grill pan is actually patented.

They say the special pattern structure distributes heat evenly for tastier grilling.

The structure locks in the juices while adding a charcoal-like aroma, and they say the material is harmless to the body too, so you can eat with peace of mind.

Four ways to eat the pork at Yukjjip

A staff member grills the meat for you at Yukjjip, and there's a recommended way to eat it too!

The first bite is with Himalayan pink salt — a clean way to enjoy the meat's natural, deep flavor. The second is with the carefully seasoned salted shrimp, which adds a savory kick. Third, dip it into Yukjjip's special sauce for extra depth of flavor. Fourth, eat it with baek-kimchi (white kimchi) for a crisp, refreshing twist. Apparently it's also good lightly grilled on the pan, but I didn't get to try that this time — next time!

Doenjang jjigae, gogibap and yeolmu bibim guksu

We also ordered doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and gogibap (meat rice), plus yeolmu bibim guksu (spicy noodles with radish greens).

I tried the yeolmu mul-guksu (cold noodle soup) on a previous visit, but this time we thought the bibim (mixed) version was tastier.

The pork skin is the one dish you grill yourself

Midway through, something felt missing, so we ordered pork skin on top. It's delicious, but a heads-up: you have to grill it yourself — the staff don't grill this one for you. Also, you have to ask for the soybean flour separately, they don't just bring it. If you go to Yukjjip, give it a try.

They're also running a Naver receipt review event, so I took part. Writing a photo review gets you a free handmade sausage. You grill this one yourself too.

Eating the sausage made me crave a beer! So I ordered one right away.

When we went, there was a summer promotion running — soju for ₩1,000 a bottle and bottled beer for ₩2,000. It's over now, but I hope they bring it back. It's definitely worth timing your visit around a promotion like that!

Finishing off with a cold beer was so satisfying. Now that the weather's cooling down, having meat and beer here after a walk or workout at Bulgwangcheon stream is the perfect way to end the day.

If you're looking for a staff-grilled Korean BBQ place near Eungam Station for a small get-together or a date, go try the meat at Yukjjip. It's right at the entrance to Bulgwangcheon stream, so you can enjoy a walk as part of the course after your meal.

Yukjjip location and opening hours near Eungam Station

• Address: 112-24 Eungam-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul (558 Bulgwangcheon-gil, 1st-2nd floor), South Korea
• Hours: 12:00–24:00, until 23:00 on Sundays