Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ for group dinners, 4 servings: Cham Dwaejitgan

I'll say it boldly: this might be the tastiest pork restaurant in Jongno.. Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch (참돼짓간 종로본점) is a proven Jongno pork spot that the local elders go to.

• A place where max-level skilled staff grill for you, so you don't have to worry
• Juicy, high-quality Boseong green pork belly and neck with water dropwort (minari)
• If you're looking for a good-value place for a group dinner or gathering

Cham Dwaejitgan is a Jongno 3-ga pork belly favorite, and honestly there's no reason not to go, really.

Parking and opening hours at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch doesn't support parking. The Piccadilly Plus building has a garage, but there's no validation, and it costs ₩6,600 for 60 minutes, then ₩1,100 per 10 minutes.

• Mon–Sat 11:30–23:30
• Sun 11:30–22:30

How to get to Cham Dwaejitgan from Jongno 3-ga Station

This top-tier, high-quality pork restaurant is 1 minute from Jongno 3-ga Station Exit 2-1. Come out of Exit 2-1 and turn right around, and you'll see the Piccadilly Plus entrance. Don't go in there; just walk a little way down the alley on the left.

Is there a wait right after opening on a Saturday?

15 seconds later, the rice-husk-smoked charcoal grill spot Cham Dwaejitgan appears! I got there at 12:20 PM on a Saturday, almost right after opening, and I was number 1 on the waitlist...? It's seriously popular. Luckily we got in quickly, but if you can, book on Catch Table before you go.

Inside Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch: atmosphere and extras

The inside of Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch was really spacious and pleasant. But this place filled up within 30 minutes of opening, so all the good stuff was being kept to themselves ‼️ Lots of foreign visitors, too. Being able to show off this kind of Korean taste and service fills me with national pride.. 🇰🇷

Cham Dwaejitgan is thoughtful before and after the meal. There are kids' utensils, candies to freshen your mouth, aprons, Wi-Fi, floss/toothpicks/mouthwash, hair ties, and charging for C-type, 5-pin and 8-pin phones.

Basic setup and self-bar at Cham Dwaejitgan

At Cham Dwaejitgan, they don't set the table after you sit down; it's already laid out when guests arrive. Fragrant spring water dropwort, kimchi and bean sprouts are on the grill, and there are loads of friends for the meat: shiitake wasabi, ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), spicy sauce, salt/wasabi, wrapping greens, scallion salad, salad and more. Everything except the water dropwort can be refilled at the self-bar.

Menu and prices at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch

• Boseong green pork flower neck (150g) ₩16,000
• Boseong green pork belly (150g) ₩16,000
• Doenjang jjigae ₩6,000
• Margarine soy egg rice ₩3,900
• Jirisan kudzu naengmyeon ₩7,000
• Steamed egg ₩5,000

The photos below show 2 servings of flower neck and 2 servings of pork belly, 4 servings in total!

Staff grilling service and the no-splatter handmade grill

There are many reasons I liked Cham Dwaejitgan, but the absolute top one is the best-in-class grilling service. The prices are friendly too, and the staff take charge from start to finish. They're fast, and their skill at locking in the juices is no joke.

They also use a handmade grill that doesn't splatter oil, and I mean it, not a single drop splatters. Thanks to that, it doesn't feel icky, and the meat smell doesn't seem to cling to your body as much.

Wrapping greens and sliced potato wraps

The wrapping greens at Cham Dwaejitgan are super fresh and crisp, and with so many sides like water dropwort, scallion salad and grilled kimchi, piling them on however you like is pure bliss, and

the special thing about Cham Dwaejitgan is the sliced potato wrap ‼️ Thinly sliced potatoes cooked over charcoal and used as a wrap are a real treat. Above all, the meat quality is just unreal. It was the juiciest and tastiest meat I've had lately. Both the belly and the neck are really good, seriously.

Cham Dwaejitgan side dishes: steamed egg, kudzu naengmyeon, margarine soy egg rice

Steamed egg

The steamed egg (₩5,000) at Cham Dwaejitgan is fluffy and bouncy, and you know it's bliss as a palate cleanser between bites. It's not harsh, so it's a side that settles your stomach too.

Jirisan kudzu naengmyeon

The Jirisan kudzu naengmyeon (cold noodles, ₩7,000) has that signature kudzu noodle chew, so springy your teeth nearly bounce off, and the broth is so savory you don't even need mustard or vinegar. Nothing beats it for finishing a meal. No need for a separate digestive aid.

Margarine soy egg rice and doenjang jjigae

The food at Cham Dwaejitgan isn't salty overall. So I think it'd be fine for kids and for foreign visitors too. Margarine soy egg rice, doenjang jjigae and juicy meat filled me with real Korean soul, and the meal was conquered.

Is Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch good for group dinners and gatherings?

• Cham Dwaejitgan's own handmade grill that keeps meat oil from splattering
• Premium pork like Boseong green pork and Jirisan black pork
• High-performance grilling service that fills the table for you
• A popular Jongno 3-ga BBQ spot, so booking is recommended

I had really good neck and belly for the first time in a long while. If you're looking for a premium place in Jongno where they grill for you, I highly recommend Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch. It's on Jongno's gold and silver jewelry street, so a course of checking out wedding rings and then going to Cham Dwaejitgan would be perfect.