Gyodae Station Korean BBQ comparing 3 pork cuts, with somaek: Galgol

Looking for a place near Gyodae to grab dinner and a drink with friends after work, I ended up at Galgol Yeontanjip. It's a retro-style Seocho BBQ spot where we grilled pork belly, pork neck, and kkodeulsal while chatting comfortably. By around 7pm every table was full — clearly a popular spot with office workers, both a good restaurant and a bar, and a great fit for group dinners.

Location and parking at Galgol Yeontanjip Seocho Gyodae Branch

Galgol Yeontanjip Seocho Gyodae Branch

Galgol Yeontanjip is about a 5-minute walk from Gyodae Station, so it's an easy after-work spot by public transit. There's no dedicated parking lot, so if you're driving, you'll need to find nearby public parking.

The exterior has a large sign along with a lunch special menu posted outside. With so many office workers around, it's a good spot for lunch too, and apparently it's been featured on the TV show Live Today.

Retro interior and the Thursday evening crowd

Walking in, I found a retro interior set up with metal tables and chairs. Unlike a lot of restaurants styled for current trends, this one had the relaxed feel of an old-school street tent bar, which made it easy to settle in for a casual drink. With table setups ranging from two-seaters to larger group tables, it also looked like a solid choice for parties with several people.

We showed up around 6pm on a Thursday without a reservation and got seated right away. It was fairly quiet at first, but by 7pm, when office workers get off work, the tables filled up fast. Since it's popular with the after-work crowd, reserving ahead is probably a good idea if you're going in the evening. With a layout that works well for grilling together as a group, it's a comfortable spot to gather if you're looking for a group dinner venue near Gyodae.

Menu and prices at Galgol Yeontanjip

A large menu board with prices was posted on the wall, so it was easy to see everything at a glance. From briquette-grilled meats to meal options and side dishes, the selection was wide enough to cover both dinner and drinking food. With so many choices, it's also convenient for a group dinner where everyone can pick what they like. We ordered all the signature items of this Gyodae pork belly spot. Each table has a tablet ordering pad, so there was no need to flag down staff.

Briquette salt-grilled pork belly 15,900 / Julzuli teukmokssal 15,900 / Seolhwa kkodeulsal 17,900 / Briquette fried rice 6,900

After ordering, basic side dishes arrived to pair with the meat — lettuce wraps, scallion salad, kimchi, and scallion kimchi. With so many sides to cut the richness, it was fun to try different combinations with each cut.

Serving heotgae tea (hovenia dulcis tea) instead of water as the default drink was a nice touch, honestly.

Somaek mixed in the kitchen

There was somaek (soju-beer cocktail) on the menu, so I ordered it — and instead of getting soju and beer separately to mix ourselves, the kitchen mixed it for us and brought it out ready to drink! It came out perfectly balanced, so you could drink it right away as soon as it landed on the table — great as a first round.

When you order, each cut comes out in a small earthenware pot, which gives a different feel from a regular plate — it fits the retro vibe of the place and has a quietly charming look.

Comparing pork belly, pork neck, and seolhwa kkodeulsal

Since we'd come all the way to Gyodae, we decided to order all three cuts — pork belly, pork neck, and kkodeulsal — and try them one by one.

Before grilling in earnest, we used a piece of pork fat to lightly coat the whole grill plate. Once the pork neck and kkodeulsal hit the hot plate, the sizzling sound and sight alone were enough to make my mouth water.

Seolhwa kkodeulsal — ₩17,900

The first cut we tried was the seolhwa kkodeulsal, sold in limited quantity.

I tried the first well-browned bite plain, just dipped lightly in salt, with no other side dish. True to its name, it had a springy, chewy texture that got more appealing the more I chewed it. If you're looking for something unusual at Galgol Yeontanjip, I'd recommend this one.

Given the nature of this cut, it can start to feel a bit greasy after a few bites. Pairing it with the tangy seasoned scallion salad cut the richness and made it much cleaner to eat.

Julzuli teukmokssal (pork neck) — ₩15,900

Honestly, I didn't expect much from the pork neck when I ordered it, but once grilled, it turned out thick and well-textured — the best of the three cuts. Just a light dip in salt lets you enjoy the natural flavor of the meat, but adding the basil sauce brings in a fragrant extra layer.

The meat quality itself was so good that even just topping it with well-fermented kimchi was completely satisfying. I really got to appreciate the pork neck here, and it's one of the dishes I'd want to order again if I come back to Galgol Yeontanjip.

Briquette salt-grilled pork belly — ₩15,900

Next we grilled the main dish of the day, the briquette salt-grilled pork belly. It looked appetizing just watching it brown on the grill, and I wanted to try it right away.

The ratio of fat to lean meat was just right, giving it a tender yet savory flavor — exactly the style of pork belly I like.

If you want something a bit lighter, try it with the tangy scallion kimchi. It cuts through the richness of the pork belly, so you can keep eating without getting tired of it.

At the end, I wrapped the scallion kimchi and pork belly together in a lettuce leaf. The crisp, tangy combination felt like exactly what you'd expect from a good restaurant.

Finishing with briquette fried rice — ₩6,900

Briquette fried rice

After we'd had our fill of meat, we ordered briquette fried rice to finish. Served rounded into a briquette shape, topped with egg, cheese, and bracken fern, it caught the eye right away.

Rather than eat it as is, I mixed it well with a spoon so the egg and cheese were spread evenly through the rice. With savory cheese and egg plus the texture of the bracken fern, it was a combination that couldn't miss.

A Korean BBQ meal doesn't feel complete without finishing with rice, right? Haha. With the sides as substantial as the mains, the portion was generous enough to share among a group at a dinner gathering. It's a signature dish at Galgol Yeontanjip, so I'd definitely recommend ordering it after the meat.

How was Galgol Yeontanjip as a Gyodae group dinner spot?

After the meal, my friends and I each had a slushie, which was sweet and cold and great for cleansing the palate. It was a Seocho BBQ restaurant where we got to try a range of cuts — pork belly, pork neck, and kkodeulsal. With its retro atmosphere and setup that works well for groups, it's a solid choice for a Gyodae group dinner. If you're looking for somewhere for an after-work dinner or a casual drink, I'd recommend Galgol Yeontanjip.