Korean BBQ in Songpa, Seoul: staff-grilled pork neck at Insaengdwaeji

On a recent weekday evening, my husband and I went out for dinner to Insaengdwaeji, near our home in Munjeong-dong. This place has apparently held down the same spot for 10 years now, known as a Korean BBQ spot near Munjeong Station. Hearing that there's still a wait even after 10 years, I went in with high expectations.

Where is Insaengdwaeji Songpa Branch and how do you get there from Munjeong Station?

Insaengdwaeji Songpa Branch is on the basement floor of Songpa Prugio City, close to Munjeong Station, so it was really easy to reach. It's about a 7–8 minute walk from the bus stop, and the restaurants are located half a flight down the stairs inside the building.

Even though it was a weekday evening, the place was already packed with people. It really made me feel this is a tried-and-tested Korean BBQ spot near Munjeong Station.

Inside Insaengdwaeji Songpa Branch: seating for group dinners and the basic table setting

The atmosphere at Insaengdwaeji felt great — the tables have plenty of space between them and there are plenty of seats, so it seemed like it would work well for a work dinner or year-end group gathering.

Apparently it's actually popular as a spot for company dinners, so if you're looking for a group gathering place in the Songpa area, I'd recommend giving this a look.

As soon as we sat down, they set up the basics — scallion salad (a must-have with grilled meat), kimchi, and fish sauce dipping sauce were all ready.

Personally, when I go to a BBQ place, I think the side dishes and sauces that come with the meat matter almost as much as the meat itself, and I liked that Insaengdwaeji's spread went so well with the pork.

Pork neck for two: how big is the portion, and who does the grilling?

We ordered pork neck, and when it landed on the table, the portion was so generous I actually doubted whether it was really just for two people.

The fresh pork neck had a pink tinge and looked juicy just from the sight of it. The best part of this place is that the staff grill the meat for you, so we didn't have to worry about the grilling at all and could just relax and chat through the meal — that was really satisfying.

Thanks to this kind of service, I think it'd work fine for a date, a work dinner, a year-end gathering, or even a meal with your parents 🤗

The steamed egg this couple orders every visit

There's one dish my husband and I always order when we eat grilled meat — steamed egg. This time was no exception, so we ordered it again.

A little while later the steamed egg arrived, and just the sight of it steaming was appetizing. It was great to eat alongside the meat throughout the meal.

Adding pork skirt meat and pork skin at Insaengdwaeji Songpa Branch

After finishing the pork neck and steamed egg, we got curious about the other menu items and ended up ordering pork skirt meat and pork skin as well. We'd originally planned to just have the two servings of pork neck and leave, but it was so good that we wanted to try more.

The pork skirt meat had a completely different texture from the neck meat,

and the pork skin is one of my favorite dishes — chewy in texture, and since the staff grilled it themselves until it was properly cooked, we got to eat it chewy at its best. Pork skin is a dish that meat lovers really shouldn't skip.

Finishing with carbs: the kimchi noodle soup

We'd already eaten plenty of meat, but thinking that a Korean meal really has to end with carbs, we finished up by ordering kimchi noodle soup (kimchimari guksu).

Finishing off the meat with cold kimchi noodle soup felt really clean. After warm, greasy meat, a bite of cold noodles refreshed my palate completely — it felt like the perfect choice for the last dish.

Final verdict: who is Insaengdwaeji Songpa Branch best for?

We went to Insaengdwaeji this time just to have dinner somewhere close to home, and it ended up being more filling and delicious than I expected, so it left a real impression.

It was impressive that this place has held its ground for 10 years, and above all, the generous portion of pork neck, the fresh-looking meat, the convenience of staff grilling it for you, the spacious dining room, and the variety of side dishes all added up to a comfortable overall meal.

If you're looking for good grilled meat in Munjeong-dong, searching for a Korean BBQ spot near Munjeong Station, or want a Korean BBQ restaurant near Munjeong Station where you can eat comfortably, Insaengdwaeji is worth checking out.