Songtan charcoal BBQ restaurant with three pork cuts: Jugeokjip

These days, when I go out for meat, what matters just as much as the flavor is whether the price is reasonable too! This time I went to a Songtan restaurant famous for meat — Jugeokjip in Pyeongtaek.

What caught my eye from the start here was the 100% free unlimited soju! If you're someone who loves soju with your meat, that alone is enough to hook you haha. On top of that, ordering more meat gets you a discount compared to the first order, which makes it a great spot to visit with a group and eat plenty.

Where is Jugeokjip and what are its hours?

Jugeokjip's flagship store is at 35 Jisan-1-ro 70beon-gil, 1st floor, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, open daily from 10:00 to 22:00 with last order at 21:20. It's open 365 days a year.

Jugeokjip is about a 5-minute drive from Songtan Station. It's easy to reach from the Songtan Tourist Special Zone area, and it's also fairly close to the Songtan branch office, so access was decent. I left my car behind since I wanted a drink, and took the bus instead — it was only a 2-minute walk from the bus stop, so no hassle at all!

From the outside, it has that comfortable, easygoing vibe typical of a Korean BBQ restaurant, making it great for a meal with friends or for meat and drinks in the evening. It seemed especially good for anyone in Songtan looking for a company dinner or a group gathering spot.

Is the 100% unlimited free soju really free?

Jugeokjip has a sign right at the entrance announcing unlimited soju. Even 100 bottles, unlimited, haha — the owner's got some serious generosity.

When you're eating meat at a Korean BBQ place, the bill quietly climbs as you add one bottle of soju, then another — but here, since soju is 100% unlimited and free, it's a huge perk for anyone who loves to drink. Of course, I paced myself so I could properly enjoy the meat haha. Anyone who loves the meat-and-soju combo will probably be pretty satisfied with the value here.

How big is Jugeokjip and can groups eat there?

Jugeokjip has a fairly spacious dining hall with tables set well apart. It's great for a casual meal for two, but the atmosphere also makes it easy for a bigger group to visit. Group orders are available too, so it seemed like a great option for a family outing, a friends' get-together, or a company dinner where several people are eating meat together.

Side dishes and the free ice cream dessert at Jugeokjip

At a meat restaurant, the basic side dishes are something you quietly look forward to as much as the meat itself, and Jugeokjip had quite a variety of them included. There were several side dishes that paired well with the meat, and eating one after another made the meat even more enjoyable. The side dishes disappear fast once you get going, but it was nice that you could easily ask for refills when they ran low.

On top of that, dessert ice cream is free too!! The owner is really generous, haha.

Three cuts ordered at once and the extra-order discount

I wanted to try a variety of meats that day, so I ordered like this:

• Charcoal-grilled fresh pork belly (1 serving)
• Signature jugeoksal
• Charcoal pork ribs in sauce (1 serving)

It felt like a waste to stick to just one menu item, so I decided to try a bit of everything — pork belly, jugeoksal, and pork ribs!

Another fun thing about Jugeokjip is that the price drops when you order more meat. The price for the first order and for additional orders is different, and you get the discount on extra orders even if it's not the same menu item — so if you're with a group, it seems like a good idea to order a reasonable amount at first and then add more of whatever you're running low on.

Charcoal-grilled fresh pork belly

First up, the charcoal-grilled fresh pork belly! Being grilled over charcoal, it had this subtle smoky aroma that I loved. The golden-brown pork belly looked so good it made me think of rice right away... 🤤

Taking a bite, it was savory with just the right amount of juiciness, plus that distinct charcoal aroma layered on top — really delicious. Pork belly really does taste best grilled over charcoal like this. It was good wrapped in lettuce, and just as good dipped lightly in salt on its own! The meat itself was good enough that it was delicious even without any wraps or side dishes.

Signature jugeoksal (pork scapula cut)

Then the signature jugeoksal, whose name alone made me curious! Since I was at Jugeokjip, I figured I had to try this, so I ordered it. Personally, it was one of the most memorable dishes I had that day.

Grilled over charcoal, the outside cooked up appetizingly while the inside stayed moist. Picking up a piece and eating it, the more you chewed, the more the real flavor of the meat came through. Meat really does need to be grilled over charcoal...!

Marinated charcoal pork ribs

And of course, pork ribs can't be missing! I ordered a serving of charcoal pork ribs in sauce too. When the well-marinated pork ribs hit the charcoal grill, that sweet marinade aroma rose up right away, and honestly, the smell alone stirred up my appetite haha.

The golden-browned pork ribs had a great balance between the sweet marinade and the charcoal aroma. After the plainer flavor of the pork belly, switching to the seasoned pork ribs partway through gave a completely different feel!

Who is Jugeokjip best for?

Jugeokjip has a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere that makes it easy to enjoy meat comfortably, so it works well for anything from a meal with friends to a family outing, a date, or a company dinner. Groups who love the meat-plus-drinks combo in particular will likely be even more satisfied thanks to the free unlimited soju.