Jokbal spot by Sindorim Station: soy, cold & plain trio, The Jokbal

Whenever I want jokbal near Sindorim Station, The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch (더족발 신도림본점) is the first place that comes to mind. I've tried a bunch of jokbal spots over the past few years, and this is the one I personally keep going back to. Here's my honest review of a recent visit, plus the menu, location, parking and waiting info!

The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch hours and days off

The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch is open Tuesday to Saturday 12:00–22:30 and Sunday 12:00–21:30, and closed every Monday. The address is 619-3 Gyeongin-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul, on the first floor of the shopping arcade at Sindorim 3rd Prugio Apartment. Parking is available (you register at payment).

Getting there from Sindorim Station and Guro Station, plus parking

It's about 14 minutes on foot from Sindorim Station (Lines 1 and 2) and also about 14 minutes from Guro Station (Line 1), so the distance is about the same from either one. Pick whichever is convenient. If you take the bus, it's just one stop from the station, so you'll get there quickly.

You can also come by car. Just make sure to register your license plate when you pay!

Waits and atmosphere: is it good for a group dinner?

There's almost always a wait in the evening, so there are waiting tables right in front of the restaurant. Naver reservations are available, and I strongly recommend booking ahead before you go!

The exterior is clean and looks like a classic jokbal place. The inside is bigger than I expected, with decent spacing between tables, so it was comfortable to sit. There's also a slightly separated area, which makes it perfect for company dinners and group gatherings. It isn't a fully private room, but it definitely feels partitioned off, and I hear a lot of people come here for team dinners in Sindorim.

Side dishes and the free cold jokbal

After you order and wait a little, the jokbal arrives with ssam (wrap) greens, dried radish, bean sprout soup, chive salad, ssamjang (dipping paste), onion, garlic and more. The side dishes are really generous, so the table feels full even before the jokbal lands.

And the highlight of the sides is definitely the free cold jokbal! It comes as a little taster, and if you visit in summer it's served as a freebie, so it's a total bonus. Dunk it in the sauce and a bit of spiciness tickles your nose, a really appetizing flavor.

How is The Jokbal's jokbal different from other jokbal places?

They say The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch makes its jokbal with a recipe developed by a chef with 30 years of experience at the Chosun Hotel. They reportedly use only Korean grade-1 raw trotters and strictly follow a "3-day rule": received the same day, boiled the same day, sold the same day.

Maybe that's why there's almost none of the usual jokbal funk, and it leaves a really clean taste even after you've finished. There's a reason it has kept going in Sindorim since 2012.

What's in the 3-type combo and how does it taste?

The 3-type combo lets you enjoy cold jokbal + soy jokbal + plain jokbal on one table. It was the main point of this visit, and the three flavors are so different that I never got tired and enjoyed it to the end. The portion is very generous overall too, like you eat and eat and it never shrinks 😂

Cold jokbal: fresh and refreshing

The cold jokbal was the first thing to catch my eye in the combo. Moist, tender jokbal meets a sweet-and-sour cold sauce, and from the first bite a fresh, cooling flavor hits you. It's truly the best on a hot day.

Dunk the jokbal in the sauce and a bit of spiciness comes through, which keeps your appetite going. It isn't greasy and is easy to eat, so I think it suits people trying jokbal for the first time.

Soy jokbal: salty and deep (my personal favorite!)

My personal favorite of the combo was without question the soy jokbal. The glossy, shiny look already seems delicious, and one bite spreads a salty yet deep soy-sauce aroma.

The sweet soy sauce has soaked deep into the jokbal, so the lean meat is moist and the collagen part has a wonderful chewy texture. I hear the recipe uses 15 premium ingredients, and maybe thanks to that the soy flavor isn't one-note but has layers of savory depth.

Wrapped in lettuce with garlic, the combination is truly the best. A little salted shrimp (saeujeot) on top is delicious too, and it's addictive enough that you keep eating it without rice.

Plain jokbal: soft, mild, the classic taste

The plain jokbal lets you taste jokbal at its most original. Boiled cleanly with no funk, it's very soft and mild, and you can feel the care in it the whole time you're eating.

The skin is chewy without being overly tough, and the lean meat is moist and pulls apart along the grain. I also liked the faint herbal-medicine aroma and savory depth coming through. The seasoning isn't too strong, so you can keep eating without getting sick of it, and I think it's especially good for people who can't handle strong flavors or when you come with older family members.

Is the makguksu worth adding?

The makguksu I ordered with the combo was also a total hit. The noodles, well coated in sweet-and-sour sauce, are chewy, and from the first bite your appetite perks right up. The portion was much bigger than I expected, which surprised me.

Wraps with makguksu piled on the jokbal

Makguksu is tasty on its own, but I strongly recommend wrapping it together with the jokbal! Put a generous pile of chewy makguksu noodles on a slice of tender jokbal and wrap it big in lettuce, and the savory juices + chewy noodles + sweet-and-sour sauce all come together at once. It's truly the best combo. 😋

Eating only jokbal can get a bit greasy, but the makguksu wipes that richness right away, so I could keep eating it light and tasty to the end. If you visit The Jokbal, I'd say definitely add the makguksu!

Verdict: The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch 3-type combo + makguksu

The combo plus makguksu at The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch is a truly perfect table. The freshness of the cold jokbal → the deep saltiness of the soy jokbal → the mild taste of the plain jokbal, and then the sweet-and-sour, chewy makguksu on top, so there was no time to get bored.

The portions are very generous, so it's great value too, and I strongly recommend this combination if it's your first visit! The staff are friendly, service is fast, and hygiene is kept clean, so it's a place you can go with confidence. It's near Guro Station and Sindorim Station and has parking, so access is the best. If you're looking for a Sindorim jokbal spot, I strongly recommend The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch as a Guro Station restaurant 🙌