Hapjeong Korean BBQ: staff-grilled straw-fire pork belly at Jipbuldon

Why we chose Jipbuldon Hapjeong for pork belly near Hapjeong Station

On the weekend I went on a double date with a friend and her husband, which we hadn't done in ages. We went to Jipbuldon Hapjeong (짚불돈 합정), a straw-fire pre-grilled pork belly place near Hapjeong Station.

Both of our husbands love working out, so we started looking for a protein-packed lunch. I searched "Hapjeong Station pork belly restaurant" and Jipbuldon Hapjeong caught my eye. The meat is pre-grilled so the flavor is a given, the staff grill it for you, and the sides are varied, so I booked right away without any more deliberation.

Where is Jipbuldon Hapjeong and how do you get there?

Jipbuldon Hapjeong is at 76 Yanghwa-ro 6-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, within walking distance of Hapjeong Station Exit 6, so it's an easy place to pick as a meeting spot.

We arrived right at opening time, and the sign stands out from far away, so it wasn't hard to find. The moment I saw the words "straw-fire pre-grilled specialty," my expectations went up! For a second I wondered, pork belly on a date? But once inside, the atmosphere was better than I expected, perfect for a double date.

Is Jipbuldon Hapjeong a good Korean BBQ spot for a date?

The restaurant is kept clean and the tables are nicely spaced. Since we got there at opening, we could look around in peace, and on the day we visited the folding doors were wide open, so even indoors it felt like sitting at an outdoor patio. On a nice day, it's the kind of space that lifts your mood.

With the copper-toned ducts and the lighting, it felt less like a rough-and-ready BBQ joint and more like a nice restaurant. There were lots of couples, and it seemed just as suited to company dinners and group gatherings.

Jipbuldon Hapjeong side dishes and the best way to eat the pork

The banchan (side dishes) were fresh ssam vegetables, special sauces and seasoned minari (water dropwort), a solid lineup to go with the meat.

There was also a friendly guide to eating the meat. You can mix and match wasabi, gamtae (seaweed) salt, the special sauce, minari and more, which made eating it a lot of fun.

Straw-fire pre-grilled pork belly, grilled at the table by staff

The meat at Jipbuldon Hapjeong comes pre-grilled, so the cooking time is short, and best of all, the staff grill it for you. It came with a generous amount of meat plus plenty of mushrooms and onions, and just looking at it you could tell it was fresh.

And here comes the star of the day! Having it grilled for us was honestly the best part. We hadn't seen our friends in ages and had so much to talk about, and nobody got distracted by tending the meat. We just focused on talking while the staff grilled it perfectly. This is what an easy night out should feel like.

The juicy meat really stood out. The nutty flavor comes through strongly, and they grill the minari right alongside it, which feels almost like cheating, doesn't it? The fragrant minari and the pork with its straw-fire aroma go together really well. I can see now why so many people recommend Jipbuldon when you search for pork belly near Hapjeong Station.

Jipbuldon Hapjeong sides: stew, steamed egg, perilla-oil Jjapaghetti and kimchi noodles

We also ordered the stew and steamed egg (gyeran-jjim) that no Korean BBQ meal should be without. The bubbling stew was spicy with real depth, and the fluffy steamed egg softened the heat, so the two paired well.

And the perilla oil jjapaghetti (stir-fried black bean instant noodles) was better than I expected! The nutty perilla aroma comes up strong, and eaten with the meat it has its own charm.

The kimchi noodles (kimchi-malli guksu, noodles in a chilled kimchi broth) we ordered as a side were a real treat too. They're good with the meat and just as good on their own. With the weather getting warmer, one sip of that cold broth reset my whole mouth! If I had to pick between the two, my vote goes to the kimchi noodles :)

How much does Jipbuldon Hapjeong cost for four people?

Four of us went, my husband and I plus our friends, and even though we ordered generously, from the meat to the sides, it came to just over ₩100,000.

Even with two gym-loving guys who really put away meat, everyone left full. So the value for money was quite satisfying. Add the extras that came out along the way and the convenience of having the meat grilled for you, and I was even happier with it!

Hapjeong double date ideas and a group booking discount

After the meal, the streets nearby were lovely too. With that distinctive Hapjeong and Hongdae vibe, we strolled along the tree-lined street to a nearby café. After some cold bingsu (shaved ice dessert), it felt like the perfect end to a city double date with our friends.

I also heard there's a 5% discount if you book a wedding-invitation gathering through Naver reservation, so anyone looking for a group venue might want to keep that in mind.

Verdict: who should eat at Jipbuldon Hapjeong?

I thought pork belly on a date was a bit unexpected, but thanks to the nice space, the grilling service, the juicy meat and the variety of sides, it turned out even more satisfying. If you want to focus on conversation with people you haven't seen in a while, it seems to suit company dinners, family gatherings and couple dates alike. If I have a meat dinner plan in Hapjeong, this is a place I'd go back to! If you're looking for pork belly near Hapjeong Station, give it a look :)