Myeongdong jokbal eaten in the shop's suggested order: Miss Jokbal

I went to try the signature emperor's jokbal, or MYTH JOKBAL, at Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch, a 30-year Korean restaurant institution in Myeongdong.

I'd read reviews raving about how good Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch is — premium domestic jokbal, slow-aged and then simmered fresh several times a day in a deeply flavored broth — so a friend and I decided to catch up over a proper foodie meetup in Myeongdong.

Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch: full even after the lunch rush

Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch reportedly simmers fresh jokbal at least 3 to 5 times a day, so the taste and texture stay consistent no matter when you go. It's a well-known jokbal spot among both Koreans and foreign tourists, and even though we came after the lunch peak, the place was nearly full.

Watching foreign tourists keep streaming in for traditional Korean food well past lunchtime gave me a weirdly proud, patriotic feeling, haha. Go Korean food!! Long may it thrive~~

An 11,000 won lunch special, but the emperor's jokbal won

This spot is also known as a good-value Myeongdong lunch destination, with a bossam set at ₩11,000 and a makguksu jokbal set at ₩12,500 — plenty for a full meal. But since we'd come all this way for a proper Myeongdong jokbal restaurant, we decided to go for the main event, the emperor's jokbal.

Kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and salad come free with any jokbal or bossam order here, and the spicy broth with noodles that don't go soft easily is a real highlight.

What comes with the emperor's jokbal: shrimp salad, muk jelly, japchae

While the kalguksu was cooking, the emperor's jokbal came out fast. Compared to the usual simple side dishes at a typical jokbal place, this dish arrives with a gorgeous spread that foreign diners would love too — shrimp salad, mukk (jelly), japchae (glass noodle stir-fry) and more.

Lean meat and tender collagen~~ Sliced carefully and beautifully plated, this jokbal looks absolutely stunning. Haha.

How the staff tell you to eat the emperor's jokbal

According to Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch, the emperor's jokbal tastes best when eaten in the recommended order.

• Start with the kimchi kalguksu to wake up your palate
• Next, enjoy the jokbal's natural flavor with no sauce
• Then dip it in ssamjang, shrimp sauce, and mala sauce
• Finish with the salad and vegetable wraps

1. Start with the free kimchi kalguksu

As instructed, kalguksu first~ The broth was fantastic, and I never realized noodles could pair so well with jokbal. One bite of meat, one spoonful of broth, and any greasiness disappears completely. That fresh reset made me ready to eat even more, haha.

2. Jokbal with no sauce at all

Next, tasting it without sauce. Not too strong, not too mild — well-seasoned with just the right aroma, soft yet chewy, closer to a tender style than a dry one. Still, it kept that satisfying chewy texture. No gamey smell at all, of course.

3. Ssamjang, shrimp sauce, mala sauce — shrimp sauce is the best match

Next I tried dipping it in ssamjang, shrimp sauce, and mala sauce. If you like spicy, mala sauce is the way to go, but personally, the shrimp sauce suited it best.

There were also side dishes like gimbap (seaweed rice roll), japchae, and dubu kimchi (tofu with stir-fried kimchi), so we mixed things up and enjoyed the variety.

4. Finish with the salad and lettuce wraps

We finished with salad and wraps, folding the jokbal into vegetables. I don't think I've ever eaten jokbal with such a variety of combinations, side dishes, and kimchi kalguksu all together before. The emperor's jokbal, with its great mix of flavor twists!!

Two people split it: how big is the 2–3 person portion?

My friend had mentioned before the meal that they preferred bossam, so I was a little worried they wouldn't enjoy the emperor's jokbal as much... but nope, turns out they demolished it. Are you sure you actually prefer bossam?? Haha.

We pretty much split it about 50/50 between the two of us. The portion looked like it was meant for 2–3 people, but we absolutely cleared it. If you're looking for a great Myeongdong jokbal restaurant, this legendary Myth Jokbal is perfect whether you're eating solo, out with family, or gathering with coworkers or a bigger group. Haha. With such a flashy spread and great flavor, it makes for a really enjoyable meal in a nice atmosphere.

Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch: hours, prices and directions

• Address: 21 Myeongdong 3-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (178m from Euljiro 1-ga Station Exit 5)
• Hours: 11:00 – 3:00 (next day)