Jongno Korean BBQ restaurant with a retractable roof: Meongseokjip

An outdoor-style Korean BBQ spot in an Ikseon-dong alley

Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch (멍석집 종로3가점)

I found Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch while looking for a Korean BBQ place with a great outdoor-drinking vibe in Ikseon-dong~ With the distinctive bustle of Jongno 3-ga and the charm of the Ikseon-dong alleys combined, it was just the right atmosphere for meat at dinner!!

There were tables set up outside, so on a nice day it was the perfect place to properly enjoy that Ikseon-dong outdoor Korean BBQ feeling~ The restaurant has a roof that can open and close, so even indoors, you can fully enjoy the outdoor atmosphere when the weather is nice~ Plus, there were lots of diners, so you could really feel Ikseon-dong's lively evening energy!

Meongseok Set and à la carte prices

There were plenty of pork and beef options, including the signature Meongseok Set for ₩55,000~ The set came with two servings of aged pork belly, one serving of aged pork neck, and grilling service. À la carte, there was aged pork belly for ₩18,000, galbigisal for ₩18,000, pork jowl for ₩19,000, and flower pork neck for ₩19,000; beef rib meat and beef chuck flap were ₩24,000 each.

That day, we ordered two servings of aged pork belly. Sadly, the flower pork neck was sold out when we visited, so we couldn't order it. Sides included kimchi fried rice for ₩7,000, steamed egg for ₩5,000, and rice for ₩1,000; makgeolli was ₩4,000 and soft drinks were ₩2,000, so we ordered the steamed egg!

The staff grill the meat for you~ Even though they were busy, they took great care of our table, so thank you!!

Thick aged pork belly grilled by the staff

I really liked how visibly thick the aged pork belly we ordered was~

Once it hit the grill, the fat began to sizzle from the pork belly and that delicious smell started wafting up, haha. They grilled garlic around the edge of the grill too, which was great with the meat~ It felt like the Korean soul, you know? Haha.

The nicely browned aged pork belly had just-crisp-enough edges and moist meat, so it was delicious even simply dipped in salt or sauce.

Once the meat was cooked to a point, you could cut it into bite-size pieces. Since it was thick, it was best browned on the outside while keeping the inside juicy!!

A self-service bar for easy wrap refills

Meongseokjip had a separate self-service bar. It was convenient to take as much kimchi, lettuce, garlic, seasonings, and side dishes as we needed! When you're eating meat, wrap ingredients like lettuce and garlic disappear so quickly, so I loved being able to grab more right away from the bar~

Wrapping grilled kimchi and garlic with pork belly in lettuce gave that proper Korean BBQ restaurant taste.

A piece of pork belly with kimchi, garlic, and a lettuce wrap cut through the richness, and I just kept reaching for more!!

Fluffy steamed egg alongside the meat

The fluffy steamed egg came overflowing from a ttukbaegi (Korean earthenware pot), and it looked generous from the start~ Taking spoonfuls of warm, soft steamed egg between bites of meat was a pretty great combination, haha.

So, how was it for Ikseon-dong outdoor Korean BBQ?

Overall, Meongseokjip Jongno 3-ga Branch offered a range of meats centered on aged pork belly, but its biggest appeal was getting to enjoy an outdoor-style atmosphere in an Ikseon-dong alley! If you're looking for Ikseon-dong outdoor pork belly, I think it would be nice to visit in the evening and eat at an outdoor table. If you want pork belly, pork neck, or other meats in Ikseon-dong and want to enjoy the atmosphere too, this is a place I'd recommend~ The restroom was clean too, totally my style~~