Guui Station Korean BBQ: ₩59,000 special pork cuts set, Ssamchae

What kind of Korean BBQ restaurant is Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal in Guui-dong?

Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal (쌈채솥뚜껑삼겹살) is a Korean BBQ place in Guui-dong where you grill a variety of special pork cuts on an iron pot lid. Grilling on the lid is fun in itself, and there's also a self-bar where you can grab as many wrap vegetables and mushrooms as you like.

Above all, I was surprised that the drinks (soju and beer) are ₩3,900. In these days of high prices, ₩3,900?! I'm touched, honestly. Let me tell you about this place, where I got to try pork neck, skirt meat, kkodeulsal and pork skin, all in one go.

Location near Guui Station, opening hours and parking

• Hours: daily 12:00–24:00 (last order 23:00)
• No parking
• Address: 55 Jayang-ro, Building 102, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea

The restaurant is about a 10-minute walk from Guui Station. The moment I got near, the rich, savory smell of grilled meat set my mouth watering.

Inside Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal

There are two shops of the same size side by side, with a passage inside connecting them. True to its reputation as a Guui-dong favorite, it was quite crowded even in the early evening.

The menu and what we ordered

※ Soju and beer are ₩3,900 here. Amazing.

Here's what we ordered that day.

• Special cuts set
• Steamed rice
• Kimchi noodle soup (kimchi-malli guksu)
• Soju

What are the side dishes and the wrap vegetable self-serve bar like?

Once you sit down, the basic side dishes are set out for you, and anything extra, like wrap vegetables and mushrooms, you fetch yourself from the self-bar.

The self-corner is clean and generously stocked with wrap vegetables, mushrooms and more, so you can eat as much as you like.

You don't even have to call a staff member; you can bring over as many vegetables as you want, which is really convenient when you're eating meat. It's a space that will especially please people who like to pile on the wraps.

What's in the ₩59,000 special pork cuts set?

The special cuts set at Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal comes with skirt meat (galmaegisal), pork neck (hangjeongsal), kkodeulsal and pork skin, for ₩59,000. I liked the lineup and being able to try several special cuts at once, and the color and condition of the meat looked super fresh.

They put 2 pieces each of kkodeulsal, pork neck and skirt meat on the pot lid, along with enoki mushrooms, eggplant and other things to grill alongside, and cooked it all for us.

Watching the meat cook up so nicely, I just wanted a bite right away.

Pork jowl (hangjeongsal): tender and nutty with just salt

The first piece I reached for in the set was the beautifully cooked pork neck. Even when cutting it into bite-size pieces, I could feel how tender it was.

For the first bite I wanted the true flavor of the meat, so I dipped it in just a little salt. The more I chewed, the more savory it got, and the texture was soft, so I was satisfied from the very first bite. Even now, as I write this, I find myself craving it again.

Pork skirt (galmaegisal): a deep, meaty flavor

Next up was the skirt meat. Again just a light dip in salt, and it had a charm all its own, different from the pork neck.

You could taste the rich, characteristic meaty aroma of skirt meat, and the savory flavor came alive the more I chewed. It was clean-tasting yet clearly meaty, the kind of cut you keep reaching for.

Wrapping the pork in self-serve bar vegetables

The meat was good on its own, but it was also great with the vegetables from the self-bar. A well-grilled piece of meat topped with enoki mushrooms, plus kkodeulppaegi (bitter greens) and pickled chili, then one big bite!

The savory meat plus the crunch of the vegetables and the tang of the pickles cut the greasiness and made for a much more varied taste. It's fun how the same meat tastes different depending on what you eat it with.

Kimchi mari guksu (cold kimchi noodle soup) to finish

When you're eating meat, you start craving something cold and noodly, right? This time we also ordered the kimchi-malli guksu (noodles in chilled kimchi broth) here.

After enjoying a variety of special cuts, adding the kimchi noodles was a great way to wrap up the meal. If you're looking for something to eat alongside the meat, I recommend ordering the kimchi noodles too.

Who is Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal in Guui-dong best for?

Ssamchae Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal in Guui-dong! This time I ordered the special cuts set, which lets you enjoy skirt meat, pork neck, kkodeulsal and pork skin all at once. What stuck with me most were the tender, savory pork neck and the skirt meat with its appealingly rich meaty flavor.

The self-bar where you fetch your own wrap vegetables and mushrooms was convenient, and I liked being able to enjoy the meat with a variety of vegetables. I recommend this place if you want to taste several special pork cuts at once in Guui-dong, or if you want a generous meat meal with plenty of wraps.