Half-and-half jokbal set in Hongdae, Seoul: Manjok Ohyang Jokbal

I went to Manjok Ohyang Jokbal Hongdae Station Branch, a Hongdae favorite backed up by both Michelin and Blue Ribbon~

Manjok Ohyang Jokbal Hongdae Station Branch

What is Manjok Ohyang Jokbal Hongdae Station Branch?

Manjok Ohyang Jokbal Hongdae Station Branch is already famous as one of Seoul's three big jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurants, and on top of that it's been a Hongdae landmark listed in the Michelin Bib Gourmand for 7 straight years!! and the Blue Ribbon Survey for 12 straight years.

One of my friends absolutely can't resist jokbal~ she suggested jokbal again so we came here together~ She was super excited~😁

Visiting at 2:30pm: no break time and what the restaurant feels like

My friend and I met at 2:30pm, and luckily there's no break time so we could walk in without worrying. The store is spacious and, more than anything, really clean~ The staff were friendly too~

Menu and set prices at Manjok Ohyang Jokbal in Hongdae

The mains are bossam (boiled pork wraps) and jokbal, plus side dishes like jaengban noodles, water dumplings, rice balls, and bibim noodles, along with discounted set menus. The Jeju-style whelk jjolmyeon (chewy cold noodles) stood out, and the new spicy garlic jokbal and bossam looked delicious too~

After a lot of deliberation, we ordered the half-and-half (medium) set with jaengban noodles. It costs ₩52,000.

A generously loaded table~ and the tteok-mandu-guk comes free too~ 😍😍 👍👍👍

How does the half-and-half jokbal taste? Five-spice vs fire jokbal

The jokbal came piled high — half classic ohyang jokbal (five-spice braised trotters), half spicy fire jokbal dusted with crushed nuts. Just look at that glossy sheen~ 🥰

Even lifting it with chopsticks you could feel how tender it was, and once it hit my mouth, the lean meat was soft to chew while the skin had a chewy, springy texture — it just melted right into my mouth~

The fire jokbal, coated in spicy sauce, wasn't just aggressively hot but had a deliciously sharp kick — a real standout. My friend, who's always hunting down jokbal restaurants, took one bite and admitted it's one of the best she's had!!😁

After just one piece, I completely understood why it's been a Michelin Bib Gourmand pick for 7 years and kept its Blue Ribbon status for 12.😁

The best way to eat five-spice jokbal: garlic sauce and shredded cabbage

Ah!! There's a trick to eating ohyang jokbal the best way~ dip shredded cabbage in the special garlic sauce and eat it together — apparently that's the ultimate combo!!! Everyone should really try it this way~ it's genuinely delicious~

Jaengban noodles and the complimentary tteok-mandu-guk

And then the jaengban noodles!!! The seasoning was great, but the springy, chewy noodles were what really got me. They were delicious with the jokbal, and also paired well with the warm tteok-mandu-guk broth.

Honest verdict on Manjok Ohyang Jokbal Hongdae Station Branch

Living up to its reputation, the store was clean, the menu lineup and neat side dishes were solid, and above all the texture of the jokbal meat itself made the whole meal genuinely satisfying~ Honestly, I've been let down before by places relying only on hype, so I was skeptical — but by the time I finished eating, I couldn't help saying, "wow, I really ate well today." For once, I cleaned the plate down to the last bite without any greasiness, and left in a great mood!😁

Hours, location and parking

• 📍 1F, 191 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (193m from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 2)
• ⏰️ Daily 11:30–23:30
• 🚘 Parking available (first 30 min free, then ₩1,000 per 10 min, max ₩30,000)