Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ with jeyuk stir-fry on the grill: Simin Sikdang

Jongno pork belly hotspot Simin Sikdang Main Branch

I got a bit burned out on blogging and took a break for a while. I'm treating August as a fresh start and going to run the blog with my original enthusiasm again.

Anyway, today's place is Simin Sikdang (시민식당) Main Branch, a pork belly restaurant in Jongno. It has a big space, and it's famous not just for good value but for amazing value! The set gives you beef, pork, stew and even fried rice, so it was a really great place. Maybe that's why there were so many people there for company dinners and get-togethers! Let me show you what it's like.

Simin Sikdang Main Branch location: 100m from Jongno 3-ga Station Exit 1

Simin Sikdang Main Branch, well known as a Jongno pork belly spot, is less than 100m from Exit 1 of Jongno 3-ga Station. Being right by the station makes it very easy to reach, and on a hot, humid day like this one, not having to walk much was great.

Simin Sikdang's Pimatgol exterior and atmosphere

I saw the sign reading Pimatgol Simin Sikdang. Going by the name alone, I figured it would feel like an old-school place (nopo), but the exterior was clean and classy.

At the entrance you can see the set menus and various dishes, so you can pick what to eat before going in, which I liked.

Inside, there was a spacious hall. Some BBQ places that aren't cleaned well have slippery, oily floors, but this place didn't feel like that at all. It was very clean.

On one side hung photos from various media appearances. Being featured on so many broadcasts made the place feel even more trustworthy.

Looking at the table, there was a square grill set into the middle. We sat at a table that was already set up and placed our order.

Menu: the Asamyuk set with wagyu kkotsal and pork belly

We sat down and looked at the menu. They sell good-quality beef as well as pork, and there were good-value set menus too.

There was also a wide range of meal dishes, which felt like one reason people of all ages come here. We ordered the Asamyuk set, which lets you enjoy wagyu kkotsal (flower-cut wagyu) and pork belly.

What we ordered Asamyuk set

After ordering, I looked at the side dishes that were set out. There were fresh, varied wraps vegetables, plus plenty of tasty banchan (side dishes) to eat with the meat.

Then our Asamyuk set arrived.

Asamyuk set

It's a good-value menu where you get beef and pork together and can finish with a proper meal.

For two people, I first wondered whether the portion would be a bit small, but once we'd finished the stew and fried rice too, it was totally enough.

Asamyuk set for two: wagyu kkotsal, pork belly and grill-top jeyuk

On the square grill in the middle of the table, we grilled the meat and vegetables.

If the restaurant is very busy you have to grill it yourself, but if it's fairly quiet, the staff will grill it nicely for you, so keep that in mind. Anyway, I tried the well-grilled meat. As you'd expect from wagyu, the texture was soft and juicy, and above all I loved the clean, mild flavor.

The pork had a good ratio of fat to lean meat, and eaten with the pickled onions and wraps vegetables that came with it, it never got tiresome and was delicious.

And, uniquely, jeyuk-bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) is also cooked on the grill. The spicy gochujang (chili paste) flavor cleansed my palate right when the meat's grease was getting heavy, and it was sneakily addictive, so my chopsticks kept going back.

Finishing with wagyu gujeolpan cheese fried rice and kimchi stew

After eating a fair amount, I followed the instructions for making the wagyu gujeolpan cheese fried rice and worked hard at making it.

Stir-fried with the nutty aroma of sesame oil, bean sprouts, kimchi and other side dishes, it was filling and a great way to finish.

And of course, eating it with the kimchi stew that came with the set was excellent.

What I liked about Simin Sikdang Main Branch

Today I visited Simin Sikdang Main Branch, a pork belly restaurant in Jongno, Seoul. With its big space and amazing-value meat menus, it was clearly a very popular place.

I especially loved that the set includes stew and fried rice, plus the unusual jeyuk-bokkeum, so you taste a real variety. If you're visiting Jongno, enjoying some meat here would be a great idea.

• You can enjoy a variety of meats, including beef and pork
• It's close to a subway station
• Jeyuk-bokkeum, stew and fried rice all come with the set
• Plenty of wide seating makes it good for company dinners and gatherings