Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ, staff-grilled belly & potato slices: Cham

Looking for a great pork belly place near Jongno 3-ga Station? When you're hunting for a Korean BBQ spot for a group dinner, taste matters, but roomy seating, a relaxed mood and having someone grill for you quietly matter a lot too~

Today I'm bringing you a review of Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch (참돼짓간 종로본점), a great spot for group dinners. It's only 1–2 minutes on foot from Jongno 3-ga Station, so it's easy to reach, and the staff grill the meat for you so you can just relax and eat. I had Boseong Nokdon (Boseong black pork) belly and neck, plus doenjang stew (soybean paste stew)~~

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch: location, reservations and wait

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch is about a 3-minute walk from Exits 2 and 2-1 of Jongno 3-ga Station, on the first floor of CGV Picadilly. Since it's on the ground floor of the cinema building, it's easy to find~

It gets popular in the evening, so I recommend booking on Catch Table right away! I went on a weekend evening and had to wait myself..

Parking and atmosphere at Cham Dwaejitgan

There's no parking at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch, so I recommend taking public transport. The inside is spacious and pleasant, which makes it good for company dinners and gatherings~ There's group seating too, and lots of office teams and family groups come here.

Do they grill the meat for you?

Yes, the staff at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch grill the meat for you. This is honestly the best part. You don't have to worry about grilling timing and can chat comfortably while you eat~! You order by kiosk.

Side dishes and the self-serve bar at Cham Dwaejitgan

The basic side dishes are varied too. Dropwort (minari), kimchi, bean sprouts, scallion salad, garlic stems, lettuce, perilla leaves and more, a lineup that goes well with meat, and most of it can be refilled at the self-serve bar~!

They use handmade grill plates that don't splatter much oil, and grilling over charcoal gives the meat even more flavor!

How was the Boseong Nokdon pork belly?

The first thing I ordered was the Boseong Nokdon pork belly. It comes out nice and thick. A staff member grills it right over the charcoal, and the aroma rising as it cooks gets your appetite going... ah, I'm getting hungry now

The outside is golden and the inside stays juicy and moist. The kimchi, bean sprouts and dropwort grilled alongside are a really good combination too.

Eaten with dropwort in particular, the richness of the pork belly feels even more pronounced. I also liked that you can enjoy it your way with ssamjang (dipping paste), salt, wasabi and spicy sauce~~

Won't the flower neck be dry?

When I ordered the pork belly at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch, I also got the Boseong Nokdon flower neck (kkotmoksal, pork neck). Neck can end up dry, but the neck here is juicy with a soft texture, really top-notch~

Thanks to the thick cut it's satisfying to chew, and you really taste the meat itself. If pork belly's charm is its richness, the neck's charm is a clean taste with a deep meaty flavor.

Personally, putting a little wasabi on top went really well together.. If you come for a group dinner, I recommend ordering pork belly and neck together~~

Golden grilled meat plus sauces you can mix and match is just the best!

Are the extra potato slices worth adding?

These are the potato slices I added at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch. Potatoes grilled golden on the grill plate are a real treat! Please, please add them..

Crisp outside, fluffy inside. Eaten with the meat, they make a fun different combo. The potatoes get grilled in the meat fat and they're sooo good, I'm tearing up ㅠㅜㅜ

Finishing with doenjang stew

Once you've eaten a good amount of meat, you can't skip the doenjang stew at Cham Dwaejitgan!! The savory soybean paste aroma comes up strong, and it has a pleasantly spicy kick that goes well with meat. It cleans up your mouth after the meat, so it's perfect as a closing dish!! Add a bowl of rice and eat them together. Haha

Why it's a good group dinner spot near Jongno 3-ga Station

If you're looking for a Korean BBQ place or a group dinner spot near Jongno 3-ga Station, I recommend Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch~~ Besides the excellent quality of the Boseong Nokdon meat, the big plus is that staff grill it for you so you can eat comfortably!! With roomy seating and a clean, tidy interior, it works for company dinners, gatherings and dates, all great~! If you want a proper pork belly meal in Jongno 3-ga, I recommend giving it a visit!