Sindorim jokbal restaurant for solo diners: Sambaekga makguksu set

It had been a while since I visited Sindorim, so I went for my soul food, jokbal (braised pork trotter). Sindorim Station is under construction so getting out wasn't easy, but since it's close to home I often end up at this Sindorim kalguksu spot, Sambaekga — a casual Korean restaurant that's been a family brand of the head office The Jokbal since 2012, carrying its original taste and care with a younger, more stylish vibe added on top.

They serve everything from jokbal and bossam to kalguksu, and pay close attention to every single ingredient that goes into the food. What stands out is being able to enjoy a hearty, generous meal made with care, in a comfortable space. If you want to taste a spread made with good ingredients used generously, I'd recommend having a special meal at Sambaekga.

How to order at Sindorim Sambaekga and what the signature menu is

Sindorim Sambaekga lets you order easily from a tablet at your table, and the signature dishes are the front-leg jokbal and the tray makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles). Sambaekga also just released a new menu item, naengchae jokbal (cold jokbal salad).

Personally I like jokbal more than bossam, so every time I go I order only jokbal and eat well. Takeout is also possible, so if there's leftover jokbal you can just pack it up and eat it again at home.

Eating alone: the Sambaek jokbal makguksu set for 50,000 won

Today I once again ordered the set menu, the samback jokbal makguksu set. Price: 50,000 won. I went solo to this Sindorim kalguksu spot, Sambaekga, where solo jokbal dining is totally doable, and ate jokbal alone.

Is it your first time seeing someone eat jokbal alone? Why do you keep staring at me?

It's delicious wrapped in lettuce with jokbal, a little garlic, ssamjang, and chives, and the perilla leaves smelled fragrant too, must be in season.

Japan has shiso, Korea has perilla leaves! Gotta eat our own country's food. Especially vegetables — good for your health, eat plenty.

The naengchae jokbal can also be ordered as a single dish for 34,000 won. Summer's passing now, and fall will pass by quickly too. Feels like winter will suddenly be here soon.

Self-serve yeolmu kimchi and the lunch receipt-review perk

Sindorim Sambaekga gives you barley rice if you order the kalguksu, and you can take yeolmu kimchi from the self-bar. This place's yeolmu kimchi is genuinely good.

Is this a spot where grandpas go for company dinners? It's already proven to be delicious. Yeolmu kimchi + gochujang + sesame oil. Please only take as much food as you'll eat. Also, if you leave a Naver receipt review after lunch, you get a 500ml bottle of a drink.

Group tables and room-style seats at Sindorim Sambaekga

Group seating is fully equipped. There are room-like seats further inside, so you can laugh loudly together while having drinks with your meal.

Sweet garlic sauce, ssamjang, and salted shrimp

They gave me a naengchae jokbal tasting portion to cleanse my palate

How good was the front-leg jokbal?

There's a reason a jokbal restaurant with fast turnover and good business does well.

You can already tell the quality of the jokbal just from the look, right? I'm a jokbal connoisseur.

It's because they keep boiling and serving it fresh, continuously.

They sell makgeolli, soju, and beer, so you can order alcohol to your taste.

Let's try wrapping it in chives. Personally, pairing it with just the right amount of garlic and chives was the best.

Sambaek kalguksu a la carte for 9,900 won

You can also order the samback kalguksu as a single dish, and at 9,900 won including mini barley rice, it's a doable solo meal.

Even the geotjeori (fresh cabbage kimchi) and mumallaengi (dried radish pickle) are delicious.

A place with good basic side dishes tends to have a good main dish too.

Fresh wrap vegetables

Even the makguksu comes with egg garnish on top — such care. And I ate the yeolmu kimchi too.

How to eat the jokbal when wrapping lettuce feels like too much work

It's also delicious to just put garlic on top of the jokbal and eat it that way. If wrapping feels like too much trouble, try just topping it with garlic like I did. With ssamjang or salted shrimp!

Where is the restroom at Sindorim Sambaekga?

The restroom is outside — go left and keep walking straight, and you'll see another jokbal restaurant called Omokjip. Go through the passage between the buildings and you'll find the women's/men's restrooms.

You've got to eat jokbal regularly.

Jokbal has somehow become a not-so-cheap food these days, but at this Sindorim kalguksu spot, Sambaekga, the front-leg jokbal is the GOAT.

Sindorim Sambaekga seating, delivery and parking details

Sindorim Sambaekga has 2-top, 4-top, and group seating, and doesn't do delivery. For parking, use the Sindorim Prugio 1st Officetel building's B1 parking lot, and there's 2-hour parking support, which is a nice bonus.

Not the B2 Sindorim Home Plus parking lot! Park in the B3 commercial parking lot!