Autumn date-night Korean BBQ in Jongno 3-ga with cold rice: Chowon

Is Chowon in Jongno 3-ga good for an autumn weekend date?

Chowon Restaurant Jongno 3-ga Branch (초원식당 종로3가점) is a naengsam (thin frozen pork belly) specialist in the Jongno 3-ga outdoor-tent alley. On an autumn weekend evening, my husband and I headed there for a Jongno date, our first in a while. The weather has turned so autumnal lately, and it's just so nice to wander around Jongno.

Jongno 3-ga means outdoor tent seating, of course,, and for dinner we went to the naengsam place, Chowon! It opens at 5, and we came right on time, so why was it already almost full (?!)

Chowon's indoor seating and restroom

Even right after the 5pm opening, the outdoor seats were nearly full, so we ate indoors. Honestly, not being outside was fine with us. The place isn't big, so you sit packed in close together. There is a restroom inside, though.

Chowon Jongno 3-ga menu

The meat menu has frozen pork belly, frozen beef belly, the Udon pork belly set, a 1++ torch-grilled hanwoo (Korean beef) set, 1++ hanwoo striploin, and beef brisket. There are also dishes like beef brisket doenjang (fermented soybean paste) stew and beef tartare bibimbap.

Retro tray side dishes and the self-serve bar

This retro tray you only get at naengsam places, haha. It comes with lettuce, kimchi, green onion kimchi, bracken fern, ssamjang (dipping sauce) and more. Chowon has a self-serve bar, so you can go grab more side dishes. They have bean sprouts too!

Beef and pork belly set with rice and steamed egg

We ordered the Chowon Udon pork belly set (53,0)!

We ordered rice and steamed egg too. The rice is an extra ₩1,000.

The table is a bit narrow, so there's nowhere to put anything,, but it's an outdoor-tent place, so I forgive it,,

Thin naengsam cooks in seconds

Once the grill heats up, on go the slices, sizzle sizzle! Chowon's naengsam is thin, so it cooks quickly. It had been ages since I'd had naengsam, and for fear of burning it we ended up eating it in more of a rush(?) than other pork belly… Is it just us? Haha

Hot grilled pork belly with cold rice

Whether it's intentional or not, I don't know, but the meat is hot and the rice is cold, and the balance was great. Cold rice makes it nice and chewy? Haha. It just slides right down,,

Is Chowon's beef and pork belly set enough for two?

The Chowon Udon pork belly set was just the right amount for two! Meat alone might feel a little short, but ordering rice and sides like we did should be perfect. Always stuff your meat wrap with loads of extras,, it's a can't-go-wrong combo,, haha.

I'd been craving meat for a while, and I didn't notice any gamey smell, and eating in the cool outdoor-tent atmosphere, it wasn't hot at all. Everyone around us was having a drink, but we had the car, so we held back hard,,, such a shame. Next time we'll definitely have a drink, you bet..