Cheonggyecheon date lunch Korean BBQ in Jongno: Jonggak-ap Nosang

Why Jonggak-ap Nosang works for a Cheonggyecheon date lunch

The weather was so nice on the weekend that my boyfriend and I went on a Cheonggyecheon stream date in Seoul. While looking for a BBQ place nearby for lunch, I found Jonggak-ap Nosang Gongyeong Juchajang. I'd seen the brand before when we went to Hongdae, and since there was a location near Jonggak too, I decided to try it this time.

Finding the 5th-floor entrance near Jonggak Station

Jonggak-ap Nosang is on the 5th floor, which was a bit tricky to find at first, but there was a yellow banner marking the entrance of the building with the Sherlock Holmes escape room café, so we were able to spot it.

When we visited, it was weekend lunch time, so quite a lot of people were eating there — some couple tables, and some larger group tables too.

📍 Jonggak-ap Nosang Gongyeong Juchajang 17 Samil-daero 17-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 5th floor Daily 12:00–23:00 (last order 22:00)

What comes in the 99,000-won recommended set?

Jonggak-ap Nosang sells everything from pork neck, pork belly, gyemaesal (skirt meat), and hangjeongsal (pork jowl) to hanwoo beef. We ordered the recommended set that day so we could try pork and hanwoo together.

The recommended set is 99,000 won and comes with 150g of today's hanwoo, 150g pork belly, and 200g pork neck. On top of that, we also ordered kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) fried rice and half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles).

As soon as we sat down, they quickly brought out side dishes and the meat. The banchan were the standard side dishes you'd expect at a BBQ place, but they were generally clean and light, which paired well with the meat.

Staff grill everything for you, start to finish

The meat from our recommended set arrived, and the pinkish color looked great even before cooking. Jonggak-ap Nosang offers a grilling service where staff cook everything from start to finish, so my boyfriend and I could comfortably chat while we ate.

Looking around, other tables weren't scrambling to grill their own meat either — everyone was comfortably eating what the staff grilled for them. Honestly, when you're grilling yourself, you end up worrying about the meat burning while you're in the middle of a conversation, so not having to worry about that was a relief.

Hanwoo beef first, then pork belly and pork neck

They grilled the hanwoo first. Once it was nicely browned, I could taste the juices, and the longer I chewed, the more that savory beef fat flavor came through — it was good.

Being able to eat beef and pork together in one place was nice for trying different types of meat on a date. Even outside of a date, it seemed like a good spot for a group gathering or a meal with several people.

Between the pork belly and pork neck, the pork neck was tastier to me. The pork belly's fat had a chewy, bouncy texture, while the pork neck was soft and juicy, so the pork neck won me over. The mushrooms and corn grilled alongside were also a good combination.

Is the recommended set enough for two people?

I thought the portion wouldn't be that big, but I was full by the time we finished eating. I think the recommended set alone would be enough for two adults. Still, you can't skip naengmyeon or fried rice after meat, so we also had the half-and-half naengmyeon and kkakdugi fried rice.

Half-and-half naengmyeon for couples with different tastes

I was curious how a half-and-half naengmyeon would be served, but the amount of noodles was bigger than I expected, and the broth had a nice tangy flavor.

My boyfriend and I have different naengmyeon preferences — I prefer the tangy bibim (mixed) version, while he prefers the cool mul (broth) version. Ordering two full bowls separately can be too much food, but since this comes split half-and-half, it was perfect for the two of us to each have our own style without overordering.

Kkakdugi fried rice to finish the meal

The kkakdugi fried rice also came in a generous portion. It was topped with gim (seaweed) flakes, with the kkakdugi finely diced, and it went really well with the rice. For someone like me who feels a meal isn't complete without kimchi, this fried rice made the meal feel satisfying and filling.

Review event and final verdict on Jonggak-ap Nosang

Jonggak-ap Nosang's Jongno branch is also running a photo receipt review event — write a review and you can choose one of dolsot doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), pork kimchi jjigae, or steamed egg. This was a spot we stopped at for lunch during our Jongno Cheonggyecheon date, and since we got to eat hanwoo and pork together along with naengmyeon and fried rice for a full meal, it was a day full of satisfaction — and a very full stomach.