Jongno Korean BBQ with kimchi stew: Simin Sikdang Main Branch

Pork belly and kimchi stew near Jongno 3-ga Station

Today, for anyone with plans in Jongno or considering a group gathering, I recommend Simin Sikdang Main Branch (시민식당 본점), a longtime favorite in Pimatgol where you can enjoy quality pork belly and delicious side dishes!

It is two minutes from Exit 1 of Jongno 3-ga Station, so the access was great, and the road is straight ahead, making it really easy to find haha. And it is apparently famous enough to be on TV as one of Seoul's top five kimchi-jjigae (kimchi stew) restaurants! I wanted to try it right away~

The interior was spacious, clean, and neatly arranged, so I think it would be really great for visiting with coworkers after work, or for anyone looking for a place for a group get-together or company dinner~

There was seating on the second floor too, and it felt even more open than the first floor, so I think it would be lovely to enjoy a meal upstairs as well.

Asamyuk Set selection and price

The menu centers on meat, with meal dishes and drinks available too. From set menus perfect for an intimate meal for two to large platter sets that work well for company dinners, there was a wide range of options, so anyone can have a satisfying meal at Simin Sikdang.

• Asamyuk Set for couples — ₩65,000
• Bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles) — ₩6,000

The Asamyuk Set, Simin Sikdang's most popular menu item and a must for pork belly in Jongno, arrived. It came with three kinds of meat—pork belly, kkotgalbisal (boneless beef short rib), and spicy pork—along with assorted side dishes, ssam (wrap) vegetables, kimchi stew, and fried rice, so it was such a great-value set haha.

From pickled onions and lots of ssam vegetables to fermented flatfish and seasoned scallions, the side dishes that go so well with meat were served beautifully~

Beef short rib, pork belly, and grilling service at quiet times

Since it is famous as a Jongno meat restaurant, perhaps that is why the meat looked incredible and its freshness was immediately obvious. It looked so delicious haha.

I visited during a quiet time, and the very kind staff member grilled all the meat for us. They were truly so kind and attentive, which was wonderful haha. But during busy peak hours, you have to grill it yourself!

The beef and pork belly browning away looked so good, and I loved being able to have them together in one set~ They also provided a variety of vegetables to grill alongside them, which was great~

They cut the beef short rib and pork belly into easy-to-eat pieces, and took such good care of us from beginning to end haha. Even as I write this, I can still feel that warmth~

They even placed a flower on top of the browned meat and vegetables to suit the name flower pork belly. Such a thoughtful touch—I loved it.

I tried the beef short rib first...! It was so tender, with that rich, savory fattiness of beef coming through beautifully. It felt like an incredibly good-value set, to the point that the price seemed so low for a set containing beef of this quality.

The pork belly also had such a great balance of fat and lean meat, and the juices that came out with each bite were wonderful haha.

There was even a separate refrigerator for the ssam vegetables, which shows how freshly prepared they were. They had great texture and a fragrant freshness, and having pork belly with the seasoned scallions like this filled my mouth with so many savory flavors~

Spicy, rich kimchi stew and bibim naengmyeon

Another reason this place truly deserves to be called a great restaurant is its excellent soup dishes. That Seoul top-five kimchi-jjigae title was definitely not given for nothing~~

The spicy yet deep, rich broth neatly cut through the fattiness of the meat, creating an addictive flavor that made it impossible to put down the spoon..! It was packed with meat and other ingredients too, so I think it would be great even if you came just for a meal~

This bibim naengmyeon looked simple, but its seasoning was so good, while crisp pickled radish and pickled cucumber added a lovely crunchy texture haha.

And bibim naengmyeon with meat like this—no need to say it..! You know how delicious that is, right??!

Spicy pork and cheese fried rice to finish

After enjoying the beef and pork belly, I tried the spicy stir-fried pork to finish. It seemed to use pork shoulder, and it had such a lovely spicy aroma spreading through the mouth. The seasoning was so good that I immediately ordered rice haha.

I immediately tried it with rice, ssam vegetables, and ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste). Wow...! The meat was delicious in its own right, the kimchi stew was delicious, and so was the spicy pork~ There was not a single bad dish, so I had a truly satisfying meal.

To finish, I also tried the fried rice included in the set. This is such a delicious way to make it, so I thought you might want to take note of it.

The assorted ingredients arranged like a gujeolpan (nine-section platter) made the fried rice distinctive too.

They even made sure to include wagyu in the fried rice, stir-frying the meat well before adding the side dishes and seasonings in order, then finishing it with cheese and melting it nicely haha. Making fried rice on the griddle like that was so much fun too.

That deliciously fried rice!! Let me have a bite haha.

The fried rice, with savory cheese stretching up from inside, had the nutty flavor of wagyu, the crunch of vegetables, and the savory depth of the seasoning. It also had cucumber in it, so somehow it reminded me of gimbap (seaweed rice roll)—such an unusual touch. It was a distinctive and delicious fried rice haha.

If you want a hearty meal of delicious meat and stew in Jongno, why not enjoy a lovely time at Simin Sikdang with its delicious Jongno pork belly? This is Simin Sikdang, which I wholeheartedly recommend.