Seocho Korean BBQ with tableside grilling: Sodangkkae O-gyeopjip

A Seoul Korean BBQ restaurant near Gyodae Station with tableside grilling

The staff grill all the meat deliciously for you, so you can eat comfortably without worrying about grease splattering. There are set menus too, so you can enjoy a variety of cuts.

• Hours: Weekdays 11 AM–11 PM / Weekends 12 PM–11 PM
• Break time: 3 PM–5 PM
• Location: 2F, 84-3 Seocho-daero 50-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
• About a 3-minute walk from Exit 14 of Gyodae Station

Come out of Exit 14 at Gyodae Station and head into the alley, and the restaurant is on the second floor. The sign is large, so it was not hard to find.

A cozy meal in sofa seating

All the seats are sofas, so you can dine comfortably in plush seating. The tables are generously spaced and the seating is somewhat separated, making it nice to spend an intimate time with your group.

These are the complimentary side dishes, and you can comfortably ask for more if you need them.

À la carte and set menus, plus corkage

• Korean Duroc five-layer pork (150 g) ₩17,000
• Melt-in-your-mouth pork neck (150 g) ₩17,000
• Premium special-cut pork jowl (120 g) ₩21,000
• Sodangkkae assorted set (for 2) ₩81,500: five-layer pork, pork neck, pork jowl, 1 stew, and yukhoe
• Meat assorted set (for 2) ₩57,500: five-layer pork, pork neck, pork jowl, and 1 stew

For the lunch special, you can have a set meal of blue crab doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) or Korean pork kimchi stew for under ₩10,000, so it seems like a great place for a quick lunch near Gyodae Station too!

Order meat for everyone in your party and one bottle of wine corkage is free; after that, it is ₩5,000 per additional bottle. Corkage is also available for sake and traditional Korean liquor, which is great for enjoying the meat with your favorite drink.

Pork and yukhoe in the Sodangkkae assorted set

They sell individual dishes too, but I ordered the Sodangkkae assorted set! It lets you enjoy everything in the meat assorted set, plus stew and yukhoe (Korean-style seasoned raw beef). You can choose one stew between blue crab doenjang-jjigae and Korean pork kimchi stew.

The meat assorted set includes five-layer pork, pork neck, and pork jowl, so you can taste several cuts all at once.

Sodangkkae O-gyeopjip (소당깨오겹집) says it raises Duroc, one of the world's three major pork breeds, in Korea, then processes and low-temperature ages it there for 192 hours to bring out a tender texture and deep savory flavor. That is why the grilling process is so important too.

The owner grilled everything personally from start to finish, so I could enjoy it at its best. Thanks to the careful grilling that kept the juices in, the meat was moist and tender +_+

The textures of five-layer pork, pork jowl, and pork neck

The five-layer pork has a lovely chewy bite, while the pork jowl is soft as its richness spreads through your mouth. The pork neck is moist and clean-tasting, never dry.

Blue crab soybean paste stew and makgeolli

The kimchi stew is delicious too, but I chose the soybean paste stew! It arrived bubbling away, nice and hot and perfect with the meat. It was full of zucchini and tofu, and the broth, made with blue crab as its base, had a deep, rich umami flavor that I loved.

A drink is a must with delicious meat. Since it was lunch, I had a light glass of makgeolli (Korean rice wine).

Generous yukhoe and fried rice

Next up, the yukhoe! I was surprised by how generous the portion was. It was incredibly fresh and nutty, and I just could not stop eating it, haha. Popping the egg yolk and having it with Korean pear added a gentle sweetness, and it was so good.

Fried rice is ₩6,000 per person. I was full, but I still had to make room for carbs, right? We polished off the fried rice too. It comes topped with a fried egg and is packed with meat, kimchi, bean sprouts, and more.

Write a Naver review and receive a complimentary drink or seasoned honeycomb pork rind!

The owner grilled the meat personally, so I could relax and enjoy my meal. Both the pork and yukhoe were fresh, and the overall food quality was great. The owner was kind and the seating was comfortable, so I think it would suit family meals, gatherings, or company dinners alike.