# Samgyeopsal and doenjang stew near Seoul Arts Center: Yuk Tongryeong - By Sangrok (https://superchart.com/en/@lunch-within-reach-3/) - Written Aug 29, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Seocho, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written as part of a sponsored restaurant visit. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@lunch-within-reach-3/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@lunch-within-reach-3/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/index.md) ## In short Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store is a pork belly (samgyeopsal) restaurant near Gyodae Station Exit 12 in Seocho, Seoul, known as one of Seoul's top three samgyeopsal spots. After an evening exhibition at the Seoul Arts Center, the writer ordered pork belly, toson doenjang jjigae (rustic soybean paste stew) and mul naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodle soup), and the staff grilled and cut the meat from start to finish. Between the sofa seating and the grilling service, Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store makes for an easy, comfortable dinner. ## Good to know - **Location**: Close to Gyodae Station Exit 12 (1F Jion Building, 69 Banpo-daero 20-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul) - **Parking**: Parking space next to the restaurant - **Dishes ordered**: Pork belly, toson doenjang jjigae (rustic soybean paste stew), mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) - **Service**: Staff grill the meat from start to finish; disposable aprons available on request - **Sauces**: Six kinds: salt, salted shrimp, wasabi, ssamjang, jeotgal (salted seafood) and omija vinegar - **Seating**: Sofa seats with backrests - **Awards and TV**: Blue Ribbon selection five years running; featured on Wednesday Food Talk and Live Today *as written by the visitor on Aug 29, 2026* ![Signature photo of the pork belly table setting at Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-01-11sth-1200.webp) It had been a while since I'd been to the Seoul Arts Center for an exhibit, and I decided to grab a good dinner before heading home. When I looked it up, I found out there's a place near the Seoul Arts Center known as one of Seoul's top three samgyeopsal (pork belly) spots. ![Entrance and sign of Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-02-8qmo5-m-900.webp) That's this place — Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store. It's been chosen for the Blue Ribbon Award five years running and has been featured on shows like Wednesday Food Talk and Live Today, so I went in with high expectations *.* ## Where is Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store, and is there parking? ![Exterior of Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store near Gyodae Station Exit 12](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-03-n1xxq-900.webp) It's a fairly short walk from Gyodae Station Exit 12, so Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store is easy to reach by public transit. ![Parking space next to the restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-04-1vntj-900.webp) We drove that day, and there was a parking space right next to the restaurant, which was really convenient! ## Inside the restaurant: atmosphere and sofa seating ![Wall full of autographs and Korean Food Master certification](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-05-18g98-m-900.webp) As soon as I opened the door and walked in, a wall full of autographs caught my eye! There was also a Korean Food Master certification on one side, which got me excited for the food too. ![Black-toned interior of the restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-06-1en7y-900.webp) Inside, the black tones gave it a calm, clean feel. We came in at an odd hour, before the weekend dinner rush, but there were still a lot of customers. ![Sofa seating with backrests](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-07-95x5t-900.webp) The seats are sofas with backrests, which gave a nice sense of separation from the next table. ![Disposable apron available on request](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-08-1707t-900.webp) You can also ask staff for a disposable apron! ## What's on the menu at Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store? ![Menu board at Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-09-31s2a-900.webp) ## Side dishes and the six dipping sauces ![Standard side dishes arriving after ordering meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-10-13zvx-900.webp) After we ordered the meat and waited a bit, the table started filling up with side dishes. ![Myeongi namul, garlic scapes, baek-kimchi, and other side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-11-1pxcx-900.webp) There were things to pair with the meat like myeongi namul (mountain garlic leaves), garlic scapes, and baek-kimchi (white kimchi). And there were six sauces — salt, salted shrimp, wasabi, ssamjang, salted seafood, and omija vinegar! ![Sauce plate served with the pork belly](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-12-105zm-900.webp) ![Salt and salted shrimp among the sauce selection](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-13-7p37v-900.webp) ![Ssamjang, salted seafood, and omija vinegar sauces](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-14-1hwt1-900.webp) ![Refreshing tangerine salad side dish](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-15-oxdo2-900.webp) And on top of that, a refreshing tangerine salad! ## How was the toson doenjang jjigae? ![The doenjang jjigae ordered alongside the meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-16-9qutk-900.webp) When you're eating meat, it feels incomplete without a stew +_+ So we also ordered the doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew). The portion was generous too. There was a grill burner on the table for the meat, plus an induction stove set up alongside it. So we could eat warm food the whole meal! ![Inside the doenjang jjigae with tofu and potato](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-17-wnd7d-900.webp) Inside were tofu, zucchini, beef, and especially a big chunk of potato +_+ Maybe because they use traditional doenjang, the broth was really rich and savory, and with cheongyang chili in it, the finish had a slight kick. Given the Korean Food Master certification, it really was delicious...! ## Pork belly grilled by the staff, start to finish The staff grilled the pork belly for us from start to finish. They checked how the meat was doing, flipped it, and cut it into bite-sized pieces, so all we had to do was wait and eat! ![Staff grilling the pork belly](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-18-afg29-900.webp) It was so nice being able to eat comfortably thanks to the grilling service >< ![Pork belly cut into bite-sized pieces](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-19-1ub9d-900.webp) ![A piece of pork belly placed on myeongi namul](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-20-m64kl-900.webp) The meat was delicious, and with so many combinations available — myeongi namul, garlic scapes, baek-kimchi — we finished it all in no time! By the way, the omija vinegar was a new combination for me, but the tartness cut through the richness of the pork belly nicely, and I liked that pairing too! ## Mul naengmyeon to finish the meal ![Mul naengmyeon topped with a thin layer of ice](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-21-1esp3-900.webp) The mul naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodle soup) came with a thin layer of ice floating on top, along with cucumber, radish, and boiled egg. I tried the broth first, and oh, it was really tasty! So I ended up just drinking the broth as is >< The noodles weren't clumped together either, so they were easy to eat. ## Final verdict on Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store ![The table at Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store after finishing the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong-22-10wv5-900.webp) It had been a while since I'd visited the Seoul Arts Center, and while looking for somewhere nearby to eat, I ended up at Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store! The seating is comfortable, and with the grilling service, it seems like a great pick if you're looking for a good samgyeopsal spot near Gyodae Station *.* ## Where it is - Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store (육통령 교대직영점) - 69 Banpo-daero 20-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1F Jion Building) - 서울특별시 서초구 반포대로20길 69 지온빌딩 1층 육통령 - 37.488843, 127.013728 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%9C%A1%ED%86%B5%EB%A0%B9%20%EA%B5%90%EB%8C%80%EC%A7%81%EC%98%81%EC%A0%90/@37.488843,127.013728,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@lunch-within-reach-3/seoul-arts-center-nearby-samgyeopsal-yuktongryeong/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt