Yongbong-dong Korean restaurant: Kkankkanhan charcoal jokbal

After work, I wanted some mild-tasting meat, so I went to Kkankkanhan Jokbal Yongbong Branch (깐깐한족발 용봉점). The two of us ordered the medium charcoal-grilled jokbal à la carte, and the warm, tender meat had no off smell; the included sides also made for a filling meal.

Where is it, and are parking and dine-in available?

The restaurant is at Jeon Cheol-woo Intersection in Yongbong-dong, Gwangju, at 82 Yongbongtaekji-ro, Buk-gu. According to the original post, dine-in hours are daily from 4:00 PM to 11:30 PM, while takeout and delivery are available from 11:30 AM. Naver reservations and group dining are available, but there is no parking.

The first thing I noticed was the wording on the sign saying they aim to make jokbal that can be served to children. The dining room inside was spacious and comfortable, and it looked suitable for a meal with a larger group.

There was also a notice saying that takeout orders placed by phone or in person receive a ₩3,000 discount.

What did we order for two, and how much was it?

Each table had a tablet ordering system, which made it easy to order from our seats. Among the sets and à la carte options, we chose the medium charcoal-grilled jokbal à la carte for two; it was ₩42,000.

The charcoal-grilled jokbal is flame-grilled with Jirisan charcoal, giving it a smoky aroma. Even the à la carte order came with steamed egg and fish cake soup, and white sauce and curry sauce could be added. There was also an event notice saying that guests who write a Place review with photos can choose a complimentary menu item.

What side dishes come with the à la carte order?

First came perilla leaves, lettuce, and a cabbage salad with black sesame dressing. There were also pickled radish slices, dried shredded radish, garlic, ssamjang, chojang, and salted shrimp, so we could eat the jokbal in several combinations.

Fish cake soup with fish cake skewers and soft steamed egg were served as well. Even without ordering a set, the table was generously filled. Before the jokbal arrived, I waited with the nutty cabbage salad and warm steamed egg.

How did the charcoal-grilled jokbal taste and feel?

The charcoal-grilled jokbal arrived with the meat neatly arranged over a large bone. The meat was warm and tender.

The skin had been flame-grilled over charcoal, so it retained a pleasantly chewy texture. There was also plenty of lean meat, which made it less rich than eating a lot of skin alone and easy to enjoy for its mild flavor.

Which sides went well with it?

I liked wrapping the jokbal and dried shredded radish in lettuce. In particular, the dried radish added a lightly spicy flavor and a firm, chewy texture, making it my favorite combination of the meal.

It also went well with fragrant perilla leaves and salted shrimp, while adding only pickled radish slices made for a clean-tasting bite.

From time to time, I also had the gently spicy fish cake soup broth and fish cake skewers. The warm broth was a nice accompaniment between bites of jokbal and wraps.

Was the medium à la carte portion filling for two?

With the soft steamed egg and even the chewy skin attached to the bone, both of us felt satisfyingly full. For this meal, the medium à la carte order and the included sides were enough.