Myeongdong barbecue restaurant, staff-grilled pork: Yuktongryeong

Where is Yuktongryeong Myeongdong Main Branch, and how was the weekend wait?

I visited Yuktongryeong Myeongdong Main Branch (육통령 명동본점) near Lotte Department Store Main Branch to eat grilled meat. It is between Shinsegae Department Store and Myeongdong Station, near the Chinese Embassy.

Fortunately, there was no wait when I arrived at 6 p.m. on a weekend. The restaurant had two floors, so there seemed to be plenty of seating. More than half of the guests appeared to be foreign visitors at the time.

The hours listed in the original post are 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., with last order at 10:15 p.m. The parking information said to contact the restaurant.

What basic side dishes come with the meat?

Most of the ingredients were listed as domestic. I liked that both the kimchi and red pepper powder were also from Korea.

The basic table setting was neat, and a salad was served as well.

The meal came with scallion geotjeori (freshly seasoned salad), wild garlic leaves, white kimchi, stuffed cucumber kimchi, and perilla leaf pickles. There were several side dishes to pair with the meat, so I could change up the combinations.

I portioned out a little salted shrimp, wasabi, and salt onto a small plate.

What meat did I order, and do the staff grill it?

At first, I considered ordering the King Axe-Bone Pork Belly, but I also wanted to try the pork neck. So I ordered two servings of 15-day omija-aged Gwanggaeto Black Pork belly and pork neck. The meat that arrived was quite thick.

The staff grilled the meat over charcoal. I did not have to worry about grilling it myself, so it was easy to eat while chatting with my companion.

How did the pork belly and pork neck differ in taste and texture?

I ate the first piece with salted shrimp. Because the meat was thick, its chewiness and juiciness came through clearly.

I also tried it with wasabi. The pork neck was juicy and moist, while the pork belly had the added chewiness of the skin. For my taste, I preferred the nutty, chewy pork belly.

I also tried the tangy omija sauce. It stayed with me because it was a sauce I had not encountered elsewhere.

I also wrapped the meat in kimchi, perilla leaf pickles, and wild garlic leaves. The side dishes brought out the meat’s savory flavor while reducing its greasiness.

How were the service and price when I ordered more?

I liked the pork belly enough to order one more serving. The staff member said the portion meant for us had too much fat and offered to replace it first. I wondered whether it might have been for show, but I trusted them because they explained it before serving it. The additional meat was nicely browned on both sides, and I enjoyed it even though I was already full.

The price listed in the original post was ₩17,000 for 150 g per serving, which felt somewhat expensive to me. Still, having the staff grill it was convenient, and I felt the pork belly would suit people who like juicy, thick-cut meat and chewy skin.