Myeongdong pork barbecue for two: Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch

How close is it to Myeongdong Station, and what are the hours?

I was in Myeongdong and visited Yuktongnyeong Myeongdong Main Branch (육통령 명동본점) for an early dinner. It was about a three-minute walk from Myeongdong Station, which made it convenient to look around Myeongdong after eating.

The address is 37-2 Myeongdong 8na-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동8나길 37-2). According to the original post, it is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., with last orders at 10:15 p.m.

It was a pork restaurant featured on broadcasts and in various media, with the atmosphere of an old-style Myeongdong establishment.

How does the wait work, and are foreign-language menus available?

Catch Table was available for waiting. At the entrance, there was also a notice saying the restaurant had been selected for the Blue Ribbon Survey for five consecutive years.

Menus and usage information in English, Japanese, and Chinese were prepared at the entrance. I thought it would be easy for foreign visitors to look over the menu.

Is it busy even for an early dinner?

We arrived at around 5 p.m., but the first floor was already nearly full. It did not feel quiet just because it was early dinner, and I saw many foreign diners as well.

The restaurant was kept clean. Since the kitchen was open, we could see some of the cooking, and staff moved between several tables grilling the meat.

The building had three floors in total. We ate on the first floor, and stairs led up to the second and third floors.

Several celebrity signatures were displayed on the second-floor wall.

When we visited, staff on the second and third floors were preparing to welcome dinner guests.

What did two people order, and how much did it cost?

The two of us ordered 500g of omija-aged black pork king ax-bone samgyeopsal (오미자 숙성 흑돼지 왕도끼뼈 오겹살) for ₩49,000. The Terra beer we ordered with it was ₩6,000.

After we ordered, they brought us disposable aprons. A pig character was printed on the apron.

The table came with a salad containing green onion salad and soy-marinated perilla leaves, along with pickled cucumbers, napa cabbage, and myeonginamul. We ate the salad first and drank beer while waiting for the meat.

Does the staff grill the thick samgyeopsal?

Once the charcoal grill was ready at the table, staff grilled the meat from start to finish. The thick king ax-bone samgyeopsal took time to cook, but staff kept checking it, so we could eat without worrying about the grilling.

Once the meat was fully cooked, they placed it on individual plates in bite-sized portions. It was convenient to receive the cooked meat ready to eat.

Which sauces and side dishes went well with the samgyeopsal?

We received six sauces and condiments: ssamjang, anchovy innards jeotgal, omija juice, wine salt, wasabi, and salted shrimp. When I first dipped the meat lightly in the wine salt, the pork’s savory flavor and charcoal aroma came through cleanly.

When I lightly dipped a piece of the thick samgyeopsal in the anchovy innards jeotgal, the meat tasted more intense.

I tried different combinations, such as adding ssamjang to napa cabbage or perilla leaves, and eating the meat with myeonginamul and green onion salad. My favorite combinations were dipping it in the anchovy innards jeotgal and pairing it with myeonginamul.

Was 500g of samgyeopsal enough for two people?

For the two of us, 500g of king ax-bone samgyeopsal was filling on its own. So we did not order a separate meal that day.

There was also a stew set that included tojangguk, and I wanted to try it if I visited for lunch. Yang-gopchang was another dish I wanted to try next time, but we did not order either one on this visit.

How much is the corkage fee?

According to the original post, the corkage fee was ₩20,000 per table. I noticed that you could bring your favorite alcohol and enjoy it with the meat.

After dinner, we walked around Myeongdong and watched the street’s media facades for a while. Being close to the station and allowing us to continue with a walk after eating made it a convenient dinner option on a day in Myeongdong.