Jongno3-ga Korean BBQ, pork belly and neck for two: Cham Dwaejitgan

Where is Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch?

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch is a pork belly restaurant on the first floor of the Piccadilly CGV building, close to Jongno3-ga Station. When I was trying to figure out where to go for pork belly in Jongno, I ended up visiting Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch, known as a Korean BBQ spot in Jongno3-ga. Being close to Jongno3-ga Station made it easy to set as a meeting spot, and since it's on the first floor of the Piccadilly CGV building, it wasn't hard to find even on my first visit.

What did the two of us order?

At Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch, the two of us ordered two servings of cham samgyeopsal (pork belly), one serving of kkotmoksal (pork neck), and two bowls of rice. Three servings of meat plus rice for two people had me wondering at first whether it would be too much, but once we started eating, it turned out to be a satisfying, filling meal with plenty to pair together.

The atmosphere and seating at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch had that lively atmosphere typical of a Korean BBQ restaurant. Walking in, you could feel that energy right away.

The spacing between tables felt comfortable rather than cramped — good for two people dining together, but it also seemed like a fine spot for a bigger group or gathering.

What comes with the basic side dishes?

At Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch, once you sit down, side dishes like minari (water dropwort), kimchi, garlic, peppers, and lettuce wraps are set out. Minari and kimchi in particular caught my eye — grilling them on the pan alongside the meat turned out to be a great combination. With garlic, peppers, and wrap greens also on hand, we could mix up how we ate the meat instead of sticking to just one way.

How was the cham samgyeopsal (pork belly)?

The cham samgyeopsal at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch cooked up golden brown on the outside and juicy inside. When we first put it on the grill, even raw, you could see the clear fat-to-meat ratio typical of good pork belly. As it browned on the pan and that savory smell rose up, it really did start stirring up an appetite from the moment it hit the grill.

The well-cooked pork belly had a golden crust with a juicy center. It was good plain, dipped in just salt, but adding ssamjang (soybean paste) or the spicy sauce gave it a richer flavor.

The minari and grilled kimchi combo

The pairing I liked best with the pork belly was minari. The savory taste of the pork belly combined with minari's fragrant edge made each bite feel a bit cleaner in the mouth. Adding grilled kimchi on top of that — well, pork belly and kimchi is a familiar combo, but it's delicious every time.

How was the kkotmoksal (pork neck) different from the pork belly?

The kkotmoksal at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch had some thickness to it, with a satisfying chew and a leaner taste than the pork belly. This was one of the dishes I'd been looking forward to that day — being a different cut, even though it's the same pork, the texture was noticeably different. If you prefer something leaner than pork belly, ordering this alongside it seems like a good idea.

We ate through the two servings of pork belly first, then moved on to the pork neck, and switching cuts kept the meal from feeling monotonous halfway through. Alternating between the savory pork belly and the leaner, chewier pork neck was genuinely fun.

Filling up with two bowls of rice

As we kept eating meat, we naturally started craving rice, so we ordered two bowls. Meat really does need rice alongside it. Piling well-grilled pork belly onto warm rice with kimchi or wrap greens made for a satisfying meal.

What made Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch convenient

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch is close to Jongno3-ga Station, making it easy to reach by public transit, and staff grill the meat for you. When looking for a good Korean BBQ spot in Jongno3-ga, I care about accessibility as much as the taste of the meat, and being near Jongno3-ga Station made it convenient to get to by public transportation. It also seems like a low-stress location for meeting friends in Jongno, or for an after-work gathering or dinner spot.

Another convenient thing was that the staff grill the meat, so we didn't have to keep tabs on the timing while eating. It was nice for the two of us to chat while eating, without the pressure of having to grill everything ourselves from start to finish.

How much did the two of us pay?

At Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch, we ate two servings of pork belly, one serving of pork neck, and two bowls of rice for a total of ₩50,000. As of now, pork belly and pork neck are each ₩16,000 per serving, and rice is ₩1,000. Prices may vary depending on when you visit and the store's situation, so it's worth checking before you go.

• Cham samgyeopsal (pork belly) x2: ₩32,000
• Kkotmoksal (pork neck) x1: ₩16,000
• Rice x2: ₩2,000
• Total: ₩50,000

Overall thoughts on a Korean BBQ meal for two in Jongno3-ga

The meal at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch was satisfying because we got to try both pork belly and pork neck. What stuck with me most was being able to mix the meat with minari, kimchi, and wrap greens in different ways, and having the meat grilled for us let us focus more on the meal itself.

If you're looking for a place to eat meat in Jongno3-ga and value good accessibility, this is a solid option to consider. If, like me, you'd rather order a different cut alongside pork belly instead of sticking to just one, pairing two servings of pork belly with one of pork neck is a good way to go.

If you have a meal planned in Jongno or are searching for a good Korean BBQ spot in Jongno3-ga, this location and menu combination might be worth checking out. That day, the two of us finished off three servings of meat and two bowls of rice for a filling meal.