Charcoal beef grill in Jongno, Seoul: jingalbisal for two at Yukrab

I was looking for somewhere to eat dinner near Jonggak and this time ended up at Yukrab Jongno on Youth Street! It's only about a 2-3 minute walk from Jonggak Station Exit 4, so it was easy to find, and it's on the 3rd floor of the building, so just follow the sign at the entrance and head up.

What I ordered that day was Yukrab's signature dish, jingalbisal (beef short rib meat) for two, along with a steamed egg to go with it. It's a place where you grill beef over charcoal, but the atmosphere is a bit different from your typical Korean BBQ spot, so it seemed like a good option for a date or a quiet meal near Jonggak too.

Where is Yukrab Jongno, and what are the hours?

Yukrab Jongno is located on the 3rd floor of 42 Ujeongguk-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and is open Mon-Fri 16:00-23:00 and Sat-Sun 15:00-23:00, with last order at 22:00. Reservations and group visits are possible, there are private rooms, Wi-Fi, separate restrooms for men and women, and corkage is allowed, but there's no parking.

It's about 188m from Jonggak Station Exit 4, so public transit is the easiest way to get there. If you're driving, you'll need to use the Gwancheol-dong public parking lot or another nearby lot.

Black-toned interior and private rooms for 5 to 18

The moment I walked into Yukrab Jongno, the overall dark, black-toned atmosphere caught my eye. Near the entrance, liquor bottles were displayed with lighting, giving it a bit more of a bar feel than a typical BBQ restaurant.

Further inside, seating was divided along a hallway, and as you can see in the photo, there were spaces that felt fairly separate, so you could chat more comfortably than at a BBQ place where tables are packed right next to each other. The tables also had a black marble-like finish, and with the soft lighting overhead, the meat photos actually turned out pretty nice haha.

There's also a room that can seat anywhere from 5 to 18 people, so if you're planning a group gathering near Jonggak, this could be a good option for a Jonggak restaurant dinner spot for a group. On one side of the restaurant, wine and various types of liquor were also on display. The vibe seemed like it would pair well with wine or a highball alongside the beef!

What we ordered at Yukrab Jongno, and what it cost

• Jingalbisal 120g x 2 servings ₩56,000 (₩28,000 per serving)
• Steamed egg ₩3,900

Jingalbisal apparently uses a cut from the beef short rib area that's especially tender and well-marbled.

How does jingalbisal taste grilled over charcoal?

The meat came sliced thick, and vegetables like mushroom, zucchini, pineapple, and shishito peppers were prepared alongside to grill together. At first glance, the meat's color was vivid and each piece had a good thickness, which I liked because it meant it wouldn't end up overcooked and thin on the charcoal grill.

The grill plate is set up so the charcoal sits right underneath, so the heat was pretty strong! Once the meat was placed on, the surface started browning quickly, and after grilling both sides to a nice golden color, they cut it into bite-sized pieces for us.

I preferred eating it while there was still a slight pink tinge inside rather than cooking it all the way through. Even in the photo, you can see the cross-section looking moist with juices still intact.

The first bite brought out the signature tenderness of jingalbisal. There was barely any chewy part, and with just the right amount of fat between the lean meat, it got more savory the more you chewed.

The thicker pieces especially, like in the photo, had a slightly firm, grilled exterior with a moist interior, which made for a good texture! I think people who prefer thicker cuts over thin slices of beef would be even happier with this.

Sauces and side dishes served with the beef

The meat was great on its own, but Yukrab also prepared a variety of side dishes and sauces. As you can see in the photo, there was everything from ssamjang (soybean paste dip) to salt, wasabi, and whole grain mustard sauce that go well with the meat, and it was nice being able to switch things up instead of eating it just one way.

I also tried putting the meat on top of the zucchini, like in the photo. The grilled zucchini was soft and slightly sweet, and eating it together with the meat made the texture much softer.

Lastly, I grilled the pineapple that came with the meat. As it cooked, the sweetness intensified, and eating a piece after the meat felt refreshing — it worked either eaten alongside the meat or separately at the end.

Overall, the jingalbisal was great for its thick cut, tender texture, and the range of side dishes to pair with it. Since Yukrab specializes in beef and lamb, it felt like a place designed for focusing on the main meat, and it was a good menu choice for when you want charcoal-grilled beef while looking for a Jonggak BBQ restaurant.

Steamed egg for 3,900 won

It felt like something was missing if we only ate meat, so I ordered the steamed egg too. As shown in the photo, it comes out cooked soft and filling the earthenware bowl, topped with a bit of parsley!

Scooped with a spoon, the inside was moist and soft, so it went well between bites of beef. When you're eating meat you end up reaching for salty side dishes and sauces a lot, and a bite of the steamed egg made things go down more smoothly — I was glad we ordered it too haha.

Verdict: is Yukrab Jongno worth it for charcoal-grilled beef near Jonggak?

Yukrab Jongno was a good place to visit when you're craving beef near Jonggak Station. It's close to Jonggak Station Exit 4 so it's easy to get to, and the darker, black-toned atmosphere compared to a typical BBQ place made it comfortable for a date or a gathering. There are also separate rooms, so it seemed like a good option to use as a group dinner spot near Jonggak for several people.

The jingalbisal we ate that day was fun to grill over charcoal to your liking and pair with wasabi, various sauces, and grilled vegetables one at a time. Ordering the steamed egg alongside it made for a good spread even for two people. If you're looking for a BBQ restaurant near Jonggak Station on Youth Street, this is a place worth stopping by for beef haha.