Spicy fire-grilled jokbal for beginners, Cheomdan Gwangju: Kkankkanhan

Work stress had me craving something spicy and intense today, so I ran over the second I got off work. The place I'm introducing today is 👉🏻Kkankkanhan Jokbal Cheomdan Main Branch.

Kkankkanhan Jokbal Cheomdan Main Branch: location, hours and parking

Kkankkanhan Jokbal (깐깐한족발) Main Branch is at 46 Cheomdanjungang-ro 116beon-gil, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, and it's open 16:00-23:30. There's a private parking lot you can use for free.

What are the exterior and atmosphere like?

Kkanjok (as fans call Kkankkanhan Jokbal) sits in the Cheomdan food alley in Gwangju, and it has a big parking lot, which is rare in Cheomdan. You know how bad parking is in Cheomdan, right? Precious, so precious.

I peeked in through the big windows, and even this early in the evening it was packed.

Partitioned seats and a big screen for watching baseball

The seats are separated by individual partitions, so you can eat fairly privately without bumping into the next table, which I liked.

A big screen in a jokbal place?! A baseball game was on the day I went, and you can see the screen from every seat, so it's perfect for jokbal and drinks while watching baseball.

I think the taste differs slightly from branch to branch, but I'm happy with the Cheomdan Kkanjok every single time. Maybe that's why it's always full.

Private rooms, great for company dinners

Kkankkanhan Jokbal Main Branch also has private rooms named after the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter). They're spacious and comfortable, and look perfect for office group dinners (hoesik).

Menu and basic side dishes at Kkankkanhan Jokbal Main Branch

The menu covers jokbal, bossam (boiled pork wraps) and plenty of sides. We came today because we wanted the Bulzok (fire-grilled spicy jokbal), but a Goheung fresh garlic jokbal has also come out as a new item. I'm curious about the taste, so I've decided to come back soon!!

These are the side dishes we got while waiting: dried radish strips, pickled radish wraps, salad and wrap vegetables that go well with jokbal. There was also soybean paste soup, nice for settling your stomach while you have a beer before the jokbal arrives.

A must with jokbal: the flying fish roe rice ball

This is the flying fish roe rice ball (jumeokbap) you absolutely have to eat with jokbal at Kkankkanhan. I might skip the makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles), but I need the carbs of a rice ball. Maybe that's why my ex-boyfriend said I make great rice balls, right? Experience from the army days, haha.

Is the fire-grilled spicy jokbal okay even if you can't eat jokbal?

Kkankkanhan's fire-grilled spicy jokbal has a proper smoky fire flavor. I originally couldn't eat jokbal at all, but Kkanjok's spicy jokbal got me into the jokbal world.

You know that funky smell when jokbal is done badly, that heavy herbal-medicine odor? I really can't stand it, but Kkanjok has none of that, and even the skin on its own is bouncy and delicious..

Come to me, Bulzok.

Perilla leaf with pickled radish is always the right combo. Lettuce team vs perilla team? I'm a landslide perilla person 🍀

Jokbal on a rice ball, yum. I finished the whole jokbal spread. I even got a salad refill.

Ice cream and coffee corner

Kkankkanhan Jokbal Main Branch has a corner where you can grab ice cream and a coffee while you wait or before heading home.

Overall review of Kkankkanhan Jokbal Cheomdan Main Branch

• Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
• Price: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
• Cleanliness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
• Would I go again: Yes

For jokbal, it's Kkanjok, of course~