Original king jokbal with herbal tea near Changwon Station: Songgane

I only just found out there's a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) place this old near Changwon Station. Songgane Wang Jokbal Bossam Changwon Station Branch has been selling jokbal since way back in 1993.

Parking is always my biggest worry around this neighborhood, so having a parking space right in front of the restaurant was a relief. Good news for anyone hunting for jokbal in Palyong-dong who also cares about parking.

A Changwon Station jokbal restaurant open since 1993

Songgane Wang Jokbal Bossam Changwon Station Branch has been operating in the alley in front of Changwon Station since 1993. The exterior alone gives off a real sense of history. The pig family character on the sign is friendly, with a slightly retro feel.

At first I assumed it was just an old neighborhood jokbal place, but it turns out it's actually been running since 1993. Knowing it's held its ground in this alley for so long made me even more curious.

Even though it's old, the way it runs has updated a bit with the times. Where you used to take off your shoes to enter, now you can walk right in with shoes on.

You can also pay with Zero Pay, and they run delivery orders too.

What the restaurant and seating are like

Inside Songgane Wang Jokbal Bossam Changwon Station Branch there are room-like divided seats too. There are also long tables, so it looks good for a family meal out or a group gathering.

A big screen also caught my eye. On days when there's a baseball game or other sports on, it'd be great to watch with jokbal and a drink.

Serving yagwanmun tea instead of plain water is a nice touch too.

It has a savory, roasted flavor, so it was easy to drink alongside the meat without feeling heavy.

After the meal, there are disposable dental floss picks and individually wrapped candies to take. Neatly arranged in a white container, it showed a kind of thoughtfulness you don't expect from such an old-school place.

Choosing the menu: handmade jokbal from Korean front trotters

At Songgane Wang Jokbal Bossam Changwon Station Branch, the owner reportedly boils the jokbal by hand in-store every single day.

They use 100% domestic front trotters only.

Besides the basic king jokbal, there's also cold jokbal and grilled spicy jokbal. There's bossam and makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) too, plus set menus if you want to try a bit of everything.

The drink selection is varied as well. Soju and beer, of course, but also makgeolli, so there's plenty to pair with the jokbal to your taste.

We went with the most basic order, the original king jokbal in small size. If you're looking for jokbal in Palyong-dong, starting with the basic king jokbal seems like a good idea.

What side dishes come with it

Not long after ordering, the basic side dishes arrived right away. Onion sauce, cold bean sprout soup, radish kimchi and cabbage salad were all set out.

I mixed a little wasabi into the onion sauce. The sharp kick that came through paired even better with the jokbal.

The cold bean sprout soup was refreshing and clean-tasting. Sipping it between bites of meat left my mouth feeling refreshed.

The radish kimchi also went well with the jokbal. Even the basic side dishes made for a nice setup to enjoy with a drink.

How does the original king jokbal taste?

The original king jokbal I'd been waiting for finally arrived. It was sliced into pieces easy to eat, so I picked one up right away. The skin part was pleasantly chewy while the meat itself was tender. There was barely any gamey smell, so it was easy to just enjoy the meat itself.

True to a place that's been making jokbal for this long, the boiling was done just right. The combination of tender meat and chewy skin really hit the spot. Among jokbal spots in Palyong-dong, this one would suit anyone who prefers a straightforward, fundamentals-first style over something overly sweet or spicy.

Wrapping the jokbal with perilla leaves and garlic

One piece of jokbal alone is delicious, but it's even better with extras added. I placed a piece of jokbal on a perilla leaf and topped it with a clove of raw garlic.

The sharp bite of garlic brought out even more of the meat's savory flavor. This time I added chili too and made a bigger wrap for one big bite.

With the spicy kick added, a drink naturally followed. Topping it with radish kimchi brought in a tangy note for yet another combination. Switching things up and wrapping different ways was part of the fun.

Eating it right down to the bone

At the end, I couldn't just pass over the meat still clinging to the bones. I picked them up by hand and picked every last bit of meat off. The meat around the bone is especially tender, isn't it? There were some chewy bits mixed in too, which made the texture even more interesting. This is the kind of place that would come to mind on a day when you're hunting for jokbal in Palyong-dong and want a proper drink with soju. Once I'd picked the bones clean, it felt like I'd properly finished a full plate.

Final verdict on Songgane Wang Jokbal Bossam

I think I understand why Songgane Wang Jokbal Bossam Changwon Station Branch has been selling jokbal in the same spot for over 30 years. Because the domestic front trotters are boiled in-house, there's no gamey smell and the meat is tender.

I also liked the chewy texture of the skin. Even with just the basic king jokbal, it made a satisfying drinking snack. Having parking right out front is a real plus around Changwon Station too. With the room seating and long tables, it seems like a good option for a family meal out or a group gathering. Next time I'd like to try the grilled spicy jokbal or bossam as well. If you're looking for a long-standing jokbal restaurant near Changwon Station, this one is worth a visit.