Korean BBQ near Gyodae Station in Seoul: Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae

This weekend was a big reunion weekend for me. It's the day I meet up with my high school friends, but since we're all scattered east and west because of work, we had a hard time deciding where to meet — ended up settling on Gangnam! Gangnam and Sinnonhyeon get way too crowded on weekends, so while looking for good restaurants near Gyodae Station close to Gangnam Station, I found Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store haha. It's famous as one of Seoul's top three grilled pork belly restaurants, so I went in without worry.

Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store hours and location

• Hours: Daily 11:30–22:30 (last order 22:00)
• Address: 1F Jion Building, 69 Banpo-daero 20-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea

How to get there from Gyodae Station, and parking

Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store, a well-known grilled pork belly spot in Seocho-dong, is about a 3-minute walk from Exit 14 of Gyodae Station (Lines 2 and 3), so subway access is great. Parking is also available — the listing said up to about 5 spots behind the store.

What the restaurant looks like inside and out

Yuk Tongryeong, a restaurant near Gyodae Station with a upscale-looking exterior, haha. Since this was our reunion spot, I wanted somewhere a bit fancy, and it hit exactly the vibe I was hoping for.

The first thing I saw walking in was a wall covered in autographs haha. Lots of celebrities have apparently come through, so it gave off a kind of verified feel? I also liked being able to see the meat aging right there, so I could check the meat I'd be eating with my own eyes.

They had freshly cooked rice set out at the front of the store too haha, and since I love draft beer, seeing the draft beer machine got me excited even before ordering.

The interior was really spacious, so even if there's a wait, it seemed like it would move quickly. They said group bookings are available too, so if you're looking for a spot for a group gathering or work dinner, I'd recommend reserving ahead! There wasn't a separate private room, but there was a somewhat separated space, so for a small gathering, the seating shown in the last photo would be a good pick.

What we ordered and what it cost

• Korean pork belly 150g ₩16,000 × 3
• Handmade Korean pork ribs 250g ₩18,000 × 2
• Weizen ₩8,000 × 6
• IPA ₩8,000 × 3

Well, as Koreans, we can't come to a Korean BBQ place and skip pork belly, so we ordered three servings of Korean pork belly first, then added the handmade Korean pork ribs too because we wanted to try those as well haha. For drinks, we ordered Weizen and IPA draft beer!

The basic side dishes that pair well with meat came out first — shredded green onion and salad — followed by extras like pickles, garlic stems, and perilla leaf sauce, which was nice to see.

After the side dishes came out, they set up the charcoal, and they swapped it out right away whenever we changed the type of meat or the heat dropped a bit, so nothing ever cooked slowly or unevenly.

Korean pork belly 150g, three servings

The first dish to arrive was three servings of Korean pork belly, 150g each haha. The staff grilled everything from start to finish, so it was great to just relax and chat while eating.

They cut it into bite-sized pieces and came by often to flip it so it wouldn't burn, so I never had to lift a finger.

The pork belly had such a good ratio of lean meat to fat that the savory and clean flavors blended together really nicely haha. Confirmed: a great grilled pork belly spot in Seocho-dong.

The variety of side dishes was great too, since it let us enjoy the pork belly with all sorts of combinations. Personally I liked that the shredded green onion was refreshing without being too sharp, so it didn't overpower the meat's natural savoriness. Good. The mushrooms were also really juicy and delicious.

Handmade Korean pork ribs 250g, two servings

Next up we tried the handmade Korean pork ribs, 250g for two servings. I'd noticed another table order it and the smell was so good I ordered it almost on impulse haha.

I'm personally the type who thinks the meat I grill myself tastes best (I take pride in my grilling), but the staff member was so friendly and grilled it so, so well that I really enjoyed it. It was moderately sweet with not much excess fat, so I could enjoy clean, light ribs.

Weizen and IPA draft beer

It's a reunion, so drinks obviously can't be skipped — we ordered Weizen haha. It's a beer with a bit of aroma, kind of like a blanc beer, so it went down really easily!

The next draft beer we ordered was the IPA — it's not a dark beer, but it has a somewhat rich feel to it. It has a slight tartness, so if you like beers with some acidity, ordering the IPA would be a good pick.

Is Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae good for a group dinner?

Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store, a restaurant near Gyodae Station I found while looking for a reunion spot in Gangnam. It's been featured on tvN's Wednesday Food Talk, SBS's Live Today, and a Korean food documentary, and has received the Blue Ribbon award five years running, so right away it felt like a proven place. The interior was also spacious and comfortable, making it a good spot for hosting people or holding gatherings. The draft beer was delicious and the meat quality was good, so I'd definitely come back here next time we have a get-together! If you're looking for a restaurant near Gyodae Station or a good grilled pork belly spot in Seocho-dong, Yuk Tongryeong Gyodae Direct Store is worth a visit.