Jongno Korean BBQ by a stone wall: Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga

Walking from Jongno 3-ga Station to Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch (탑골공원 종로3가점)

The address is 111 Supyo-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and it is within walking distance of Jongno 3-ga Station, so it was easy to reach by subway.

Walking from Exit 5 of Jongno 3-ga Station, I spotted some old-school pocha (covered street-food tent) places too, haha. As a lover of old-school spots, I, Gyeongju Lee, promised myself I would definitely try them next time, then headed on to today's destination, Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch!!

This place has a whole row of outdoor tables along the stone wall right beside Tapgol Park, so the entire alley has such a bustling, lively vibe!! Haha

The entrance, decorated with bamboo and lantern lights, immediately catches your eye. Even though it is in an old-school alley, it is styled so nicely that it is great for photos too.

What was the weekday evening wait like?

When we arrived around 6:30 p.m. on a weekday, we could sit down right away without waiting. But a queue formed after that. Since this is the Jongno 3-ga outdoor-dining area, it seems to get properly busy in the evening.

I think that is also because it is known as a good spot near Jongno 3-ga Station for frozen pork belly.

The menu and self-service side dishes

There was a wide range of options, including the Tapgol Set (pork belly, pork neck, and duck roast, for 2–3 people, ₩55,000), flash-frozen pork belly (₩18,000), flash-frozen pork neck (₩19,000), beef brisket (₩20,000), and beef rib meat and beef chuck flap (₩24,000). You help yourself to the side dishes at the self-service bar.

Glasses, cutlery, and wet wipes like these are in a basket beside the table!

Once we sat down, the table was filled with delicious-looking sides: napa cabbage kimchi, garlic and Cheongyang chilies, seasoned soybean sprouts, seasoned bracken fern, ssamjang (savory dipping paste), and wasabi. With so many side dishes, it was fun choosing what to eat.

We grilled two portions of flash-frozen pork belly

We ordered two portions of flash-frozen pork belly. It arrived thickly sliced while still frozen, and the close cuts along the grain made it seem as though the juices were nicely absorbed.

We put the thawed meat on the grill, and the pork belly sizzling away... isn't it so pretty?? Haha. To be honest, I was not that fond of frozen pork belly, but this one cooked up cleanly without even a hint of off smell.

The outdoor-table atmosphere beside the stone wall

Eating at an outdoor table beside the stone wall made the atmosphere lovely and definitely changed the mood. Even though we were in the middle of Jongno, it felt relaxed to eat outside, so it seemed perfect for a date or a get-together with friends!!

And the weather was the best!!!!

Who I would recommend it to

It is a really good fit for anyone looking for outdoor dining in Jongno 3-ga or wanting a drink in that kind of atmosphere. Just keep in mind that waits form during peak dinner hours, so I recommend coming right after opening or early in the evening if you want to take your time. Since the seats are outdoors, you will also need to account for the weather.