No-wait 5:40pm outdoor table at a Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ: Chowon

Chowon Restaurant: Korean BBQ at an outdoor table beside the Tapgol Park stone wall

Isn't this exactly the weather for outdoor BBQ season? Cool evenings, clear skies — whenever it gets like this, I just want to sit outside with grilled meat and a soju or beer in hand.

When I think of outdoor BBQ, Jongno 3-ga is the first place that comes to mind! The old-alley atmosphere of Jongno 3-ga, especially the outdoor tables stretched out along the stone wall, makes eating meat there feel like a whole mood. This time I visited Chowon Restaurant Jongno 3-ga Branch!

• 📍 30 Jongno 17-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• 🚇 About 2 minutes on foot from Jongno 3-ga Station Exit 5

Red tables outside, remodeled seats inside

Chowon Restaurant stands out if you're looking for an outdoor BBQ spot in Jongno 3-ga — red tables line the street, so even just walking by you can tell this is a proper outdoor BBQ spot haha. This is exactly the vibe when people say outdoor BBQ in Jongno 3-ga.

Chowon has seats inside as well as the outdoor tables. It's been recently remodeled, so the interior is pretty clean, and even the restroom was tidy and easy to use. Since the windows are almost entirely open, you can still feel some of the outdoor atmosphere even sitting inside.

So on days that are too hot or too cold, I'd sit inside, but on a cool day like this, outdoor seating is a must! I really think you have to experience the Jongno 3-ga outdoor BBQ feeling outside, so I sat outdoors. The stone-wall alley, the red tables, meat sizzling away — the atmosphere was genuinely great.

What's on the Chowon Restaurant menu, from 1++ hanwoo to frozen pork belly

Chowon has a wide range of meat options, from 1++ hanwoo (Korean beef) to frozen pork belly and frozen beef brisket. There's also hanwoo strip loin and beef brisket, plus meal and side dishes like yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef rice bowl), beef brisket doenjang stew, and steamed egg — good for finishing off a meat meal. But when you're at an outdoor BBQ spot, you can't skip the frozen pork belly!

Ordering frozen pork belly for two plus steamed egg

We ordered frozen pork belly for two plus steamed egg that day. Outdoor BBQ calls for frozen pork belly! The basic side dishes got set out quickly. Napa cabbage kimchi, green onion kimchi, bean sprouts — a nice variety of banchan (side dishes) to go with the meat. And with frozen pork belly, there's the fun of laying the thin slices on the grill and watching them turn golden brown.

Grill the frozen pork belly until it's sizzling and cooked through, pile on kimchi and bean sprouts... that combo is impossible to resist haha.

Put a piece of pork belly on a lettuce leaf, add kimchi and bean sprouts, and take a big bite — savory, salty, and the meat's fat pairs perfectly with the kimchi. Eating it outdoors made it taste different from grilling at home too.

Meat + kimchi + bean sprouts + outdoor BBQ atmosphere

With these four things together, it's already game over 🤎

The savory steamed egg on the side

The steamed egg we ordered alongside the meat couldn't be skipped either. A spoonful of soft, salty steamed egg followed by a piece of meat brings out a real savory, umami hit as the flavors mix. It's nicer than just eating meat non-stop — the steamed egg in between made it a great drinking snack too. Next time I'd like to try meal items like yukhoe bibimbap or the doenjang stew as well.

What time should you arrive at Chowon Restaurant to skip the wait?

I visited Chowon Restaurant Jongno 3-ga Branch around 5:40pm on a weekday and walked straight in with no wait. But by the time I finished eating and stepped out, there were already people waiting. Outdoor BBQ spots in Jongno 3-ga really do fill up once peak time hits!

If you specifically want an outdoor table, I'd recommend going a bit earlier, and if you're visiting later, after 8pm might be worth considering too. There are reviews mentioning waits for outdoor seats on weekend evenings, so it seems smart to plan for a wait during peak hours.

How to make the most of outdoor Korean BBQ in Jongno 3-ga

There are so many outdoor BBQ spots in Jongno 3-ga, but I think sitting at a red table in an alley next to a stone wall like this is exactly the charm of Jongno's outdoor BBQ scene. There's also a nicely remodeled interior along with the outdoor tables, so you can choose depending on the weather — that's a plus. And being close to Jongno 3-ga Station makes it easy to get to, with meat options ranging from hanwoo to frozen pork belly, making it a solid spot for a meal and drinks with friends.

In weather this good for outdoor BBQ, how about a plate of frozen pork belly at Chowon, a favorite outdoor BBQ spot in Jongno 3-ga? A piece of meat wrapped with kimchi and bean sprouts, a spoonful of steamed egg, and a cold beer 🍺 — that's exactly what outdoor BBQ in Jongno 3-ga means to me haha. If you want to enjoy outdoor BBQ in Jongno 3-ga, remember Chowon Restaurant!