Jongno 3-ga Seoul Korean BBQ: 61-team wait screen, pork neck: Tapgol

As the weather cools down, all I can think about lately is outdoor Korean BBQ in Jongno 3-ga 🍻 Pojangmacha (tented street bars) are great too, but this time I wanted to grill some quick-frozen pork belly outside and have a soju-beer cocktail, so I headed to Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch. When I arrived and checked the waiting screen though — 61 teams ahead… haha

I knew outdoor BBQ in Jongno 3-ga was popular, but seeing the actual number really made it hit home.

That day we ordered two servings of quick-frozen pork belly, one serving of quick-frozen pork neck, kimchi fried rice, and both soju and beer for proper soju-beer cocktails.

What is the outdoor BBQ scene like at Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch?

What I liked most about Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch was, of course, the outdoor BBQ atmosphere. The layout has outdoor tables running along the stone wall of Tapgol Park.

Once night fell and the lights came on, the vibe was on point. You can probably tell from the photos, but the tables were almost completely full and it was seriously crowded.

This feels like a better fit for people who want the buzzing Jongno energy of grilling meat and drinking outside, rather than a quiet, moody BBQ spot. Especially on nice-weather days, sitting at an outdoor table rather than inside really gives you the full experience!

61 teams on the wait screen at this Jongno 3-ga outdoor BBQ

One thing you should absolutely know before visiting Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch is the wait. When we visited, the number on the waiting machine's screen was a whopping 61 teams. I genuinely did a double-take when I saw it, haha.

This place draws that many people, so it's worth going in expecting some kind of wait during evening peak hours in Jongno 3-ga. Especially now that evenings are cool and perfect for outdoor grilling, crowds can get even bigger — if you want to avoid the wait, aiming for a slightly earlier time might be a good idea.

Two servings of quick-frozen pork belly, 18,000 won

Checking the menu: quick-frozen pork belly at 18,000 won and quick-frozen pork neck at 19,000 won. We ordered two servings of the pork belly first. They lay the thinly sliced frozen pork belly across the grill and it cooks fast — the smell of it grilling alone makes you want a drink, haha.

We also grilled the basic side dishes like kimchi and bracken fern along with the meat, and cooked in the pork fat they were surprisingly delicious. Crisp up the frozen pork belly, top it with a piece of grilled kimchi, take a sip of soju-beer cocktail — game over. If you're hunting for a good frozen pork belly spot in Jongno 3-ga, being able to enjoy the outdoor BBQ atmosphere on top of that is definitely a plus.

Adding quick-frozen pork neck, 19,000 won: how it differs from pork belly

It felt like a shame to only have pork belly, so we added a serving of quick-frozen pork neck (19,000 won) too. If pork belly is all about thin, crispy bites, pork neck gives you more of a chewy, meaty texture — I was glad we ordered both.

For two people, a combo like ours — two servings of pork belly plus one serving of pork neck — works well. Switching between the two kept things from getting repetitive and paired nicely as drinking food.

Soju and beer shots at a Jongno 3-ga outdoor BBQ

For drinks that day it was soju plus Terra beer, mixed into soju-beer cocktails! Honestly, once you're out here in Jongno 3-ga sizzling meat on the grill, not drinking a soju-beer cocktail is nearly impossible, haha.

Listening to the chatter of people around us while eating a bite of pork belly and sipping a soju-beer cocktail — this was exactly the Jongno outdoor BBQ mood I was after. Great for coming with a group of friends, and also a good fit for couples who prefer a lively, buzzing atmosphere over a quiet date.

Finishing with kimchi fried rice, 6,000 won

I said I was full, then added kimchi fried rice for 6,000 won anyway. Somehow, after grilled meat, the meal doesn't feel complete without fried rice, haha. They stir-fry kimchi and rice right on the same grill, and as you can see in the photo, it's loaded with plenty of kimchi and vegetables, with leftover meat fat giving it a proper savory kick.

It's even better slightly crisped and pressed down, and pairing it with a leftover piece of meat on top is a killer combo. Personally, the order that day — pork belly, then pork neck, then soju-beer cocktails, then kimchi fried rice — was perfect.

Is Tapgol Gongwon worth it for outdoor BBQ in Jongno 3-ga?

Having been there myself, Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch felt less like a place you go just for frozen pork belly and more like a spot where you go to soak in that distinctive Jongno 3-ga outdoor BBQ atmosphere. The tables lined up along the Tapgol Park stone wall, the packed and lively crowd, the smell of pork belly grilling — all of it.

That said, when I visited there were enough people that the waiting screen showed 61 teams ahead, so if you go during peak hours, keep the wait in mind. Doing what we did — two servings of pork belly plus one serving of pork neck, a soju-beer cocktail, then finishing with kimchi fried rice — is a solid formula! If you're after a good outdoor BBQ spot in Jongno 3-ga before the weather turns colder, this one's worth a visit :)