Korean BBQ lunch date in Jongno 3-ga, owner-grilled pork neck: Cham

Where is Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch, and is there parking?

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch (참돼짓간 종로본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant on the first floor of the Picadilly CGV building, one minute from Exits 2 and 2-1 of Jongno 3-ga Station. Free parking is available in the building, and it's open daily from 12:00 to 23:00. One heads-up: phone reservations aren't taken after 6 PM on weekdays or after 1 PM on weekends and public holidays.

💡 Eohung's one-line review: "Perfectly juicy meat finished with top-grade charcoal and rice husk smoke! Friendly grilling too, a flawless Jongno pork belly spot."

Cute pig decor welcoming diners in central Jongno

I came to Jongno for a lunch date and suddenly had a huge craving for good meat, so I went looking for a proper Jongno pork belly place and ended up at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch. It's one minute from Exits 2 and 2-1 of Jongno 3-ga Station and very close to Ikseon-dong, so access is the best. In Jongno, where parking is hell, the free building parking was such a relief.

When you arrive, cute pig figures greet you, and it's the kind of look you'll never forget once you've seen it, hahaha.

Inside, a huge meat aging fridge and autographs from famous people greet you, so you can really smell that authentic Jongno 3-ga pork belly vibe.

What did we order at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch?

At Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch, we ordered 1 serving of pork belly (Boseong Nokdon) and 2 servings of pork neck (Boseong Nokdon). We picked what we wanted from the menu board outside beforehand and ordered the moment we sat down.

We decided what to get from the menu board out front, and as soon as we sat down we ordered 1 serving of pork belly (Boseong Nokdon) and 2 servings of pork neck (Boseong Nokdon).

The place is spacious, and even after lunchtime it was full of customers, from foreigners to office workers. I thought, okay, this is a really hot Jongno 3-ga pork belly spot.

Cham Dwaejitgan's six promises

The 6 promises are posted on the wall: domestic dropwort, unlimited vegetables, charcoal, quality Jirisan black pork and Boseong Nokdon, and more. You can really feel their pride in the meat.

Does Cham Dwaejitgan grill the meat for you?

Yes. At Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch, the owner grills everything, from vegetables to meat, on a handmade grill that doesn't splatter oil. Charcoal and domestic rice husks are set on the table, and as the husks burn they give the meat its own smoky aroma.

Good charcoal and domestic rice husks are set on the table, and as they burn they give the meat a smoky aroma all its own, or so they say. Then came the strong fire and the overwhelming-looking meat!

The owner kindly grills everything for you, fresh vegetables first and then the meat, on a handmade grill that doesn't splatter oil. With that happy sizzling sound, he cuts it into bite-size pieces, so all we had to do was sit back and eat. You really feel treated like a guest at this top-tier Jongno pork belly spot.

How did the Boseong Nokdon pork belly and pork neck taste?

The Boseong Nokdon pork belly and neck were tender, not tough at all, and every bite burst with juices carrying smoke and charcoal flavor. We dipped the meat in ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), spicy sauce, salt, and wasabi, and wrapped it in kimchi, lettuce, and perilla leaves with dropwort, scallion salad, and mushroom wasabi.

I dipped the fully grilled meat in ssamjang, spicy sauce, salt, and wasabi, and wrapped it up with dropwort, scallion salad, mushroom wasabi and more in kimchi, lettuce, and perilla leaves.

Wow, from the first bite I was like, "What on earth have I been eating as pork belly all this time?" The meat quality is insane! It's not tough at all, it's tender, and with every bite the juices full of smoke and charcoal flavor burst out. It was moving, honestly. This is the essence of a Jongno 3-ga pork belly place with a different level of quality.

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch: final verdict and free extras

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch made me vow that from now on, whenever I eat meat, it has to be here. It's a perfect pork belly spot near Jongno 3-ga Station! At the counter there are free extras like phone charging, hair ties, mouthwash, dental floss, and Febreze.

As we finished a great meal and headed out, the counter had thoughtful free extras like phone charging, hair ties, mouthwash, dental floss, and Febreze, which made it perfect. I left happily with a sweet candy in my mouth, hahaha.

If you're looking for a Jongno 3-ga pork belly place with great meat quality, smoky aroma, friendly grilling service, and careful little touches, don't hesitate and dash over to Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch! I'm confident it's the best of the Jongno pork belly spots. You won't regret it. Rawr~~~ 🐾