Cheolsan Station BBQ: sesame-oil scallion self-bar, Snug Roastery

Lately, picking a pork belly place for work dinners or get-togethers around Cheolsan-dong has been a surprisingly big headache. So I went to Samokjip (삼목집), which a friend recommended. Even the name tells you pork belly and pork neck are the stars, haha. It keeps popping up on lists of Cheolsan Station pork belly spots, so I was curious, and after trying it myself I get why everyone talks about it.

Snug Roastery location and opening hours

📍 16-10 Ori-ro 854beon-gil, Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi, 1st floor (3-minute walk, 207 m from Cheolsan Station Exit 1) 🕐 Hours: open 24 hours, every day of the year ✅ Note: Naver reservations available, separate men's/women's restrooms, group seating available

It's in the Cheolsan commercial district, so it's easy to get to. A good pick if you're looking for a pork belly place near Cheolsan Station.

The signboard alone looked clean and neat, so I was already looking forward to it before going in.

Side dishes and sesame-oil scallion salad

Once you sit down, the staff set the table for you, and the spread of lettuce, kimchi and more is really generous.

I especially loved this scallion salad (pa-chae) dressed in sesame oil. It's nutty and a little spicy, and it goes great with the meat.

Atmosphere and the self-bar

Inside, the tables are spaced generously, so we could chat comfortably without worrying about the next table. The ventilation is good too, so the smell of grilled meat didn't cling to our clothes as badly.

There's a wide range of drinks too, perfect for soju with pork belly.

There's a self-bar, so you can help yourself whenever you like.

I kept bringing back scallion salad. I just couldn't stop eating it, haha.

Two of us: 2 servings of pork neck and 1 of pork belly

We ordered 2 servings of pork neck and 1 of pork belly, plus doenjang stew and steamed egg. It was just the right amount for two, and since we arrived hungry we ordered generously, yet we cleaned everything up with nothing left over.

The meat looked so good that I silently declared it a pass before even eating.

Staff grill the meat for you

When the meat finally went onto the grill, a staff member cooked it for us, so all we had to do was wait comfortably.

They also adjusted the grill heat for us, so we could eat without worrying about burning or undercooking anything.

The pork belly was a good thickness, crispy outside and juicy inside, but the real star was the pork neck.

The pork neck had none of that dryness it can have; it was juicy and got nuttier the more I chewed, so the name "Samokjip" made total sense. Dipped in salt, ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) or sesame oil dip, each had its own charm, so we kept switching back and forth.

At the end, the staff cut the meat into small pieces for us, so we could finish without bothering with scissors. I liked that.

How were the doenjang stew and steamed egg?

The doenjang stew we ordered wasn't salty and had a deep, savory broth, ideal for cleansing the palate between bites of meat.

It came bubbling in an earthenware pot, so it stayed warm to the very end, which I liked.

The steamed egg was fluffy and well made too, and it was popular at the next table, where a family with a child was eating. With the side dishes, stew and steamed egg all tasty, we filled up well beyond just the meat.

Why it works for team dinners and a casual soju

Compared with other BBQ places around Cheolsan Station, the prices weren't too steep, so it felt like somewhere you could come often. It's fine for a team dinner, and the mood is just right for a casual glass of soju.

The staff were friendly and made us comfortable the whole meal. They swapped the grill plate and checked whether we needed anything, which came across as very attentive. Next time I'd like to try other cuts. If I'm craving pork belly near Cheolsan Station, or want to enjoy the finishing dishes properly, I plan to go back, haha.