Late-night Seoul Korean BBQ near Nonhyeon Station: Yuksam Maeul

These days, it feels like so many restaurants close around 10 PM. Last orders are around 8:30 PM, too? But I found a barbecue spot that opens from morning all the way until 5 AM, so I had to stop by. It’s Yuksam Maeul (육쌈마을), located near Nonhyeon Station.

Yuksam Maeul Nonhyeon Station Main Branch

Today’s Menu

Side Dishes and Assorted Wrap Greens

The basic spread comes with side dishes that are just right for pork barbecue, but the standout is this assortment of wrap greens. I practically go to pork barbecue places just to eat meat wraps, so I absolutely love a place that gives you this many different greens.

There are an enormous number of pork restaurants these days, and Koreans are already so good at grilling their own meat that I wonder whether there is another people quite like us. Haha. So it feels as though places set themselves apart through their side dishes or their hours. At Yuksam Maeul, the wrap greens are the most distinctive highlight.

Wureong Seafood Doenjang-jjigae

And when you order meat, wureong seafood doenjang-jjigae (soybean-paste stew with freshwater snails and seafood) comes out bubbling away right away! This generously sized earthenware pot of stew is served as part of the spread, and it was so, so good with the pork barbecue. It had plenty of plump wureong, plus three huge chunks of tofu, so it was seriously satisfying!

It was perfect to ladle into a small plate and enjoy alongside meat wraps. It was packed with ingredients, too. The flavor was rich, deep, and hearty—really delicious. It was a little salty, but that actually made it great with drinks. Haha.

Lid-Grilled Gabrisal and Premium Hangjeongsal

We ordered gabrisal, which you could call a specialty cut, and premium hangjeongsal—pork jowl. To give you the conclusion first, the quality of the meat was quite good!

With the basic spread, wrap greens, and wureong seafood doenjang-jjigae all gathered together, our abundant pork barbecue table was complete!

Chewy, Nutty Gabrisal

First up, we grilled gabrisal, my partner’s favorite cut. We turned it over on both sides until it was nicely golden.

I first tried it simply dipped in salt, and oh—it was chewy and nutty with none of that unpleasant pork smell. Gabrisal’s distinctive texture and savory meatiness spread through every bite, and it was delicious! A definite thumbs-up from my gabrisal-loving partner, too.

The joy of Yuksam Maeul is these many different wrap greens: red Swiss chard, kale, red chicory, baby napa cabbage, spring cabbage, lettuce, and perilla leaves... Paired with pork grilled golden on the iron lid, all those combinations tasted so healthy and delicious!

Pork Jowl Wraps with Grilled Napa Kimchi

Next, we put on hangjeongsal, my favorite! Haha. We cut it into easy-to-eat pieces, and on its own, it was wonderfully springy with savory juices bursting out—such satisfying pork jowl!

We also put napa kimchi on the iron lid and grilled it diligently in the pork fat. Maybe the lid itself is just good, but food did not stick much at all, which made it very convenient!!! Haha. Put well-grilled napa kimchi on wrap greens, add the pork jowl, and... >.< you have a savory, delicious meat wrap with not a hint of greasiness!

True to its name, Yuksam Maeul is a tasty, easygoing Nonhyeon Station restaurant where you can enjoy meat wraps, and it stays open late. Since people can visit even late at night, there seemed to be a steady stream of new guests! If you want pork barbecue in Gangnam late at night, I think it could be a good option.