Myeongdong jokbal restaurant for emperor's pork hock: Miss Jokbal

There are so many good places to eat in Myeongdong that I agonized over where to go, then made my way to Miss Jokbal, the can't-go-wrong name in the jokbal world. The conclusion first? I was seriously blown away by the most incredibly tender, soft jokbal ever... 😭 Here comes my vivid food diary from that day, when the soju and beer went down oh-so easily!

Miss Jokbal near Myeongdong Cathedral

It is near Myeongdong Cathedral, right on the main street, so it was easy to find. Once inside, the place had such a neat yet cozy atmosphere. Even on a weekday evening, it was already bustling with customers drawn in by the delicious smell of jokbal.

After getting seated, I looked over the menu. Everything looked delicious, so I pondered for ages before ordering the signature, ultimate dish at Miss Jokbal: Emperor Jokbal! And of course, I quickly added two icy draft beers and a bottle of green-bottle soju, which are essential with jokbal. 😎

Here is the menu~!

Complimentary spicy kalguksu

Once we had ordered, the side dishes were set out, and Miss Jokbal even served spicy kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) as a complimentary extra! This broth was truly something else. Before the jokbal arrived, we put it over the burner until it bubbled away and had a taste. It was pleasantly spicy with real depth, and it felt like it cleared me right out. Whenever the jokbal starts to feel a little rich, a spoonful makes it possible to keep eating forever—the ultimate supporter.

I could not wait, so before the main dish arrived, I started with the cold draft beer topped with little floating ice crystals. Ahhh... such refreshing deliciousness that the sound came out by itself! It tasted like all the fatigue of the day was washing away. We clinked our glasses to kick off the real food feast.

One platter that explained the name Emperor Jokbal

At last, the star of the day arrived: Emperor Jokbal! The moment I saw it, I immediately understood why it was called “Emperor.” A huge platter arrived piled high like a mountain with steaming jokbal, and the sheen flowing across the meat was no joke. The outside was wrapped in chewy, collagen-rich skin, while the inside was full of pale lean meat. Just looking at it, the whole thing seemed to shout, “I’m really tender!”

Even the lean meat melts away

When I picked up a piece of jokbal with my chopsticks, I could feel at my fingertips just how soft the meat was—it jiggled so springily. I popped it straight into my mouth... wow, it was incredible. I barely even had to chew; it just melted away!

Usually the lean part can be dry, but even the lean meat in Miss Jokbal's Emperor Jokbal pulled apart softly along the grain and was packed with juices. The skin was so chewy and tender too; with every bite, its savory flavor and sweet-salty seasoning spread through my mouth, and I could not stop marveling. There was not even a trace of gaminess—just a delicate herbal aroma and the meat's natural savory flavor, perfectly alive.

Jokbal with dried radish and drinks

Top a piece of jokbal with crunchy mumallaengi (seasoned dried radish strips), add pungent garlic dipped lightly in ssamjang (savory soybean paste), and take it all in one huge bite—it is a one-way ticket to heaven. The mix of crunch and tenderness is art. Since the meat itself was so excellent, it was wonderful even with just a little saeujeot (salted shrimp), and when wrapped in greens, the flavor of the meat still never got lost—it made its presence known loud and clear.

With food this good, how could the drinks possibly stop? After finishing a refreshing draft beer, I immediately switched to soju and kept up the eating frenzy, alternating a piece of jokbal with a shot of soju. The soju cleaned away the rich, savory fat of the tender jokbal so neatly that, even though I was full, I could not put down my chopsticks. I think my friend and I ate while saying “This is so good” and “This place is amazing” about a hundred times.

Only after thoroughly gnawing off every chewy bit of meat stuck to the giant bone did this deeply satisfying meal come to an end. It was easily one of the best jokbal meals I have had lately. If you want properly tender jokbal that melts in your mouth, plus a glass of soju, in Myeongdong, Miss Jokbal Myeongdong Branch is a choice you absolutely will not regret!