Songpa jokbal restaurant, a 35,000-won spread for two: Narae Jokbal

I went to Songniddan-gil and was hunting for somewhere to have a late dinner when I found Narae Jokbal Songpa. It was genuinely hard to find anywhere open at that hour, but I spotted it while scrolling the map, phew. Heard it's a famous jokbal (pig's trotter) restaurant on Songniddan-gil, so I said yes immediately!

Where Narae Jokbal Songpa is and how to get there

Narae Jokbal Songpa is a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Songpa Naru Station. I was worried it'd be hard to find since it's tucked in an alley, but the access turned out way better than expected!

As soon as I turned into the alley, the lit-up sign was right there, so I found it without wandering around. It's only a few minutes' walk from the main road, so you can stroll through Songniddan-gil and arrive in no time haha. Parking is possible nearby too, so driving there wasn't much of a hassle.

Inside Narae Jokbal Songpa: not your typical jokbal interior, high chairs included

The moment I opened the door I blurted out, "oh, this place has a nice vibe!" haha. The interior at Narae Jokbal Songpa is bright and clean, not at all what you'd expect from a jokbal place. Would honestly work for a date too?

The doll decorations were totally our style haha

The tables were spaced far apart too, which made it easy to chat comfortably while eating. Not having to worry about the next table over was a total plus! It had a slightly Instagram-worthy feel, so it was great for photos too.

They also had baby chairs, so families with little ones could bring them along comfortably. The restroom was clean and well-kept too, which gave me confidence on the hygiene front.

Narae Jokbal Songpa menu and what comes free with dine-in

Looking at the menu, there were surprisingly a lot of options so I hesitated a bit haha

Jokbal and bossam are the basics, of course

There's also a jokbo set for trying both, spicy jokbal for when you want something hot, and a bobul set. With so many set options, even someone indecisive could order fine. And surprisingly, they even have gabri bossam.

They also had noodles and sundubu-jjigae, so the happy dilemma of what to order began, plus steamed egg and chive pancake for whatever suits your taste!

The event running these days was a total steal — eating in the restaurant got us a set of fresh fruit noodles + sundubu-jjigae + patbingsu dessert, all three, no extra ordering needed for a really full meal!!

Is the 35,000-won small jokbal enough for two?

We ordered the small jokbal! Waited while hoping it would come out fast since we were starving, eek.

The jokbal finally arrived!! The look of it alone made me drool.

The skin was chewy and the meat was tender, so my chopsticks wouldn't stop. No gamey smell at all, and dipping it in the special sauce kept my hand reaching back for more. Made me want to try the spicy jokbal next time!

Makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles)

The noodles that came alongside were sweet and tangy, cutting through the richness completely.

Sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew)

The sundubu-jjigae was spicy, and popping an egg in it made for an insane combo... By the time I finished it, I was stuffed!!

All of this came just from ordering a ₩35,000 small jokbal! The portion was more than enough, so we left full and satisfied. With this kind of spread, you can eat well without worrying about your wallet! I thought there was nowhere to eat jokbal for around ₩10,000 per person, but turns out it's right here at Narae Jokbal haha. Genuinely good value...

Flying fish roe rice balls

We're rice people, so we also ordered the flying fish roe rice balls.

The savory sesame oil aroma and the popping texture of the fish roe were a total treat. Being able to wrap up the lingering satisfaction from the jokbal with rice balls was truly a genius move.

Verdict: a dependable late dinner on Songniddan-gil

Honestly, it exceeded expectations. Being able to get this level of quality food even late at night is already a huge plus! Location, atmosphere, and taste all lined up perfectly, so I'd definitely go back. If you're stuck on what to eat late around Songniddan-gil, I highly recommend this place!! Planning to try the bossam next time too ><

My friend who came along was totally satisfied too, and we promised to bring other friends next time haha. Feels like I now have a go-to spot for whenever I'm stuck on a late dinner!