Half-and-half jokbal at Cheongmigwan, a Sejong Naseong-dong eatery

I visited Cheongmigwan, already famous for jokbal (braised pig trotters) in Naseong-dong, Sejong. I'd eaten there in the dining hall before, but this time I skipped eating in and enjoyed it comfortably at home with takeout instead.

<Cheongmigwan Sejong Naseong Main Branch> 📍Location: 23 Naseongbuk 1-ro, 1st floor, Building 803, Sejong ⏱️Hours: 16:00 - 21:00

Cheongmigwan in Naseong-dong, Sejong: what is the restaurant like?

Cheongmigwan Naseong Main Branch is a pretty famous jokbal spot in Naseong-dong.

When I visited, there were a lot of people inside eating jokbal. As befits a restaurant with a wait, plenty of people were there.

The atmosphere was also a bit different from your typical jokbal place. It had a slightly antique, upscale feel — the chandelier caught my eye first, and the staff wore dress shirts, giving the whole space a neat, polished look.

While I waited for my takeout order, I looked around and noticed they had an open terrace too — the atmosphere was really nice.

On one side there was a country-of-origin label, and the restroom code was posted too.

What comes with the Cheongmi half-and-half jokbal takeout?

What I ordered was the Cheongmi half-and-half jokbal. Plain jokbal alone can feel a bit lacking sometimes, but ordering half-and-half means you get both plain jokbal and spicy fire jokbal together — which is great.

As soon as the packed food came out, I hurried home before it could get cold.

When I got home and opened it up, they'd packed the jokbal in an insulated bag so it wouldn't cool down. That kind of thoughtful touch is just so nice🥹 (nice touch)

Since it was half-and-half, the two were packed separately in their own containers so they wouldn't mix,

and they neatly included everything from the sauces to eat with the jokbal, to wrap vegetables, to side dishes. There was almost nothing I needed to prepare separately at home, which made things easy.

How tender is Cheongmigwan's plain jokbal?

It was fine as is, but I moved a bit onto a plate to make it easier to eat and grabbed a piece right away.

Every time I eat jokbal from Cheongmigwan, I notice how genuinely soft it is. The lean meat isn't dry at all — it's tender, and it just melts smoothly once it's in your mouth.

There was also just the right amount of chewiness, so you could still feel that characteristic jokbal texture. Best of all, there was barely any gamey smell, which I loved. I meant to have just one piece and stop, but once I started, my hand kept going back for more. Truly a bewitching flavor that just disappears haha.

Since they gave us wrap vegetables too, this time I properly made wraps. A piece of jokbal, a bit of sauce and side dish on top — eating it that way was just pure happiness🤍

How spicy is the garlic chive fire jokbal?

The garlic chive fire jokbal was appropriately spicy while still letting you enjoy the tender meat alongside it.

Especially when you pick up the chives with the jokbal and eat it together with pickled radish, the flavors went even better together. The fire jokbal sauce is quietly spicy, but it's not just heat — there's a savory depth to it that keeps pulling you back in.

It's the kind of flavor that makes you want to applaud while eating 👏🏻 👏🏻

That said, it's fairly spicy, so rather than eating only the fire jokbal, I'd recommend alternating with the plain jokbal!! Eating the soft plain jokbal, then a piece of the spicy garlic chive fire jokbal, then going back to the plain jokbal again was just perfect. I really felt like ordering half-and-half was the right call.

Being able to alternate between the two flavors meant I never got tired of it, all the way to the end.

Jokbal takeout in Sejong: how does it compare with eating in?

I used to just go wherever was nearby when I wanted jokbal, but ever since eating at Cheongmigwan, it's the first place that comes to mind when I think of jokbal in Sejong.

I love that it's tender yet chewy, and that it tastes clean with no gamey smell. This was my first time trying it as takeout, and even eating it at home, the taste and texture were no different from eating in the restaurant.

I also liked that they packed it in an insulated bag, and that they thoughtfully included side dishes and wrap vegetables too, which made it easy to enjoy comfortably at home.

For anyone who wants to eat in but finds the wait a bit much, or anyone who wants to enjoy jokbal comfortably at home, takeout seems like a solid option. Especially when eating at home with family or friends, the half-and-half jokbal is great because you get to enjoy both the plain and the spicy garlic chive versions together.

If you're looking for soft, chewy jokbal, give Cheongmigwan Naseong Main Branch, a jokbal restaurant in Sejong, a try. Eating in is great, but I'd also recommend enjoying it comfortably as takeout like I did☺️