Outdoor terrace BBQ and doenjang sulbap in Bangi-dong: Hongkyojip

I was looking for a Korean BBQ place in Jamsil that looked both delicious and spacious, and that's how I ended up at Hongkyojip Jamsil 🤍 There are so many good restaurants around Jamsil and plenty of BBQ spots for work dinners, but this time I specifically wanted somewhere with a big dining room and staff who'd grill the meat for me.

I thought this could be a great spot for anyone looking for a Jamsil work dinner venue, and sure enough, even on a weekday evening there were tons of groups in for company dinners.

Looking at the reservation board, there were a lot of bookings even for a weekday. If you're planning to come with a group, I'd definitely recommend reserving ahead ◡̎

Hongkyojip Jamsil

Outdoor terrace or indoor hall: where to sit at Hongkyojip Jamsil

Hongkyojip Jamsil has a row of outdoor terrace tables lined up outside, and a separate spacious indoor hall further in. The first thing that caught my eye when I arrived was the terrace. The weather lately has been perfect for eating outside, so seeing all those tables set up out there made me think grilling meat here would be such a great vibe 🤤

We debated sitting on the terrace for a moment, but they told us the grilling service isn't available out there, so we went to our reserved table indoors instead. I personally love having someone grill the meat perfectly for me, so I didn't hesitate to head inside haha. And true to its reputation as a Jamsil work dinner spot, the indoor area was also packed.

A lot of the tables looked like company dinners, but the space between tables wasn't cramped at all, and the whole place felt big enough for large groups. Customers kept streaming in the whole time we were there, and quite a few had reservations. So if you're visiting on a weekend or in the evening, I'd say booking ahead like I did will save you some stress ☺️

Every table has its own little chimney

As soon as we sat down, I noticed a cute little chimney in the middle of the table. At first I thought it was just decoration, but it turns out charcoal actually goes inside it. Seeing something shaped like a chimney on a BBQ table felt novel and kind of adorable.

The staff showed us to our seats very kindly, and even pointed out that we could store our bags under the chairs, which was a nice, thoughtful touch.

The sliding table-order tablet, and the meat and drinks menu

You order at Hongkyojip Jamsil via a table-order device, and what personally surprised me was that the device actually moves along the table. Watching it slide back and forth while ordering at a BBQ place made me look twice haha.

There was a wider variety of meat cuts than I expected, and for a BBQ restaurant, the drink menu was surprisingly extensive too. If you're coming for a work dinner or gathering, it seems like a great spot to order several meat cuts and let everyone pick their own drink.

That day we ordered one pork belly and one pork jowl.

9 side dishes and individually wrapped utensils

Before the meat arrived, the basic side dishes were set out first — and there were a whopping 9 of them.

I love it when a BBQ place gives you a generous spread of banchan, and here there was such a variety it was fun trying a little of everything. The utensils were also individually wrapped, which I appreciated for the hygiene factor.

After a short wait, a staff member came and put charcoal into the chimney. Once the charcoal was in, we were officially ready to eat some meat 🔥

They also brought over the drinks we'd ordered, and the soju was ice cold. Meat really does call for a cold shot of soju, doesn't it 🙉

They thoughtfully set out wet wipes and napkins for us too haha.

Staff grill the pork belly and pork jowl from start to finish

Finally our meat arrived, and the color alone looked fresh. Both the pork belly and pork jowl looked great even before cooking, and I already wanted to dig in 🤤

One of the things I loved about Hongkyojip Jamsil was that staff grill the meat from start to finish. Before laying the meat down, they rubbed the fat trimmings over the grill to oil it thoroughly.

Then they laid the meat right down and started grilling. Watching them work was fascinating — they were so skilled at it.

The owner grilling our meat that day actually had a cast on one hand, but she still handled everything so skillfully that I felt a bit bad watching ㅠㅠ Still, her grilling skills were genuinely top-notch.

Once the meat was cooked enough, she cut it into bite-sized pieces and moved the fully cooked pieces up to the top of the grill one by one. Thanks to that, we didn't have to worry about the meat burning or keep flipping it ourselves — we could just chat and eat as we went. This kind of service would be so convenient for work dinners too.

The first bite, dipped in salt

After grilling everything, she told us to dip the first bite in salt. So I did as instructed, and the meat was genuinely delicious 🤤🤍 There was a subtle smoky char from the charcoal, and you could really taste the meat's own juiciness. Especially with that first bite, I thought — yeah, meat really does taste better when someone grills it properly for you.

When I grill meat myself, I often end up second-guessing how done it is, overcooking it a bit, and it can turn dry. But here, the staff watched the meat closely and grilled it to just the right doneness the whole time.

The red sauce served alongside is worth a try

A red sauce came out alongside the meat, and they explained it was made with fruit. At first, red sauce with meat felt a little unfamiliar to me, but once I tried it, it worked surprisingly well. The savory richness of the meat paired with the sweet, tangy sauce gave a totally different flavor than dipping it in salt.

Personally, I loved pairing this red sauce with myeong-i namul (wild garlic leaves). Put the meat on a leaf, add a little of the red sauce, then a touch of wasabi — I highly recommend this combo 🤤 The distinct aroma of the leaves, the sweetness of the sauce, and the sharp kick of wasabi all came together, and I just kept eating it.

Doenjang sulbap partway through the meat

While we were eating, the doenjang sulbap we'd also ordered arrived.

Whenever a BBQ restaurant has doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) or doenjang sulbap on the menu, I always make sure to finish with it — and the doenjang sulbap here was loaded with ingredients.

There was meat and plenty of tofu inside, so scooping it up with the rice made for a really filling bite. The doenjang broth paired nicely with the rice too, so it was great to eat a spoonful or two throughout the meal. Eating meat alone can get a little heavy, but a spoon of doenjang sulbap in between hit the spot perfectly.

For me, a meal only feels complete when I finish with rice after the meat, so this was a very satisfying dish ☺️

Receipt review event: free cheese egg custard

When we visited, there was a receipt review event running, and we joined and got a cheese egg custard. It was cute just to look at — the cheese was piled on top like a bomb went off. With that much cheese melted into the soft egg custard, the savory richness made it delicious.

There was a slight sweetness to it too, so it paired well with the meat. Taking a spoonful of the egg custard between bites of spicy or salty meat softened things out nicely and worked really well. If you're doing a receipt review event, it might be worth checking what's on offer at the time of your visit.

The grilled eggplant was the surprise here

There was also eggplant included as a basic item, and honestly, I'm not really a fan of eggplant. So at first I figured my friend would just eat it, but once it was grilled, it turned out better than expected. My friend, who loves grilled eggplant, kept eating it and raving about it, and when I tried a piece myself, it was soft and paired well with the meat. Even if you don't usually eat eggplant, it's worth trying grilled alongside the meat here.

A self-serve bar for refills

There was also a self-serve bar inside the restaurant. If any of the basic side dishes ran low, we could just grab more ourselves, which was convenient. Wraps and side dishes tend to disappear fast when eating BBQ, so being able to get what you need without asking staff every time was handy. Especially for a group dinner, where requests for extra side dishes can pile up, having a self-serve bar means everyone can just take what they want.

One more perk discovered at checkout

After a great meal, while looking around during checkout, we noticed an interesting linked service. It was a tie-in with Ojingeo Seonsuchon Bangi branch — if you bring your same-day Hongkyojip receipt there, they'll give you one of abalone sashimi, sea squirt, or butter-grilled abalone. It's a nice perk if you want to enjoy seafood after your meat, so anyone planning a visit might want to check this out too. It was interesting to see a nearby restaurant offering a linked perk like this.

Looking for a work dinner spot near Jamsil Station?

After eating everything, I understood why so many groups come here for dinners even on weekdays. First, the restaurant is spacious enough for large groups. Since staff grill the meat from start to finish, there's no need for one person in the group to be stuck managing the grill the whole time. There's also a wide variety of meat cuts and drinks, so everyone can order to their taste. Most of all, the meat was grilled so well that it also worked great for a date for two, like us. There's the outdoor terrace for nice weather, and the indoor space felt perfect for groups and gatherings.

What the name Hongkyojip means

The name Hongkyojip is said to come from the Beolgyo Honggyo bridge in Beolgyo-eup, Boseong County, South Jeolla Province. The Beolgyo Honggyo bridge is Treasure No. 304 and is tied to the meaning of "wolcheon-gongdeok" — the virtue of building a bridge so people can cross more easily. The restaurant's name is meant to carry that same idea: doing good by making things convenient for others, and becoming a place, like the bridge, that connects people to people. Learning this made the name feel much more meaningful than I first assumed.

If you want great meat in Jamsil, or you're specifically looking for pork belly in Bangi-dong, a work dinner venue in Jamsil, or a BBQ restaurant near Jamsil Station, this place should suit you well. We had pork belly and pork jowl that day, but I'd love to try other cuts next time 🤍

Honestly, I find grilling meat a bit of a hassle, so having staff grill it perfectly from start to finish was my favorite part. We didn't have to worry about burning it or keep flipping it — the cooked pieces were just moved to the top for us to eat right away, so we could relax and chat through the whole meal.

If you're looking for a spacious BBQ restaurant in Jamsil, trying to pick a spot for a work dinner or gathering, or you just want to enjoy good pork belly without lifting a finger like me, Hongkyojip Jamsil is worth a visit ( ⸝⸝•ᴗ•⸝⸝ )੭˒˒ On a nice day you can also enjoy the terrace atmosphere — next time, I want to try sitting outside myself 🍖🤍