Guro Korean restaurant for jokbal with soft tofu stew: The Jokbal

It is on the first floor of the Sindorim 3-cha Prugio Apartment shopping arcade at 619-3 Gyeongin-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul. Hours are 11:00–22:30 daily, and 11:00–21:30 on Sundays. Weekday break time is 15:00–16:00. You can use the B1 parking garage, with parking validation for up to 2 hours 30 minutes.

If you are craving jokbal (braised pork hock) in Sindorim and want a neat, satisfying meal, The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch is a solid option too. They slowly boil fresh Korean pork hocks in a cauldron, so you can expect a tender texture without the characteristic porky smell. This time, I ordered front-leg jokbal and soft tofu stew, and enjoyed them with a drink.

How easy is it to find from Sindorim and Guro stations, and what about parking?

• First floor of the Sindorim 3-cha Prugio shopping arcade
• Accessible from Sindorim Station and Guro Station
• Use the shopping arcade's underground parking garage
• Parking supported for up to 2 hours 30 minutes

Since it is in the Sindorim 3-cha Prugio Apartment shopping arcade, it was not too hard to find. If you visit by car, use the B1 parking garage in the building; they provide parking validation for up to 2 hours 30 minutes. Parking is something you quietly end up worrying about when going out for jokbal, so this made for a relaxed meal.

Front-leg jokbal slowly cooked from fresh Korean pork hocks

What I ordered this time was front-leg jokbal. Perhaps because the fresh Korean pork hocks had been slowly cooked in a cauldron, the meat was tender overall. The lean meat was slightly chewy yet soft, while the fatty parts had a lovely savory richness.

When eating jokbal, the fatty part can sometimes feel overly greasy or the lean meat can be dry. This time, though, the balance of lean meat and fat was just right, making me keep reaching for another piece. A subtle herbal aroma also came through, and it was clean and pleasant to eat without any off smell.

A generous set of complimentary sides before the jokbal arrives

When you order jokbal, cold bean sprout soup and a small serving of naengchae jokbal (cold dressed pork hock), among other things, come with it. It is a nice spread for having a light drink before the main dish arrives, and I quietly loved that part too.

The seasoned chive salad had a tasty sauce that went well with the jokbal, while the radish kimchi was sweet and refreshing—the perfect style to have alongside pork hock.

Alternating the rich jokbal with tangy chive salad and refreshing radish kimchi meant I could enjoy it without getting tired of it until the end.

Does soft tofu stew go well with jokbal?

Jokbal alone felt a little incomplete, so I also ordered soft tofu stew for ₩7,500. The broth had a pleasantly spicy kick, with plenty of soft tofu and egg inside.

Rather than being especially intense, it was simply that delicious, familiar soft tofu stew flavor you imagine. A piece of jokbal followed by a spoonful of hot broth worked really well, so I would recommend it as a side when you are having a drink.

What jokbal menu options are available?

Along with classic jokbal, The Jokbal offers a wide range of choices depending on your preference, including bossam (boiled pork wraps), naengchae jokbal, and charcoal-grilled spicy jokbal.

They also have spicy options such as charcoal-grilled spicy jokbal, so people who prefer mild, savory jokbal and those who love spice can visit together and order to suit their own tastes. There are set meals at lunch as well, making it a decent place to come for a meal, not only evening jokbal.

A good Sindorim spot for jokbal and a drink

The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch has decent jokbal itself, but the accompanying side dishes made it fun to combine everything in different ways. In particular, the front-leg jokbal made from fresh Korean pork hocks slowly cooked in a cauldron had a great balance of tender lean meat and savory fat; with the chive salad and radish kimchi, it was easy to finish a whole plate without tiring of it. Parking is convenient and the restaurant is easy to reach, so it is worth remembering as a casual place to visit when looking for jokbal in Sindorim.

Overall

Tender Korean jokbal plus soft tofu stew—a great Sindorim meal for a drink.

A place where the jokbal and its sides worked wonderfully together. I would like to return when I am craving jokbal in Sindorim.