Euljiro jokbal with front trotters and cold makguksu: Yeonnam Jokbal
In short
Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch is a jokbal (braised pork trotter) restaurant on Samil-daero 15-gil in Jongno, Seoul, near Jonggak and Euljiro. Two friends ordered the Yeonnam jokbal set switched to front trotter and found chewy skin and moist meat that paired well with dried radish and garlic sauce, alongside cold makguksu (chilled buckwheat noodles). Verdict: Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch is a clean, comfortable spot for an easy jokbal meal.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Jonggak Station Exit 4 · 5-min walk (store listing, Oct 6, 2026)
- Address
- 1F, 26 Samil-daero 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Hours (Mon–Fri)
- 11:00–22:00 (break 14:00–16:00)
- Hours (Sat)
- 14:00–22:00
- Closed
- Every Sunday
- What we ordered
- Yeonnam jokbal set (switched to front trotter), drinks, cold makguksu (chilled buckwheat noodles)
as written by the visitor on Apr 19, 2026 · not checked with the business
Why I picked Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch in Euljiro
I chose Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch (연남족발1987 종각점) for dinner with a friend in Euljiro. I found it in a hurry while searching, the reviews looked good and the photos looked great, so I went straight there.
I hadn't seen my friend in a while, and we agonized over where to eat in Euljiro. There are so many good places these days that I totally got decision paralysis, hahaha. Pasta? Meat? Then one line, "Shall we just have jokbal?", settled it on the spot!
Honestly, when you think of a jokbal place, you picture something a bit loud and rustic, right?
What is the atmosphere at Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch like?
The restaurant was clean and tidy overall. The tables were spaced generously, so it was comfortable to eat and chat. The moment we walked in, it felt completely different from the jokbal places you usually imagine!
Taste matters these days, but so does a clean environment, and the place already felt like it had earned a lot of points there.
Location and opening hours
- Address: 26 Samil-daero 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1st floor)
- Mon–Fri: 11:00 - 22:00 (break time 14:00 - 16:00)
- Saturday: 14:00 - 22:00
- Sunday: closed (every Sunday)
What I ordered: the Yeonnam jokbal set with a front trotter swap
At Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch I ordered the Yeonnam jokbal set (연남 족발 한상), swapped to the front trotter, plus a drink. After a long debate I went with the signature-style option.
My friend said the front trotter is much juicier and softer, so I chose it without a second thought.
How are the side dishes?
The side dishes are set out before the jokbal arrives, and there was a good variety and a decent lineup. A little moment of joy here! "Ohhhhhh!!"
These weren't just basic sides. The variety and the lineup were good enough that my expectations naturally went up.
I tried them one by one, and nothing felt thrown together; everything tasted good overall,
and the dried radish strips with the garlic sauce were a combo my chopsticks kept going back to from this point on.
How does the front trotter jokbal taste?
The front trotter jokbal had chewy skin, moist and tender meat, and a clean taste with no gamey smell. Those three were perfectly balanced.
And here comes the main dish, glistening jokbal. This is the kind of look where your chopsticks go in before you even take a photo, haha. It had the softness of being boiled for a long time, yet with no dryness at all, and staying so moist was impressive!
Eating it with dried radish and garlic sauce
Personally it's good on its own, but my favorite is putting dried radish on the jokbal, dipping it lightly in garlic sauce and eating it in one bite!!
Salty, savory and crunchy all come up together, and the flavor really comes alive.
Is cold makguksu a good match for jokbal?
When eating jokbal at Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch, I'd say the cold makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) is almost a must. The cool, tangy taste cleans up your mouth and makes you want jokbal again, and that loop just repeats.
Partway through, the thought naturally arrived: we need some carbs, right? So we ordered the cold makguksu without a second thought. Yes, that's right! Makguksu is now dessert, hahaha.
It especially cuts the greasiness and balances out the whole meal. This is a truly foolproof combo, so I recommend getting them together.
Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch in a few lines
- Clean restaurant, comfortable to eat in
- Jokbal with a good chewy plus moist balance
- Side dishes that feel cared for
- Add makguksu and it's a complete meal
It was a day of meeting my friend after a long time, eating well and leaving properly satisfied. It didn't feel like just filling up; it was clearly a "that was a great meal" kind of place.
Next time I'm going to try the fried jokbal (튀김족발) that I debated until the very end. It seems like it would be fun to try the menu one item at a time, so I'm 100% coming back.
If you're looking for a good jokbal place in Euljiro, or want a comfortable meal in a clean atmosphere,
Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch is worth a visit. I'll be going again soon. Next time, fried jokbal here I come!!
Where it is
26 Samil-daero 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 종로구 삼일대로15길 26 1층
Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak: hours, menu and prices →
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