Jokbal pub in Jonggak for after-work bibim makguksu: Yeonnam Jokbal

Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch: the jokbal pub office workers pack after work

I found Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch (연남족발1987 종각점) while going to meet a friend who works in Jonggak. It's been a long time since I found a real office-worker favorite like this.

Jonggak has so many offices that the streets fill up with people the moment work ends, and even among all that, Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch was the place where people kept walking in.

How to get to Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch and where to park

Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch is a 7-minute walk from Jonggak Station, so it's easy to reach.

There's no dedicated parking and no parking fee support. Use the nearby Mirae Asset Center One parking lot, okay?

Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 is known for jokbal sets that come out piled high. Fried jokbal? It sounded unfamiliar, but it seemed to be the signature dish, so my friend and I took the challenge!

What time does the wait start on weekday evenings?

We went into Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch around 5pm, and just after 6pm it was completely full with a waiting line too. It looked pretty quiet at first... not at all.

Office workers with their ties loosened, teams out for a group dinner, couples of friends quietly sharing a drink... it filled up and a line formed, wow..

Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch menu and what we ordered

Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch has a jokbal set and bossam (boiled pork wraps), plus lunch specials of yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef rice bowl) and cockle bibimbap! You can also add spicy fire jokbal, FYI! We ordered the fried jokbal set plus makguksu (buckwheat noodles) in the cold-broth version!

If you write a receipt review, you can also get a flying fish roe rice ball!

Makguksu comes first: mul makguksu and extra cold broth are ₩500 each

The first thing out at Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch was the makguksu! It really wakes up your appetite, haha. The tanginess isn't harsh, so it's easy going, and after one bite your chopsticks keep going back!

We ordered the spicy mixed (bibim) kind, and switching to mul makguksu (in cold broth) is ₩500 extra! When it got a little dry partway through, I asked for cold meat broth, which is also +₩500! (This time they gave it to us as a freebie 😘)

The sweet-and-sour seasoning isn't overdone and the savory depth is crazy good! The noodles don't go mushy and keep their chewy texture, ㅠㅠ and the crunchy vegetables inside make the texture the best~

How does the fried jokbal set at Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 taste?

The fried jokbal at Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch was chewy outside and moist inside, and it went so well with the sauce on top that tasted like seasoned fried chicken ㅠㅠ! Look at the fried jokbal we ordered! The basic side dishes also come out neat and clean!

There are 6+ side dishes plus wrap greens~ isn't this such a generous spread!

It's glossy without being too greasy-shiny, and it looks so appetizing ㅜㅜ

Does the jokbal have a porky smell?

Jokbal can divide people because of the gamey smell, but Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 has almost none, so you can eat it without worry!

I tried a piece and the lean meat was moist while the skin was crisp and chewy! It's not too tough and bites soft, so my chopsticks wouldn't stop 🥲

Cutting the richness with side dishes and hot green chilies

Fried jokbal can get a bit heavy, but the side dishes in between balanced it out so I could enjoy it to the end!! It's a small thing, but you know this kind of setup quietly matters, right?

My friend, a total foodie, chopped up the chili peppers (땡초) so nicely for us ><. The heat cuts the richness again!

Anyone who can tell me how to resist soju with a spread like this~~? I wonder how much of a drinker I'll become.. aww

One bite, a glass of soju, a little chat, then another bite. It felt like the food makes a drinking session easy and relaxed.

Is Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch good for team dinners and dates?

Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch feels like a place that wouldn't fail with anyone you bring. It's fine for a work dinner, good for meeting a friend for a drink, and relaxed enough for a date with a meal and some drinks!

These days there are plenty of places with only good vibes or only decent food, but not many that satisfy both, right?ㅜㅜ Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 is good on taste, atmosphere and location, so I'm 100 percent thinking of going back!

It was an evening when I understood why some places pull your feet toward them on the way home from work. If you can't decide where to go in Jonggak, I recommend giving it a visit at least once!

How many people does the fried jokbal set feed?

The fried jokbal set at Yeonnam Jokbal 1987 Jonggak Branch would be way too much for two ㅠㅠ You need at least 3 people.. Cheonggyecheon is a 5-minute walk away, so you can finish with a stroll to help digest~