Seoul Korean BBQ near Hapjeong: patio opening week at Jeongyukdo

Today I went and had some really good meat at Jeongyukdo, a well-known spot near Hongdae's Hapjeong Station. When you're tired and in a low mood, where do you go? Straight to the grill, of course. Here's my detailed review!

How to find Jeongyukdo: 3 minutes from Hapjeong Station Exit 5

This Hapjeong favorite, Jeongyukdo, is a 3-minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 5. It sits at the entrance to the Hapjeong-dong café street, which is lined with bars and restaurants, but because it's tucked one block in, the place feels quiet and cozy.

Jeongyukdo opening hours, last order and parking

• Daily 11:30 – 23:00
• Last order 21:30
• No parking
• Reservations available

Jeongyukdo's new patio and indoor seats on a weekday at 8pm

I visited this Hapjeong favorite in the evening, around 8pm on a weekday. The lighting was casting a soft glow over both the restaurant and the terrace.

The outdoor patio opened on September 6, so lots of people can now enjoy meat in the evening with a cool breeze. It had been too hot to use until now, but with the weather cooling down, it's finally time to enjoy that outdoor comfort!

Inside, the walls are covered with celebrity autographs — a sign of how long this place has been loved, haha.

Jeongyukdo's interior is divided into separate seating areas, so you get a fairly private dining experience. Rather than one huge space packed with tables jammed together, having the space divided like this feels much more comfortable.

Jeongyukdo menu: 1++ hanwoo beef, grade-1 pork and lunch specials

This Hapjeong favorite has such a varied lineup — from 1++ hanwoo beef to grade-1 hanpork, plus lunch dishes and lunch special sets — that it seems just as good for a lunch outing as for dinner. I ordered pork jowl and seasoned pork ribs.

First, the basic side dishes arrive. They come as a full spread, and you can portion out whichever seasoning you want onto your own small plate, which keeps things clean and convenient.

There are three condiments prepared — wasabi, whole grain mustard sauce, and Himalayan pink salt — so you can just scoop out what you like and enjoy it with the meat.

Overall, the ingredients all felt fresh, which I loved. The scallions had no harsh spiciness, and there was mu-saengchae (spicy radish salad) — the pairing chef Lim Seong-geun from Culinary Class Wars called the best match with meat — which made it even more satisfying.

Pork jowl at Jeongyukdo: the first bite dipped in pink salt

The pre-marinated pork ribs and pork jowl arrived ready to go. The plate was decorated so nicely that even raw meat looked mouthwatering.

They grilled the pork jowl first, with real care. There's no grilling service, but the heat spreads evenly across the grill plate, so even amateurs can grill the meat easily and comfortably.

One well-grilled piece of pork jowl, dipped in Himalayan pink salt — an explosion of savory flavor and rich meaty aroma. There was zero gamey smell, and you could really feel the high quality of the hanpork.

Wrapped up together with scallion strips, mu-saengchae, onion, and seasoning, the meat's natural sweetness and juices danced across the palate in perfect balance! When meat is this delicious, you don't want to swallow while you're still chewing. It was exactly that kind of flavor, T_T.

Pre-grilled seasoned pork ribs over gentle charcoal

Next up, the pork ribs. The charcoal heat is gentle, so even though the meat is marinated, you can grill it without burning it. Marinated meat can easily burn if you're not careful, right? T_T

The quality of the meat was incredible — super juicy, and the visual was mouthwatering too.

The cut was nice and thick rather than thin, which made the texture even more satisfying.

One well-grilled piece of seasoned pork ribs was sweet but not overly strong — the moderate flavor made it even more appealing.

Pairing it with a variety of side dishes made the whole experience so much richer. When something's already delicious, adding more good things just makes it better, right? You know how it is.

Finishing the meal: hanwoo doenjang sulbap rice pot and ramen

You can't finish a meat meal without a proper meal at the end, right? So I ordered the hanwoo doenjang sulbap (soybean paste rice cooked with hanwoo beef).

Overall it was seasoned a bit on the strong side, but it felt like it washed away all the greasiness from the meat, so I ended up really enjoying it.

I don't know why, but lately I always crave ramen after eating meat... I couldn't resist and ordered it again.

Unlike the rice, the spicy kick of the ramen felt like it gave the meal a proper closing note.

Why Jeongyukdo is worth it for Korean BBQ in Hapjeong

Whenever I want to eat meat in Hapjeong, I always worry it'll be crowded and noisy with too many people. But this Hapjeong favorite, Jeongyukdo, let me enjoy really good meat properly in a comfortable space — it was such a great experience. If you're looking for a great BBQ spot or a dinner date course in Hapjeong or Hongdae, I recommend giving Jeongyukdo a try.