Seoul Korean BBQ in a converted two-story house: Jeongyukdo, Hapjeong

Hi everyone 🦦 I recently visited Jeongyukdo Hapjeong, located in an alley between exits 5 and 6 of Hapjeong Station. It's great for group outings too.

What Jeongyukdo Hapjeong's converted two-story house looks like

To introduce the restaurant first, Jeongyukdo Hapjeong is a two-story building converted from a house, so its atmospheric vibe stands out even from a distance. Stepping inside, the clean, warm wood-toned interior greets you, and it felt like a great spot for a date or a gathering. ☺️

How do you get to Jeongyukdo, and where do you park?

If you drive, parking is paid. It's close to the subway station with excellent public transit access, so taking public transportation seems like a good option too.

The dry-aging cabinet and drinks fridge at Jeongyukdo

On one side of the restaurant, there's a meat aging cellar lit with purple lighting and a drinks fridge. Jeongyukdo specializes in Grade 1 domestic pork and Hanwoo beef graded 1++ marbling No.9, and this aging cellar seems to enhance the meat's natural flavor.

Jeongyukdo's side dishes and sauce lineup

A variety of chilled drinks are also on hand, perfect for pairing with meat. The basic table setting comes neatly on individual wooden trays. Along with personal plates for portioning, they generously provide spicy-tangy radish salad, salty pickles, and pickled onions that cut through the meat's richness.

For pairing with the meat, whole grain mustard, sharp fresh wasabi, and pink salt are prepared so you can enjoy it to your taste. Once the charcoal fire was set up, the grate heated up and everything was ready to start grilling 😊

Jeongyukdo menu and prices

The meat we ordered was plated elegantly on a bed of straw and branch decorations!

Weight label stickers and grilling bone-in pork belly over charcoal

Like a proper butcher shop, label stickers showing weight and price are attached, giving confidence in the meat quality. The bright red lean meat with just the right fat layer, plus king oyster mushrooms and scallion garnish stamped with the 'Jeongyukdo' name, made for an appetizing visual 👍🏻

Placing the meat on the heated grate, it browned nicely with a subtle hint of charcoal aroma. Bone-in pork belly is best cooked evenly right up to the bone. Since you grill it yourself, you can cook it exactly to your liking, and the strong heat leaves the outside crispy while the inside stays juicy and moist 😉

With well-grilled pork belly, dip it lightly in pink salt first to taste the savory flavor, then pair it with sharp wasabi or crunchy pickled onions for a much cleaner bite. Tearing off the lean meat grilled right on the bone is also a special treat.

Finishing with doenjang stew and fried rice, plus booking tips

Adding a side dish to finish the meal is a great idea too! A savory doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) or spicy kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) cleanly washes away the richness of the meat, and topping it off with fried rice or cool naengmyeon (cold noodles) makes for a perfect, hearty meal! (I'm a fried rice fiend 🫠)

Also, Jeongyukdo Hapjeong lets you secure a table in advance through Naver Reservations, which is handy for planning ahead during evening peak hours or weekend gatherings.

Jeongyukdo Hapjeong offers not just quality meat but also clean side dishes and a great atmosphere, making for a satisfying meal. Keep it in mind if you're looking for a good aged pork or beef spot near Hapjeong.