Korean BBQ in Seocho, Seoul: charcoal pork belly at Gamgol Yeontanjip

As a couple who eats pork at least once a week without fail, we headed to a Bangbae Station Korean BBQ spot where you can try charcoal-grilled aged pork — Gamgol Yeontanjip (감골연탄집)!

Our palates have leveled up so much that we barely get impressed by BBQ spots anymore, but this time we were both genuinely blown away. Let me recommend this Bangbae Station Korean BBQ restaurant where they grill delicious pork belly right over charcoal 🔥 — this is Gamgol Yeontanjip Bangbae branch.

Where is Gamgol Yeontanjip Bangbae, and what are its hours?

Gamgol Yeontanjip Bangbae branch is an amazing walk from the subway — just 2-3 minutes from Exit 5 of Naebang Station on Line 7. Hours are weekdays 11:30-22:30 and weekends 14:00-22:30.

The place has such a strong retro vibe 👍🏻🌀

There's a waiting area, so even if there's a line you can sit while you wait! In the evenings they even switch on a charcoal briquette-shaped light lol

Feels like a humidifier? This is the trademark charcoal briquette of Gamgol Yeontanjip. At this Bangbae Station BBQ restaurant you get to taste meat grilled over their patented clean-burning briquettes.

A 1980s-90s retro interior in Seocho

The interior looks like it kept the exact vibe of the 1980s-90s. (Totally my style 🥹) It's cute and retro, and somehow felt cozy and fun.

There's group seating too, so it'd be great for family gatherings or work dinners!

Gamgol Yeontanjip was put together by a chef who trained at Le Cordon Bleu along with his mom and dad — this is their charcoal-grill spot. They use patented briquettes so it's safe with no gas worries ⭐️

Gamgol Yeontanjip menu and what we ordered

The menu at Gamgol Yeontanjip Bangbae ranges from charcoal bulgogi to pork belly aged 1,440 minutes in a handmade clay jar, thick and tender pork neck, and chewy, nutty kkodeulsal — so many tempting cuts.

We visited on a Sunday evening and the kkodeulsal was sold out 🥹 So we ordered 3 servings of the charcoal coarse-salt pork belly!

And of course we ordered their trademark flat bibim noodles too!

They also have raw cuttlefish mul-hoe (cold seafood soup) and briquette-shaped fried rice!

We carefully read the instructions on how to eat it the best way.

How does the charcoal coarse-salt pork belly taste?

The three servings of charcoal coarse-salt pork belly come out divided into individual earthenware bowls. Aged kimchi and green onion kimchi arrive too, perfect for grilling alongside!

The aged pork belly is chewy and thick, sprinkled with salt ❄️ Looks delicious just from the cut alone, right? (I learned that a piece with a bit of cartilage attached is the good part.) The lean-to-fat ratio is insane ~~~~

They grilled it right there over the charcoal ^_^🤤

Looking at it again, the color on that meat is insane... sizzling away, and we dug in right away!

The meat just melts in your mouth lol. Insane juiciness... insane charcoal smokiness...❤️ Whether you dip it in sesame oil the traditional way, dunk it in basil sauce, or wrap it in lettuce, it's all so~ good. The quality of the meat itself is just top notch

Couldn't resist and ordered a soju-beer mix, and the owner mixed it up perfectly lol. Silky smooth foam, a fantastic somaek 🍺

Are the signature flat bibim noodles worth ordering?

Next up, Gamgol Yeontanjip's other signature dish — the flat bibim noodles, arriving ❗️now❗️. Cutting straight to it: this is a must-order dish.

The noodles are springy and chewy, a texture I'd genuinely never had before — like hand-pulled noodles, or house-made noodles, something high-end. I expected it to taste like Paldo bibim noodle sauce, but it's completely different ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An indescribably upscale flavor. It seemed to have a lot of fruit blended in, rich and sweet-tangy, way more delicious and unique than a typical bibim noodle sauce 🥲 And strangely, the noodles never got mushy or clumped up even at the end — surprising, and insanely good. Absolutely order this!

Wrapping it with the meat is heaven. But honestly, both the meat and the noodles are so good on their own that it's almost a shame they end up neutralizing each other's flavor?

Pork skin and the plum (maesil) slushie for dessert

Couldn't hold back, so we ordered pork skin too. Sizzling and crackling away over the charcoal.

Mmm, seriously good. Oddly enough the pork skin was sweet, chewy, and crispy with zero funky smell — I just kept eating it without thinking. Gamgol Yeontanjip Bangbae is honestly a top-tier Bangbae Station Korean BBQ restaurant 🏆

For dessert, we even polished off a slushie. It's a plum-flavored slushie, so it felt like it helped digestion too haha

Who is Gamgol Yeontanjip Bangbae best for?

Gamgol Yeontanjip Bangbae is a Bangbae Station spot that satisfied us as a picky-about-meat couple 🥲 Since it's all grilled over charcoal, the smoky flavor is insane, the chewy, juicy aged pork belly is amazing, and the flat bibim noodles paired with the meat are a genuinely sensational flavor lol.

On top of that, the retro interior makes it fun to look around while you eat! I think it'd be great to bring your parents here too ^_^ If you're looking for a Bangbae Station work dinner spot, Bangbae Station meetup spot, or Bangbae Station Korean BBQ restaurant, I highly recommend Gamgol Yeontanjip Bangbae!! + Get a Naver Reservation before you go~