Sinsa Korean BBQ by soy sauce crab alley with homemade pickles: Sansol

Sansol Sinsa Main Branch (산솔 신사본점) is a Sinsa BBQ place I visited recently! The meat was really good, and the banchan (side dishes) and side menu were so well made that I left very satisfied 😙 The meat is aged, so it's tender and rich and nutty, and I really hope you'll try it!

Where is Sansol Sinsa Main Branch, and what are the hours?

Sansol Sinsa Main Branch is at 18 Naruteo-ro 12-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 1st floor. It's open Monday to Friday 11:00–23:00 (break time 14:30–15:30) and Saturday to Sunday 11:00–22:00.

You go in behind the Sinsa-dong soy sauce crab alley, and there it is, a nice spacious restaurant. They ran the Sinnonhyeon branch first, and I heard this Sinsa location is now run as the main branch!

What's the atmosphere like at Sansol Sinsa Main Branch?

The restaurant was pleasant, and since the brand is themed on Gangwon-do food, the rustic, earthy vibe made an impression haha. The tables are spaced fairly wide, so it was good for chatting, and the staff were friendly, so my first impression was great. Since staff grill the meat for you, you can just relax and focus on eating!

Are the basic banchan, especially the pickles, good?

I was surprised by how many basic banchan there were, and every side had real quality! The overall level was so high that I was happy the whole meal 😁 I ordered a bunch of things and could tell right away why the word of mouth is good.

These are the banchan that came out. The tableware was neat, and I heard everything is homemade, so you could feel the care. The jangajji (soy-pickled vegetables) in particular were so good they surprised me! They're not just a little extra: they go so well with the meat that my chopsticks kept going back. Mixing and matching different combinations was fun too, which made it even better 😙

Aged flower pork neck and aged kkodeulsal: prices and ordering

• Sansol aged flower pork neck ₩17,000
• Sansol aged kkodeulsal ₩16,000

What I ordered at Sansol Sinsa Main Branch was the Sansol aged flower pork neck and the Sansol aged kkodeulsal. Both are aged, and the texture of the meat was clearly a cut above. I was excited before it even hit the grill, and after one bite I was completely satisfied!!!

Do the staff grill the meat all the way through?

Yes, the staff at Sansol Sinsa Main Branch grill the meat for you from start to finish! That was the best part. You don't have to worry about timing or doneness, and you get to eat it at its best, which was really convenient. Thanks to that, I could chat with my friend and enjoy the meal at a relaxed pace.

How does the aged kkodeulsal taste?

I tried the Sansol aged kkodeulsal first and it was really good!! True to its name, it's chewy and springy, and the nutty flavor spreads the more you chew. I personally like cuts with some texture, and kkodeulsal was exactly my taste. It has a different charm from the pork neck, so alternating between them never got boring and I kept eating haha.

Will my clothes smell like meat?

At Sansol Sinsa Main Branch the smoke is vented downward, so there wasn't much lingering smell after the meal. This smoke extraction was another thing I liked. Usually after a BBQ place the smell soaks heavily into your clothes and hair 🥺 so I thought it would be fine to visit before meeting someone.

How does the aged flower pork neck taste?

The Sansol aged flower pork neck kept the clean, mild flavor typical of pork neck but was very tender without any dryness~~ A nutty richness came up the more I chewed, and it was juicy, which reminded me again why so many people love pork neck. The springy texture was especially appealing 💕

It's nutty and has great texture, so even wrapped in a lettuce wrap like this, the aged flower pork neck still clearly holds its own! It's been a while since I had such good pork neck, and I enjoyed it ☺️ If you like pork neck, I think you'll be happy with it.

Is Sansol's red crab ramen (₩9,000) worth ordering?

The red crab ramen at Sansol Sinsa Main Branch is ₩9,000, and I ordered it as a side, which was an excellent choice!! There were so many tasty things on the menu that I hesitated, but I went for it. I was already fairly full, yet it was so good that I finished the whole thing T_T

The broth was impressive from the first sip. It's spicy and refreshing at the same time, and the red crab adds a deep savory richness. It was the perfect way to finish after the meat. The broth is hearty yet clean, so my spoon kept going back, and the noodles were chewy too, so I was happy haha.

Best of all, a whole red crab is in the pot, so it's fun to look at too. I worked hard to pick out the crab meat haha. The cool crab flavor that soaks into the broth is so good that I personally recommend you order it 👍🏻

Sansol Sinsa Main Branch: overall verdict

What I felt on this visit to Sansol Sinsa Main Branch is that nothing is lacking: not the meat, not the banchan, not the sides! The tender, nutty aged flower pork neck, the chewy aged kkodeulsal, and the refreshing, spicy broth of the red crab ramen all satisfied me.

If you're looking for good BBQ in Sinsa, or thinking about a place for a company dinner, gathering or date, I recommend Sansol Sinsa Main Branch. Staff grill for you so you can eat comfortably, and the meat quality is great, so I'm 100% wanting to come back 😙 Next time I'll definitely try other dishes too :)