Monday-noon Korean BBQ in Hongdae: salted pork belly, soju, Chopilsal

The day I did some seriously committed daytime drinking in Hongdae! This is my review of Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch (초필살돼지구이 홍대점), a Korean BBQ spot in Hongdae that's perfect for a first round of day drinking :-)

Where is Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch, and how is parking?

Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch is a well-loved Hongdae pork belly place, a 3-minute walk from Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station on Line 2. There's no parking of its own, so come by public transport or on foot, or use a nearby public parking lot!

What are the interior and seats like?

The restaurant has floors 1 and 2, and the 2nd floor seems to be used mostly for groups! The 1st floor is oddly built as a shallow split-level, which is kind of fun haha. We were there for the Monday 12pm opening, and lunch customers kept coming in.

Looks like Kim Joon-hyun, the famous big eater, has been here too, wow!

They thoughtfully keep Febreze on hand. Let's all spray it on our way out haha.

Is the menu good for lunch too?

Looking at the menu, one serving is a little smaller, but the prices are lower to match. That makes it easier to try a variety haha.

Besides meat like pork skin, pork belly, dwitgogi and pork ribs, there are meal dishes like kimchi stew, soybean paste stew and naengmyeon (cold noodles), so it works well for lunch. There are lots of fruit sojus too, like schisandra, apricot and green grape, perfect for anyone who likes sweet drinks haha.

Grilling meat and drinking soju in broad daylight at a sunny window seat... this is happiness, this is paradise -_-*

How were the 2 servings of salted pork belly and 1 serving of dwitgogi?

What we ordered and the side dishes

The first order has to be at least 3 servings! So we ordered 2 servings of salted pork belly and 1 serving of dwitgogi.

They bring pickles (jangajji), kimchi and all kinds of sauces to go with the meat. With so many sauces to dip in, you never get sick of the meat no matter how much you eat -_-*

Salted pork belly with whole king oyster mushrooms

The 2 servings of salted pork belly came as very thick slices, with a whole king oyster mushroom! I was touched that they gave the mushroom whole. Mushrooms are juicier and tastier grilled whole, always bb

First, put the pork belly on the grill!

Chewy dwitgogi, 1 serving

One serving of dwitgogi. It's a cut that's really chewy and bursting with savory flavor, and it's a shame so many people don't know it... but that just means more for me, so it's fine haha 'ㅅ'

The pork belly turns golden and delicious. It's thick so it takes a while to cook, but the texture is great and it's really tasty. My cousin, who knows his meat, said straight out that this is good meat haha.

Nice to meet you! Let's run on soju from a Monday afternoon ^0^*

Cut the nicely cooked pork belly into bite-size pieces. It goes well with ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), and the pollock roe garlic sauce is great too! So many sauces to suit your taste, I love it -_-*

Move the cooked pork belly to the side, and now start grilling the dwitgogi until golden!

Move well-cooked meat aside so it doesn't burn haha. Ah, chewy and nutty and so good...

Saving the thick pork belly I'd been hoarding until the end, and grilling it nicely :-q

Seeing the soybean powder, I wanted the pork skin too, but I was too full, so next time ㅠㅠ It's really good with myeongi namul (wild garlic leaves) too!

I cut the whole-grilled mushroom into bites too. Seriously, please don't cut mushrooms before grilling, grill them whole (especially over charcoal, even more so)...

While eating the dwitgogi I hit a bumpy (?) part that looked a bit like intestinal villi @_@ If anyone knows what it is, please tell me in the comments haha.

Pickles with perilla leaf and pickled radish wraps is a great combo too. With so many side dishes to go with it, you don't get tired of it and can enjoy it to the very end.

I'm full and I ate well, thank you > <

Is Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch a good place for day drinking in Hongdae?

Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch opens at 12pm, so it was a great Korean BBQ place for day drinking in Hongdae. Grilling meat and having a glass of soju in broad daylight on the youth street of Hongdae... isn't that romance 'ㅅ'

Honestly there aren't as many places for day drinking as you'd think, so I was so happy to find one where I could enjoy a daytime drink with savory, tasty meat and soju > < My cousin and I were both totally satisfied!!! Whenever I have plans in Hongdae, I'll come back to Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch and enjoy day drinking to the fullest... haha