Euljiro 3-ga pork neck bone grill, last-bone standoff: Eulji Baektan

Where is Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui?

Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui (을지백탄뼈구이) is a bone grill pub on the 1st floor of 110-2 Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul, visible the moment you come out of Exit 11 of Euljiro 3-ga Station. I've been totally hooked on hunting down good places in Euljiro lately. The more you go, the more new spots keep popping up, and you end up walking in going "what is this place?" haha. This time I was setting up a dinner with a friend, agonized over which Euljiro pub to pick, and ended up here!

The description said "1 second on foot," and I figured that was a bit of an exaggeration... nope, it really is 1 second, hahaha. Even someone with zero sense of direction couldn't miss it.

Their Instagram has a great vibe too, so I checked it beforehand, and the atmosphere was full-on "Hip-jiro" (trendy Euljiro) hotspot.

Is it good for a company dinner or group gathering in Euljiro?

The tables are nicely spaced and the place feels easy for groups, so it looks like a good fit for a company dinner (hoesik) or group get-together in Euljiro. The first thing I thought when I walked in was, "This would be great for a team dinner."

And above all, the concept is clear. It doesn't feel like a generic meat restaurant. It's a Euljiro bone grill specialist that cooks over white charcoal (baektan)!

I heard white charcoal is one of the better kinds of charcoal, and the smoky flavor really is different. It felt like the meat had no gamey smell, just a subtle charcoal aroma. The first bite and I thought, "This is the kind of food that calls for a drink..."

How was the small Baektan Bone Grill at ₩38,000?

I ordered the signature Baektan Bone Grill, small size (₩38,000). You can adjust the spice level, so I chose a medium-spicy one. The look of it when it arrived was already insane. The charcoal aroma hit me and my mouth started watering, haha. Since the pork neck bones are grilled over charcoal, the outside is slightly crisp while the inside is super tender.

When people say bone dishes, most think of braised pork bones (ppyeo-jjim), right? But this was a really different experience. It's like getting the juiciness of braised bones and the smoky flavor of charcoal grilling at the same time! I was amazed: "Wow, you can eat bones like this too?"

The special sauce is a real kicker too. It's sweet and spicy and keeps you reaching for more, so while dipping the meat you suddenly find yourself looking at the bottom of the sauce dish, haha.

And honestly, the funniest moment here... my friend said "I'll just have one piece" and then ate the most, hahaha. In the end, a staring contest broke out over the very last bone.

Is the ₩5,000 rice ball a must-order?

I also highly recommend the Eulji Baektan rice ball (₩5,000) we ordered alongside! You mix nutty rice with seaweed and the special sauce and shape it yourself, and paired with the spicy bone grill it's insane. One bite and it's "I can't resist carbs..." haha

What about the cuttlefish, potato pancake, and bone hot pot?

Eulji Baektan is also famous for its Euljiro grilled cuttlefish (gapo징어). It's cuttlefish grilled directly over white charcoal for a strong smoky flavor, and I'm definitely trying it next time. I saw it at the next table and it looked dangerously good...

The side dishes are surprisingly strong too. The potato pancake (gamjajeon) is chewy, and dipped in sugar and salt it's a perfect sweet-salty combo. The bone hot pot (ppyeo-jeongol) is spicy and looks ideal as a drinking snack! Corkage is allowed too, and I heard many people bring whisky to enjoy here. It has a proper Hip-jiro pub feel, so it's good for setting a mood as well.

Who would I recommend Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui to?

The staff were super friendly, so the meal was a pleasant one. Eating bones takes a lot of hands-on effort, but they brought whatever we needed right away, so we ate comfortably. Among people looking for good Euljiro restaurants, I'd especially recommend it to these folks.

• People who want to eat something different
• People who like the vibe of a Hip-jiro hotspot
• People looking for a pub in Euljiro
• People wondering where to hold a company dinner in Euljiro
• People who like an old-school (nopo) feel

There are so many meat restaurants these days, but this is the place to remember when you think, "Isn't there something new besides the usual pork belly?" Above all, bone grill as a dish feels both familiar and new, so it stays in your memory. Charcoal-smoked pork neck bones with a sweet-spicy sauce... that's cheating, haha.

If you want a proper meal and a drink in Euljiro, give Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui a try. I'm planning to go back soon for the cuttlefish. Next time I'm going in fully prepared so I don't lose the last-bone staring contest, haha.