Jokbal takeout for a hotel staycation near Euljiro 1-ga: Miss Jokbal

Is Miss Jokbal takeout good for a hotel staycation dinner and drinks?

I packed a whole bundle of jokbal from Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch near Euljiro 1-ga Station and ate it at my hotel as dinner and drinks, and it was so generous it felt like eating out. Samgyeopsal (pork belly) is great when the craving for Korea's signature meat hits, but you can't skip pig's feet simmered tender in herbal broth, the long-used master stock. Among the restaurants around Euljiro 1-ga, Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch is well known for company dinners, so I stopped by and took a big bundle to go. On my hotel stay I really did feel like I was eating out, enjoying a hearty dinner and drinks.

Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch: location and opening hours

Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch is near Euljiro 1-ga Station Exit 6 and is open every day from 11:00 to 03:00.

How to get there: near Euljiro 1-ga Station Exit 6 / Hours: daily 11:00-03:00

I was glad it has no break time and is open year-round. Jokbal is traditionally simmered well in hot broth in every season. In German terms it's like Hax, and China and Japan have plenty of sweet-salty braised pork dishes in the dongpo pork family too.

How does Miss Jokbal's Original Jokbal taste?

The jokbal at Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch had plenty of lean meat and soft, wobbly skin with a great collagen texture. Korean-style jokbal focuses on the pig's feet, with lots of meat and tender skin that's a work of art for collagen lovers. Miss Jokbal was just like that. Even among franchises, taste, portions and style differ a bit from branch to branch.

Maybe because it's a frequent spot for company dinners with office workers, everything felt fresh, since ingredients turn over quickly. Thanks to the broth and herbal seasoning, the pork wasn't heavily salted and had no gamey smell at all, so I kept eating even when I was full.

Does takeout jokbal stay moist once it cools?

The takeout jokbal from Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch was well sealed, so the meat didn't turn hard and stayed moist even after cooling. When you eat in, they put a small burner under the meat to keep it warm to the end. I packed it up and hurried back, and thanks to the tight seal the meat stayed moist even cold.

Inside Miss Jokbal Myeongdong: atmosphere and seating

The dining room at Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch has lots of group tables and wooden tables, and even though they boil meat there, it was clean with no lingering boiled-meat smell. It's a popular dinner spot near Euljiro 1-ga, and as expected the inside was mostly group seating. Typical wooden tables, and despite being a place that simmers meat, the whole restaurant felt clean without that特有 smell. Plenty of big-company and finance workers are nearby, so demanding guests who need to be treated to good food keep spreading the word and coming back.

That's why restaurants in busy areas are guaranteed at least a decent baseline quality. The takeout I brought back had carbs, fat, protein and even vegetables, a well-rounded, rich spread.

Miss Jokbal takeout menu and prices: what 50,000 won gets you

At Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch I packed Original Jokbal medium (₩42,000), steamed egg (₩4,000) and a rice ball (₩4,000), landing at exactly ₩50,000 total. The portion was so generous it was nearly family-sized, enough quality and quantity for a whole family's meal. The takeout system was neat too, since most restaurants these days all do delivery.

• Original Jokbal medium ₩42,000
• Steamed egg ₩4,000
• Rice ball ₩4,000

Which side dishes come with Miss Jokbal takeout?

The Miss Jokbal takeout came with sides such as bossam kimchi, pickles and salad. Jokbal alone would feel lacking, but the steamed egg and rice ball made a solid set that doesn't get tiresome. The sides included assorted bossam kimchi, pickles and salad, so my mouth was happy the whole meal.

What's different when you eat in at Miss Jokbal?

If you eat in at Miss Jokbal Seoul Myeongdong Branch, every table gets hot kimchi kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) for free. It was a hearty, tidy spread that nails Korean tastes. For dinner near Euljiro 1-ga, it's great for a company dinner with a big group.

On weekdays it's an office workers' area, so lunch can be a bit crowded. With no break time, a weekday afternoon is also perfect for daytime drinking. I hope you'll enjoy the moist, tender pig's feet, simmered gently in Korean master stock, that melt-in-your-mouth meat at Miss Jokbal.