Jamsil Korean BBQ early dinner for two at 4:30pm: Chowon Salt Grill

Why Chowon Salt Grill for beef brisket samhap in Jamsil?

Chowon Salt Grill is a beef brisket samhap (trio combo) Korean BBQ restaurant at 37 Olympic-ro 32-gil in Songpa-gu, Seoul. I went looking for somewhere to eat beef brisket samhap in Jamsil, and this place stood out for its reasonable prices and solid menu makeup — it seemed like it would also work well as a Bangi-dong restaurant recommendation.

I wanted a slightly early dinner, so I booked ahead for 4:30pm.

What comes with the 56,000-won samhap for two

We ordered the signature samhap for two at 56,000 won — hanwoo (Korean beef) specialty cuts + domestic scallops + Haenam aged kimchi. And of course my husband ordered a bottle of beer to go with it. After walking over in the heat, a cold glass of beer was the perfect match 🍻🍺

Once seated, the basic setup arrives: scallion salad, sesame oil-salt dip, salt, and ssamjang (soybean paste dip), along with the special soy sauce that's meant to go with the beef brisket samhap. I also liked that the beef, aged kimchi, scallops, rice and tofu were all domestically sourced.

How to eat beef brisket samhap in the right order

At Chowon Salt Grill, you grill the beef brisket first, then move on to the specialty cuts — that's what the staff told us. I've always liked samhap combos, so I had high expectations going into this one after a while. The brisket gets grilled until golden brown, while the scallops should only be cooked lightly, not overdone.

There was also a note on how to eat it best: beef medium-rare + scallop lightly cooked + aged kimchi raw + a dip in the soy sauce — that combination was said to taste best.

Stacking the brisket, scallop, aged kimchi and cheongyang chili and taking a bite — it really worked. The brisket was soft with a nice savory flavor, and the lightly cooked scallop kept its chewy texture, adding a clean taste alongside the beef. Then the tangy aged kimchi and cheongyang chili cut through any greasiness from the meat. Dipping it all lightly in the special soy sauce added a salty, faintly sweet umami that kept me reaching for more.

The five hanwoo specialty cuts on the grill

After finishing the brisket, we moved on to the specialty cuts. These came as a varied set — jebichuri, toshisal, chimasal, eupjinsal and buchaesal. Grilling them just enough rather than well-done kept the juiciness in, and they went nicely with a piece of mushroom too.

Stacking on scallop, aged kimchi, and even the cheongyang chili from the soy sauce dish, the beef's savoriness balanced well with the kimchi's freshness. The specialty cuts in particular were tender and juicy, almost melting in the mouth. The portions were generous and the makeup solid enough for two, so I'd especially recommend this to anyone looking for a Bangi-dong restaurant who loves beef brisket samhap.

Beef brisket doenjang stew and fried rice to finish

After the meat, we added the beef brisket doenjang stew (soybean paste stew). It had quite a lot of brisket in it too, which paired well with the grilled meat. The rich, savory doenjang flavor combined with the brisket's nuttiness made it great with rice.

And of course, fried rice to finish. We waited for it to get slightly crispy on the bottom, then mixed in the seaweed flakes — the perfect way to wrap up a BBQ meal. Even though we were quite full already, having the fried rice made the meal feel properly complete 👍🏻✨

Good for two, good for a work dinner at Chowon Salt Grill

Overall the menu makeup felt solid and the prices reasonable, so I left satisfied. At 56,000 won for the samhap for two, it's not a burden considering current dining prices. Being able to eat several different ingredients together also makes it feel more special than standard grilled meat.

It'd work well as a Bangi-dong spot for a work dinner, and it was also good just for the two of us enjoying beef brisket samhap. If you're looking for somewhere to eat meat in Jamsil, this is a solid pick for Korean BBQ in the area. If you like beef brisket samhap, definitely try the combo of brisket + scallop + aged kimchi + cheongyang chili at least once! 😋👍🏻