Bossam set for two at Gwihanjokbal, a Yeonsinnae jokbal restaurant

You know that feeling when your stomach growls after work and you're craving something extra hearty and rich for dinner-slash-late-night-snack haha. Chicken or pizza are great, but the combo of chewy, collagen-packed jokbal (braised pig's trotters) with tender, silky bossam (boiled pork wraps) is honestly the lifelong soul food no Korean can resist!

My boyfriend and I met up on a weekday evening shouting "tonight it's meat, no matter what!" and headed toward the Yeonsinnae food alley. While debating where to go, we ended up at Gwihanjokbal Yeonsinnae, a jokbal restaurant near Yeonsinnae Station that's hot on social media for its flashy wooden-tray spread and praised by locals too! Honestly, it was so genuinely delicious that the two of us wolfed it all down. We've now firmly decided that whenever we want jokbal or bossam in Yeonsinnae, this is the only place we're going to — here's our moved review haha.

Where is Gwihanjokbal Yeonsinnae, and what is the restaurant like inside?

Gwihanjokbal Yeonsinnae sits right along the main line of the Yeonsinnae Station food alley, so it was an easy walk straight out of the subway station. Stepping inside, there was none of the greasy smell or clutter you'd expect from a typical jokbal place — the interior was so modern and neatly arranged that it won me over from the first impression.

The tables were spaced generously apart too, making it perfect for a cozy after-work date with your partner, and just as fitting for group gatherings or work dinners! Looking around after we sat down, even though it was a weekday evening, dine-in customers kept coming, and takeout and delivery notifications kept chiming nonstop with delivery riders constantly in and out haha. I could feel with my whole body that this place is already a huge hit in the neighborhood, not just for dine-in but as a top jokbal delivery spot in Yeonsinnae too, and my expectations shot up before I'd even eaten a bite.

What we ordered: the Signature Bojok Set (small) with soju and beer

Reading through the menu, the lineup was so extensive — from plain jokbal to spicy grilled jokbal, garlic jokbal, and cold jokbal salad — that I nearly had decision paralysis! But since neither of us could give up jokbal or bossam, we ordered the signature menu without hesitation, since it perfectly caters to couples like us who want both.

• Ordered: Signature Bojok Set (small)
• Soju & ice-cold beer

A little while later, our order arrived... and the moment we saw it, my boyfriend and I both let out a "whoa!" haha. On a huge wooden tray custom-made to fit the table perfectly, glossy whole jokbal, neatly arranged bossam pork, and side dishes were all set out without a single gap, and it genuinely felt like being treated to something special ✨

How did the jokbal and bossam pork taste?

First, I picked up a piece of today's main event, the jokbal, and dipped it into salted shrimp sauce. Wow... the skin was as chewy and springy as jelly, and the meat was so extremely tender it practically melted in my mouth as soon as it hit my tongue. There wasn't an overpowering herbal-medicine or artificial-flavoring smell, any gamey or off odors were completely eliminated, and a subtle savoriness was soaked all the way through the grain of the meat.

The bossam we tried next was equally moving! Even the lean parts, which can easily turn dry, held plenty of moisture, so savory juices burst out with every bite. In particular, the spicy-sweet bossam kimchi and the crunchy dried radish salad — basically the lifeblood of any jokbal restaurant — were a stroke of genius here. The seasoning wasn't overly harsh but still exploded with savory depth, pairing incredibly well with the mild boiled pork.

Layering a perilla leaf over fresh lettuce, piling on a thick slice of jokbal with dried radish salad, a bit of pungent garlic, and a dab of ssamjang (thick soybean-chili paste), then wrapping it all into one big bite — it was the kind of delicious that instantly blew away a whole day's worth of work stress haha.

My boyfriend kept exclaiming with every bite, "they really boiled this properly," and "even cold, there's zero smell and it's so good," as he went on his own eating frenzy.

They really boiled this properly. Even cold, there's zero smell and it's so good.

Is the small Signature Bojok Set enough for two people?

Even though the Signature Bojok Set comes in a small size, the portion was generous enough for two people to eat until we were completely full, which made it a great value too! Eating it fresh and hot right there in the restaurant is best, but I imagine the quality would hold up just as well ordered for delivery or takeout at home.

We finished off our happy meal only after picking every last chewy, collagen-rich scrap of meat off the bones haha. From now on, whether we order delivery at home or eat out, Yeonsinnae jokbal and bossam means Gwihanjokbal for us, no question!

If you're near Yeonsinnae Station looking for a properly boiled, tender and chewy jokbal and bossam restaurant, or a can't-fail spot for a hearty dinner date or work gathering, definitely check out Gwihanjokbal Yeonsinnae! The Signature Bojok Set isn't optional — it's a must 👍