Seocho Korean BBQ upstairs with a yukhoe combo set: Sodangkkae

Sodangkkae O-gyeopjip Gyodae Main Branch: a Korean BBQ near Gyodae Station where staff grill for you

My boyfriend and I were trying to figure out dinner after work, and I thought, it's been a while, let's really oil up. So we headed over to Gyodae.

There are tons of BBQ places near Gyodae Station, but I suddenly remembered 'Sodangkkae O-gyeopjip Gyodae Main Branch' (소당깨오겹집), which office workers in the area keep mentioning for its properly grilled pork belly on a cauldron lid, haha.

These days we naturally gravitate toward places that grill everything for you well, rather than places where both of us are stuck fussing over the grill. The reviews looked decent too, so we headed straight there.

The restaurant is tucked inside the Gyodae Station food alley, an easy walk from the subway exit.

What the second-floor dining room at Sodangkkae is like

The 2nd floor at Sodangkkae felt much less chaotic and much roomier than the 1st floor. The tables were spaced generously too, making it a great spot to sit across from each other and chat comfortably over dinner.

Seeing the big cast-iron cauldron lid sitting in the middle of the table started making me hungry even before anything was cooked, haha.

What comes in the Sodangkkae combo set for two, 81,500 won?

We thought about ordering items separately, but the combo including several cuts plus a stew looked like better value, so we went with the Sodangkkae combo set for two (₩81,500).

It comes with a pork belly, pork neck, and pork jowl assortment, fresh yukhoe (raw beef tartare), and a choice of stew! You could pick between crab miso stew and Hanwoo pork kimchi stew — that day we were craving something clear and refreshing, so we went with the crab miso stew.

The broth itself had good crab flavor and was refreshing, but once we got into the meat, I couldn't help thinking, 'ah, maybe the spicy aged-kimchi pork stew really is the truth with pork,' haha. Next time I'm definitely ordering the kimchi stew.

The yukhoe (Korean raw beef) included in the set

After we ordered and the side dishes were set out, the yukhoe included in the set came out first. I didn't expect much since it was part of the set, but the color was a clear bright red and the meat's texture was still firm.

I popped the egg yolk in the middle and mixed it with the pear on top — no gamey smell at all, just chewy and smooth, an excellent starter. It was perfect as a drinking snack while the meat cooked, keeping our mouths from ever getting bored.

Pork belly, neck and jowl grilled on the cauldron lid by Sodangkkae staff

While we were still eating the yukhoe, the meat — pork belly, neck, and jowl — arrived! The cuts were sliced pretty thick, so I wondered if they'd cook through properly, but here the staff hold the tongs and grill everything from start to finish, so there was nothing for us to worry about at all — super convenient.

They lay the meat on the heated cauldron lid, sear the outside crisp with a sizzle, and pile plenty of kimchi and bean sprouts underneath to cook away in the pork fat. Just sitting there watching it all cook was genuinely relaxing.

We tried the pork belly first, dipped lightly in salt, once staff said it was done. Being pork belly, the skin side had a distinctly chewy texture and the inside stayed juicy, making for a great bite.

The pork neck was mild and tender without being dry, and the pork jowl's signature crunchy, fatty savoriness came through nicely from the grill heat.

The best combination was a piece of kimchi from the bottom of the cauldron lid, soaked in meat fat and crisped up, wrapped together with the meat. It cut through the richness completely and there was never a moment of getting tired of it.

In between, we also spooned up the crab miso stew to settle our stomachs. With crab legs in it, it had that distinct savory seafood flavor that was refreshing enough to wash out our greasy mouths.

Finishing with kimjaban fried rice topped with a fried egg, 6,000 won

When we'd nearly finished the meat, we ordered kimjaban (seasoned seaweed flakes) fried rice (₩6,000) to finish things off.

They spread the rice thin on the cauldron lid and press it down like nurungji (scorched rice), then pile on plenty of savory kimjaban. The nicest touch was that they topped it off with a fried egg at the end.

We popped the runny yolk and scraped up the crispy, seaweed-flaked rice stuck to the bottom — the seasoning was spot on and it was so savory that even while groaning about being full, we ended up scraping the pot completely clean.

Is Sodangkkae worth it? The verdict

The meat quality was solid, and what I liked most was that staff grilled everything for us, so we never had to lift a finger. The 2nd-floor seating in particular was uncluttered and relaxed, making it perfect for a comfortable dinner.

If you're looking for a Korean BBQ place near Gyodae Station where staff do the grilling, or weighing options for a group gathering, Sodangkkae O-gyeopjip might be worth a visit. And don't forget to finish with the kimjaban fried rice topped with a fried egg, haha.