Skirt steak date-night BBQ under a retractable roof in Jongno

On a particularly cool autumn evening, don't you just crave that old-school outdoor grilling vibe the moment you get off work — sitting at an outdoor table, sizzling meat on the grill? Instead of being cooped up in a cramped indoor space, there's something about open air that makes you want to sit with someone special, chat quietly, and soak in the romance of the evening.

A weeknight second-date spot at an Ikseon-dong BBQ restaurant

So today I want to introduce a hot Ikseon-dong BBQ restaurant we visited after work on a weeknight, hand in hand with my partner, to keep the good mood going after our first stop for dinner. It's a meat mecca where you can soak in a fantastic outdoor-dining vibe amid the quiet charm of the Jongno alleys — Meongseokjip. We headed there on a weeknight, late in the evening when the night air felt just right for a second date, and the smell of meat grilling drifting from deep in the alley practically pulled us in faster.

An indoor patio with an opening roof — how is it different from a typical Jongno patio?

This place stands out even among the Jongno 3-ga BBQ restaurant alley for its unique sense of space. Usually a 'Jongno patio' means sitting shoulder to shoulder in a narrow alleyway, putting up with dust or the stares of passersby — right? But Meongseokjip, despite being an indoor space, is designed with a retractable ceiling that opens up wide. Without ever stepping out into the busy alley, we got to sit at a comfortable indoor table, look up at the night sky, and feel like we were at a backyard barbecue party at a countryside house, haha. Since it's such a popular hot spot, I'd recommend calling ahead to confirm your seat before visiting.

Galmaegisal at ₩18,000 per serving, two servings ordered

As soon as we sat down, we ordered two servings of the house signature dish, galmaegisal (skirt steak, ₩18,000 per serving). Not long after, a hot grill arrived along with a generous, beautifully colored portion of fresh raw skirt steak. The firm texture and glossy red color of the never-frozen, chilled meat showed off its freshness even before cooking.

The moment the meat hit the grill, it let out a lively sizzle and the savory aroma of meat began to fill the air. The heat was strong, so the staff carefully rolled the meat with tongs to keep it from burning and to lock in the juices.

How it tasted with no sauce at all

The moment I popped a well-cooked piece of galmaegisal into my mouth with no sauce, I couldn't help but be impressed — that chewy, satisfying texture followed by a burst of clean, savory juice.

Galmaegisal has just the right amount of fat marbled through it, with that springy, slightly chewy bite from the membrane still intact — the more you chew, the more the deep savory flavor comes through. There wasn't a trace of gamey or off smell, so even people picky about meat quality would give this a thumbs up, haha.

Enjoying meat with cool night air on your head, feeling like you're both outdoors and indoors at once — it really made clear why this place is considered one of the standout Ikseon-dong BBQ restaurants.

Not too heavy even as a second stop, and less smell on your clothes

Even though this was our second stop of the night, the meat was clean and not greasy, so we didn't get sick of it and finished everything neatly. Thanks to the unique fully-opening ceiling, the smoke from the grill didn't linger in the restaurant but escaped cleanly, so we didn't have to worry about our clothes smelling afterward — a real win for a Jongno Ikseon-dong date spot.

If you want to escape the dense city buildings and enjoy top-quality meat under a distinctive night-sky patio in the heart of the city, I hope you'll fill up on some good romance at Meongseokjip, a standout Ikseon-dong BBQ restaurant with a charm all its own, haha.