Hapjeong Korean BBQ: aged pork galbi, cheese fried rice – Jeongyukdo

I wanted proper meat in Hapjeong, so I headed to Jeongyukdo (정육도). It's a place where you can enjoy aged 1++ hanwoo (Korean beef) alongside special cuts of domestic Handon pork. It's said to be popular with celebrities too, so my expectations were high! It's about a 5-minute walk from Hapjeong Station, so it's easy to get to, and the clean, tidy interior made it a good spot for a date, a get-together or a company dinner.

Where is Jeongyukdo and what's the atmosphere like?

Jeongyukdo is about a 5-minute walk from Hapjeong Station, on the 2nd floor of a building on Yanghwa-ro 6-gil. It's also easy to reach from Hongik Univ. Station, so I'd recommend it to anyone hunting for a BBQ place around Hapjeong and Hongdae.

Inside, Jeongyukdo was spacious, clean and a little upscale. The tables are nicely spaced out, so it was comfortable to eat, and there's an outdoor garden area too.

On a nice day, eating meat out on the patio would be really great!

The vibe suits Hapjeong company dinners and group gatherings, and it works well for a date too.

Jeongyukdo menu and set prices

The signature menu is the Two-Plus Hanwoo Signature Set at ₩99,000 and the Handon set at ₩49,000, and there's also a Handon special-cuts set, so you can pick to your taste. Jeongyukdo lets you enjoy 1++ hanwoo and domestic Handon pork whose flavor is brought out through aging.

We ordered the Handon set, which comes with raw galbi (marinade-free ribs), pork neck and pork belly, plus a choice of hanwoo doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew).

For sides we also ordered egg custard, mul naengmyeon (cold noodles) and kimchi fried rice, and had some beer with it all!

How was the aged Handon pork at Jeongyukdo?

The basic banchan (side dishes) came neatly laid out as individual place settings. There was salted squid, seasoned radish, pickled chili peppers, plus scallion salad and pickled onions, all good to eat with the meat.

The meat in the Handon set looked appetizing from the thickness alone, and it clearly looked fresh.

Even grilled thick, it wasn't tough at all but tender, which I was really happy about.

Every single cut was tender and bursting with juice, so all the meat was just so good ><

The best of the Handon set: raw galbi

The pork belly and pork neck were both delicious, but personally the raw galbi was the real standout at Jeongyukdo in Hapjeong!

The meat has so much flavor on its own that instead of wrapping it in lettuce, I'd recommend putting a little wasabi on top and enjoying the pure taste.

Which side dishes should you order at Jeongyukdo?

The hanwoo doenjang jjigae had a deep flavor and went well alongside the meat, and the egg custard was nice to nibble between bites of meat.

The mul naengmyeon was a good palate cleanser after the meat!!

My personal favorite side was the kimchi fried rice! The egg was fluffy and it had cheese melted on top!

Loaded with egg and cheese, it was more than satisfying as a meal to finish off after the meat ><

Overall verdict on Jeongyukdo, a Hapjeong BBQ spot

Overall I was happy with everything at Jeongyukdo, from the meat to the banchan to the sides! I got to properly enjoy aged Handon pork, and since the menu is built around sets, choosing what to order wasn't hard either.

If you're looking for a good place near Hapjeong Station, or a Hongdae BBQ spot where both atmosphere and meat quality matter, Jeongyukdo is worth a visit.

With its big dining hall and outdoor garden, I especially recommend it for dates, company dinners and family gatherings near Hapjeong Station. If you're craving a tasty meat meal in Hapjeong, give Jeongyukdo a try!

• Location: 2F, 14 Yanghwa-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Mon–Fri 11:30–23:00
• Last order: 21:30