Jongno 3-ga outdoor BBQ with steamed egg and a 30-minute wait: Chowon

With the weather getting nicer these days, I've been on the hunt for good spots to grill meat outdoors and have a drink in the evening — this time I visited Chowon Restaurant near Tapgol Park in Jongno. It's right by Jongno 3-ga and Tapgol Park, so it's easy to get to, and with outdoor tables to enjoy meat and drinks, it was the perfect fit for this kind of weather.

How to find Chowon Restaurant Jongno 3-ga Branch and how long the weekend wait is

Chowon Restaurant Jongno 3-ga Branch is near Tapgol Park, so it's easy to find from Jongno 3-ga Station. On weekend evenings, Jongno itself is so packed with people that the wait here was pretty long too.

I arrived around 6 p.m. on a weekend and waited just over 30 minutes before getting seated. It seems like waits can stretch past an hour later in the evening, so it's better to come with some time to spare. If you're looking for a place to eat near Tapgol Park or have dinner plans in Jongno 3-ga, the location works well.

Chowon Restaurant's menu: Jongno naengsam and the side dishes that come with it

Chowon Restaurant's menu had a good variety of meat options, from naengsam (frozen pork belly) to chadolbagi (thin sliced beef brisket) and hanwoo (Korean beef). We ended up ordering the Jongno naengsam.

It's the style where thin slices of frozen pork belly go straight onto the grill, and eating it at an outdoor table really set the mood.

The basic side dishes were pretty varied too. From kimchi to fernbrake, bean sprouts, and green onion kimchi, there were several sides that paired nicely with the meat — I liked that.

Adding doenjang jjigae and steamed egg to the frozen pork belly

The meat is thin so it cooks fast, and it was pleasantly savory paired with the side dishes. Grilling it right there outdoors really brought out that retro naengsam vibe!

If you're looking for a Jongno 3-ga BBQ spot these days and want to enjoy the outdoor tent atmosphere too, this style seemed like a solid pick.

The doenjang jjigae we ordered as a side had meat in it too, and the broth was hearty and nice to spoon up between bites of meat.

Later while drinking, we added a steamed egg too, and it was cooked fluffy and smooth — easy to enjoy.

After just meat and stew, adding the steamed egg made the meal feel even more filling ><

What is the outdoor tent atmosphere by Tapgol Park like?

When I visited, the tables around us were pretty full too, and there was definitely a different feel from eating indoors. On evenings like these, with a cool breeze and nice weather, this kind of Jongno outdoor tent atmosphere really suits the mood.

Sitting at an outdoor table right by Tapgol Park grilling pork belly made it feel like being on a trip somehow, and it was also a nice, relaxed spot to have a drink with friends. If you're someone who seeks out the Tapgol Park outdoor tent scene, I think you'd like this vibe — and I get why people flock here in the evening.

Verdict: when is the best night to visit Chowon Restaurant?

Overall, this is a place that comes to mind when you're looking for a good Jongno 3-ga restaurant and also want that outdoor tent atmosphere. The area around Tapgol Park has that distinct Jongno character that makes grilling meat there in the evening fun, and adding outdoor tables on top of that really elevates the mood.

It's a good spot for anyone looking for a Tapgol Park restaurant, Jongno 3-ga outdoor tent dining, or just craving naengsam with soju in Jongno. That said, weekend evening waits can run long, so keep that in mind when planning your visit :)

• Location: 1F Chowon Restaurant, 30 Jongno 17-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 17:00 - 01:00 (next day)