Cheongpa-dong Korean BBQ with weekend Naver booking: Muttuk Sookdae

Meeting up with Yoonsang again after a while, haha. Maybe it's an age thing, but lately I keep craving meat. I never used to eat out for BBQ much, but once again, without fail, I found myself heading out for meat.

We headed to a popular BBQ spot near Sookdae Station: Muttuk Sookdae Main Branch. Walking out of Exit 10 and about 3 minutes toward the alley, it appeared right away. Super close to the station, which was great for getting there — a real find of a meat restaurant.

Muttuk Sookdae Main Branch / 289 Cheongpa-ro, 1st floor, Yongsan-gu, Seoul / Daily 11:30 - 23:00

Inside Muttuk Sookdae Main Branch: corkage free and dogs allowed in carriers

Walking into Muttuk Sookdae Main Branch, the spacious, clean interior catches your eye right away. Big windows were open, giving good airflow so the meat smell didn't cling to our clothes — loved that, haha.

The pleasant atmosphere made it seem like a great spot for group gatherings around Cheongpa-dong and Namyeong-dong, and with baby chairs on hand, families could also visit comfortably.

We visited past 6pm on a weekend evening and there were already plenty of groups. Since this place is popular, checking Catch Table beforehand or booking through Naver Reservation lets you skip the wait (we registered ahead through Naver Reservation too).

Also, one of the big perks here is that it's a corkage-free restaurant! They're happy to set out glasses or an opener, so bringing along a wine or traditional liquor you like would go really well. I should sneak in one of my favorites next time, haha.

For reference, dogs are welcome if you bring a carrier, and for parking, you can use the nearby Cheongpa-dong Community Center public parking lot (paid) — worth keeping in mind.

Muttuk Sookdae menu and the free steamed egg time slots

Muttuk Sookdae Main Branch's signature dish is the limited-run matcha galbi (matcha-marinated short ribs). This is the Sookdae-area restaurant that was also featured on SBS's Live Today morning show — the segment seems to have shown off the signature matcha galbi.

Beyond the signature limited matcha galbi, there's also a Korean pork mixed set with pork belly, pork neck, and skirt meat, a beef mixed set, and a solid range of side dishes. The meat dishes sit in the high-teens-thousand-won range, which felt like pretty good value for a premium grill-for-you BBQ spot.

• Pork belly 180g - ₩18,000
• Thick pork neck for two 300g - ₩36,000
• Muttuk Ilpum Doenjang Jjigae - ₩8,000

They especially offer a free steamed egg (gyeranjjim) to guests who visit before 5:30pm or after 8pm, so timing your visit right means snagging a tasty side dish too — such a great find.

Thick pork neck for two, pork belly and doenjang jjigae with soju: honest review

What we ordered at Muttuk Sookdae Main Branch was the thick pork neck for two and pork belly. I was curious about the seasoned matcha galbi from the broadcast too, but since it was our first visit, I wanted to check out the raw meat's natural condition and juiciness first, so we went with the plain unseasoned cuts.

On top of that, we added a hearty doenjang jjigae and a bottle of soju to drink alongside the meal!

Staff grill every cut from start to finish at Muttuk Sookdae

The most convenient thing about Muttuk is that the server grills all the meat on the pan themselves, start to finish. While the thick pork neck and belly turn golden brown, all you have to do is relax, chat, and eat.

For the thick pork neck, I tried the first bite dipped lightly in salt to taste it in its natural state — the juiciness and tenderness passed with flying colors.

For the pork belly, layering it with the accompanying scallion salad, white kimchi, and wasabi to your taste brought out a clean, satisfying richness without any greasiness.

How good is Muttuk's signature doenjang jjigae?

The doenjang jjigae was packed with tofu and vegetables, making for a hearty bowl,

with exactly the sharp, slightly spicy flavor you want from a BBQ restaurant's doenjang jjigae, which completely cut through the richness of the pork belly.

A perfect match as an accompaniment to soju!

Verdict on Muttuk Sookdae Main Branch, a grill-for-you BBQ near Sookdae Station

Muttuk Sookdae Main Branch was a great place to drop by anytime near Sookdae Station Exit 10, whether you're looking for a pleasant, spacious BBQ restaurant or just want to enjoy meat without grilling it yourself.

With the server's friendly grilling service, the corkage-free perk, and the good ventilation that meant no smell worries, both Yoonsang and I had a satisfying meal. Next time I'll time it right to grab the free steamed egg, and I definitely need to try the signature matcha galbi that had me curious. Being near Seoul Station, it's a perfect spot to meet friends, so I think I'll be back often!