Jongno 3-ga Korean BBQ, 3-hour weekend wait: Tapgol Set and rice

This is Tokkaeng.

Isn't this the season when you just have to go sit outside for a meal? I finally made it to Jongno 3-ga's Tapgol Gongwon, probably the most famous outdoor BBQ (yajang) spot in the area, last weekend!

Even though it was clearly a busy night, the staff were really kind, and it's the kind of waiting-list outdoor BBQ place I'd love to try again with my boyfriend next time. I'd recommend coming on a weekday rather than a weekend though.

What kind of place is Tapgol Gongwon in Jongno 3-ga?

Tapgol Gongwon in Jongno 3-ga specializes in frozen pork belly, and eating it while catching the cool breeze outside was the best. You get tipsy off the atmosphere alone, no alcohol required haha.

And the kimchi that comes with it was so good. I think grilled kimchi pairs best with pork belly, don't you think?

It's right on the main street of Jongno, so the location is great too — I'd highly recommend it for outdoor group meetups in Jongno! Here's my honest review of Tapgol Gongwon in Jongno 3-ga, parking tips included~~!

Tapgol Gongwon location, hours and parking

• 111 Supyo-ro, 1st floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Daily, Monday–Sunday, 17:00–01:00
• Parking: On weekends, it's better not to drive into Jongno 3-ga. You'll need to use a nearby parking lot.

Tapgol Gongwon sits right on Jongno's main street! This was my first time doing outdoor BBQ in Jongno, and wow... there were people everywhere, no matter where I looked.

Weekend wait at Tapgol Gongwon: ticket No. 137

Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch opens at 5, so I arrived around 5:30, and the waiting list was way longer than I expected haha. I was No. 137. So we quickly went for round one at Salon Sulra, and came back about three hours later when it was finally our turn!

You know how short the outdoor BBQ season is, right?? Even with a rough wait, it's worth running for!! The kind of atmosphere where drinks just keep flowing.

What four of us ordered: Tapgol Set, pork belly, kimchi fried rice, steamed egg

There's a Tapgol Set too, so you can try different cuts of meat! There were four of us, and we ordered one Tapgol Set, two servings of pork belly, kimchi fried rice, and steamed egg! I wanted to try a bit of everything, so I loved that you could order single servings like this haha.

The banchan (side dishes), kimchi, and sauce all came out first! Good side dishes to go with frozen pork belly. We threw everything on the grill! The water was bottled, which was nice, and there was a basket beside us with the spoons and cups we needed, so we could just grab whatever we needed without calling a staff member.

Outdoor BBQ in Jongno with friends I hadn't seen in a while~~ Of course we had to take photos too hehe. Went with my MZ-generation friend and we snapped a ton of pics!

The Tapgol Set! This is how it comes out~~

My friend's boyfriend joined us too~ This is the extra 2 servings of pork belly we added!

Atmosphere over flavor: an honest take on Tapgol Gongwon

Honestly, all the meat kind of tastes the same to me, so I can't really say which was best, but once you're drunk on the atmosphere it all tastes amazing~(≧▽≦)/~ Bottom line: this is the kind of place where you can't help but enjoy your food haha. Passersby kept snapping photos because it looked so lively, and even while we were eating, seats never stayed empty — new customers just kept coming and coming!

We just kept eating meat and kimchi nonstop hehe. I wasn't even drinking, but I still had such a great time. My friends who came with me kept the drinks going the whole time! It's the kind of atmosphere where soju just flows down easy.

Finish with the kimchi fried rice — don't skip it

When you order the kimchi fried rice, it comes topped with a fried egg, and it really reminded me once again that fried rice is essential after frozen pork belly! If you're reading this and planning to visit Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch, please, please order the kimchi fried rice!

If you're looking for a Jongno 3-ga restaurant, a Jongno 3-ga BBQ place, or the best outdoor BBQ spot in Jongno 3-ga, just go to Tapgol Gongwon. The vibe is seriously unbeatable!!!