Summer Korean BBQ near Seocho Station with icy naengmyeon: Gyodaepae

While looking for a good-value BBQ spot near Gyodae and Seocho Stations, I got curious about a place that specializes not in the usual frozen thin-sliced pork, but in chilled fresh thin-sliced pork belly.

This visit, I ordered the signature Gyodaepae Set along with a bowl of water naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) to beat the summer heat, and the combination of meat and cool noodles really worked. Here's my write-up on visiting Gyodaepae, a thin-sliced pork BBQ spot near Gyodae Station in Seocho.

Gyodaepae's location and hours

Gyodaepae is located at 23 Seocho-daero 48-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 1st floor, open daily from 11:30 to 23:00. Break time is 15:00–17:00, last order is 22:30, and it's closed every Sunday.

It's about a 3–5 minute walk from Exit 9 of Gyodae Station, and roughly 5 minutes from Exit 14 or Exit 1 of Seocho Station, making it convenient for anyone searching out Seocho Station restaurants.

Atmosphere and side dish spread

The mint-colored sign is visible from far away, so I had no trouble finding Gyodaepae. Stepping inside, the tables are arranged in a casual, unpretentious style.

The interior isn't fancy, but it's kept clean overall, and the hall seating looked well suited for small work dinners or group gatherings. Ordering is done simply through the kiosk at each table, and once seated, a generous set of side dishes arrives — lettuce wraps, kimchi, bean sprouts, scallion salad, garlic, ssamjang, and sauce.

On top of that, a complimentary dried radish greens doenjang soup (fermented soybean paste soup) is served, rounding out an already solid spread. As a restaurant with plenty of regulars among Gyodae Station office workers, I noticed groups clearly there for a work dinner or small evening meal.

The Gyodaepae Set 500g: comparing three cuts

The main order that day was the Gyodaepae Set (500g).

It comes with three cuts at once — chilled fresh pork belly, chilled fresh pork neck, and thin-sliced pork belly — a portion filling enough for two to three adults.

As soon as the meat hit the grill, its thinness meant it sizzled and cooked fast, so there was no waiting around before digging in.

The chilled fresh pork belly was noticeably more tender than frozen thin-sliced pork, and there was no trace of the usual gamey smell when grilled, so it ate clean.

The chilled fresh pork neck was leaner and nuttier than the belly, a good option for anyone who finds fattier cuts a bit much.

Dipped in the spicy-salty house sauce, it was addictive, and wrapped up big with scallion salad, grilled kimchi, and lettuce, the flavor got even richer.

It was also fun comparing the three cuts back and forth.

A cool water naengmyeon to go with summer BBQ

Mid-meal, the summer heat had me craving something cold, so I ordered a water naengmyeon at Gyodaepae. Just the sight of the chewy noodles sitting in ice-slushed broth was enough to cool me down a bit.

A big slurp of the tangy, mild broth was refreshing, and wrapping a well-grilled piece of thin-sliced pork belly in the noodles made for a great combo of savory meat and cool noodles.

Alternating bites of this naengmyeon while grilling meat over the hot pan cut through the greasiness and cooled things down — a really fitting finish for a summer BBQ meal.

Verdict — a good-value BBQ spot near Gyodae and Seocho Stations

If you're looking for an affordable BBQ spot between Gyodae and Seocho Stations, Gyodaepae is a safe bet.

The commitment to chilled fresh thin-sliced pork over frozen showed in every bite, and the generous side dishes plus the savory complimentary doenjang soup gave more than the price suggested.

Since the Gyodaepae Set lets you try three cuts at once, I'd recommend starting with this set on a first visit. It's a Seocho Station restaurant that suits everything from a weekday lunch to a light dinner after work or a small group gathering. If you're craving a hearty meat meal, give Gyodaepae a try.