Jongno Korean BBQ with steamed egg and outdoor tables: Tapgol Gongwon

What is the atmosphere like at this Jongno 3-ga outdoor spot with a stone-wall view?

When the days are scorching hot but a cool breeze starts blowing at night like it has lately, the first thing that comes to mind is an outdoor pojangmacha-style table, right?! This time, I visited “Tapgol Gongwon,” a frozen pork belly favorite near Jongno 3-ga Station that is emerging as the ultimate outdoor dining spot. I kept seeing its incredible stone-wall view plus outdoor lighting view, and it looked so lovely that I promised myself I had to go.

The moment I arrived, I immediately understood why it is so popular. Pretty, gentle lighting and atmospheric bamboo decorations greet you from the exterior, and I was amazed by the mood before I even stepped inside. I visited before sunset, but once the sun goes down, the soft lights come on and the outdoor stone-wall atmosphere becomes even more dazzling. If you want to enjoy the ambience properly, I strongly recommend visiting around 8 p.m., when night has fully fallen! It is the perfect setting for a cold beer beneath the charming night lights.

Outdoor tables stretched out beneath softly glowing globe lights, and it was truly a fantastic setting for grilling meat in the cool night air. It had that lively yet romantic outdoor-dining charm that makes the drinks go down all by themselves. Since the restaurant is run mainly with outdoor tables rather than indoor seating, I completely recommend it to anyone who wants to soak up that outdoor vibe. And really, what more is there to say about meat grilled outside while looking at a peaceful stone wall? ☺️

There were also shared rattan baskets beside each table, neatly stocked with useful things like cutlery and wet wipes, so the outdoor seats were not inconvenient at all. Even the restroom—which can be a sneaky concern at outdoor restaurants—was kept very clean, which I appreciated.

The Tapgol Set and self-service side dishes

We ordered the signature Tapgol Set (₩55,000). I like a set menu because there is no need to overthink it, haha.

The whole spread of banchan (Korean side dishes), neatly arranged in a basket, was amazing from the start. There was kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts, seasoned bracken fern, shredded radish salad, and mustard-leaf kimchi, and there was even a well-stocked self-service bar, so we could easily go back for refills!

Bracken fern and bean sprouts are must-refill items

You absolutely have to refill the bracken fern and bean sprouts! They are especially delicious grilled right on the pan with the meat. Of the two, I loved the bracken fern most—it was nutty and tender, so I refilled it several times, haha. The self-service bar was neatly set up on one side of the restaurant, so it was great to freely take whatever side dishes we needed without feeling self-conscious!

We put the frozen pork belly on the hot grill, then let kimchi, bean sprouts, and bracken fern sizzle together in the rendered fat. The best bite was wrapping the meat around bracken fern soaked in savory pork juices and crunchy bean sprouts. Clinking a cold beer beneath the pretty lights while looking at the stone wall made all the fatigue of the day melt away. Healing day 💗

Finishing with volcano steamed egg and kimchi fried rice

We also ordered the fluffy volcano steamed egg (₩5,000). It was soft and airy, making it perfect for refreshing the palate between bites of meat.

For the finale, it has to be a K-dessert, of course. Once you have eaten a fair amount of the meat and grilled vegetables, I recommend finishing with kimchi fried rice (₩6,000)! The pork fat and kimchi seasoning from the grill soak into each separate grain of rice—it is the kind of flavor you would regret skipping. The lightly crisped rice on the grill was so delicious that I kept eating even when I was full, haha.

From the banchan onward, everything was set out so neatly that the spread looked like it was impossible not to order soju or beer. Tapgol Gongwon Jongno 3-ga Branch had it all: soft lighting, a beautiful stone-wall view, varied side dishes, and great meat!

It is a fun, intoxicating place with a stone-wall outdoor-dining mood! If you want to enjoy delicious frozen pork belly and a cold beer while soaking up the outdoor atmosphere near Jongno 3-ga Station, I recommend Tapgol Gongwon.