Yongin Korean restaurant with outdoor jokbal drinks: Cheongdam Jokbal

An outdoor jokbal spot close to Sanghyeon Station

As the weather has turned pleasantly cool, I visited Cheongdam Jokbal Gwanggyo Sanghyeon Branch (청담족발 광교상현점), a great Sanghyeon Station spot for enjoying delicious jokbal (braised pig’s trotters) and a drink outdoors. It is exactly a two-minute walk from Exit 2 of Sanghyeon Station on the Shinbundang Line, so it would be easy to choose as a meetup spot. It is so close to the station, and the route is flat, that even those with no sense of direction can find it without worrying about getting lost. It is in a great location to drop by comfortably by public transit after work or on the weekend and enjoy a drink without a care.

Out front, colorful outdoor tables are set out over green artificial turf, making it such a lovely place to raise a glass and soak up the outdoor mood when a gentle breeze is blowing like it is now. One thing to note, though: it seemed so popular that the bossam (boiled pork wraps) had already sold out, so ingredients can run out quickly!

Beyond the outdoor seating, the interior was calm and tidy overall, with round tables that were nice for sitting around, chatting, and having a drink. The staff and owner were also incredibly kind, quickly bringing extra side dishes or anything else we needed, so we could spend the whole meal feeling comfortable and happy.

Set 1 with warm jokbal and charcoal-grilled spicy jokbal

We ordered Set 1, with warm jokbal and charcoal-grilled spicy jokbal, because we wanted to enjoy a range of flavors. It is a half-and-half set with glossy, warm jokbal alongside spicy charcoal-grilled jokbal carrying a gentle smoky aroma, so there is no chance of getting tired of it. There is also one very distinctive touch here: the table setting board. A dedicated frame is built into the table like a puzzle or building blocks, so the main jokbal platter, sauce bowls, kimchi, and vegetable plates all slot neatly into their own spaces...!! The puzzle-like compartments fit everything perfectly, from the main jokbal to the sauce bowls and side dishes, making the spread look wonderfully orderly and keeping the dishes from shifting during the meal, which was much more convenient.

Crisp, fresh cucumber and carrot came with it, and they were perfect for cleansing the palate between bites of meat. Everything felt refreshed!

The glossy warm jokbal was chewy and tender with no unpleasant smell, while the charcoal-grilled spicy jokbal had a definite spicy kick infused with smoky flavor. Its deliciously spicy seasoning was seriously addictive—I kept reaching for more. It was spicier than I expected, so alternating it with the mild, warm regular jokbal balanced the heat perfectly and made it extra enjoyable ☺️

The kimchi and shredded dried radish that came with it were especially deliciously sweet and savory, and wrapping them with the jokbal was so good. Put a tender piece of jokbal on fresh lettuce, then add sweet shredded dried radish and pungent garlic for a wrap—it is the kind of flavor that makes you think of soju and beer!

The complimentary makguksu and bean sprout soup combination

And Cheongdam Jokbal gave us sweet-and-tangy makguksu (buckwheat noodles) as a complimentary dish! Makguksu is essential with jokbal, so getting it for free made the meal even more satisfying.

Mix up the crisp vegetables and chewy noodles well, then wrap them with jokbal—there is no better combination than this, haha. You could also add seaweed-flake rice balls or makguksu as a side to go with it.

It also came with hot, clean-tasting bean sprout soup, which was perfect for refreshing the palate with the spicy jokbal or while having a drink.

Cheongdam Jokbal Gwanggyo Sanghyeon Branch was a satisfying place where we could enjoy tasty jokbal and generous complimentary dishes at breezy outdoor tables! The complimentary makguksu was fun to wrap with the meat, while the cool yet warming bean sprout soup came as a standard accompaniment—perfect for settling the stomach with spicy jokbal or whenever you need soup with your drinks ✨ If you are looking for a truly good jokbal place near Sanghyeon Station, make sure to stop by.