Gwangju Korean restaurant for KBO games and jokbal: Kkankkanhan

I ate old-style king jokbal at Kkankkanhan Jokbal Yongbong Branch in the food alley by Jeon Cheol-u Intersection in Yongbong-dong, Gwangju. I could watch baseball on a large screen while eating, and the restaurant was crowded with diners in the evening.

Where is it, and is parking available?

The restaurant is at 82 Yongbongtaekji-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju. Its location in the Jeon Cheol-u Intersection food alley made it easy to meet up with my group. However, it has no dedicated parking lot, which made parking difficult. The hours listed in the original post are daily from 4:00 PM to 11:30 PM.

The front of the restaurant is all glass, so I could see inside as well as into the kitchen from outside.

I could also see flames rising as they grilled charcoal-fired jokbal.

What was the atmosphere like while watching baseball?

When I arrived at dinner time, there were so many guests in the spacious restaurant that it was hard to find an empty table. The mood was lively, with diners having drinks alongside their jokbal.

A live KBO game was playing on the large screen installed in the middle of the restaurant. Being able to watch and cheer for the game while eating jokbal was memorable.

What jokbal options and prices were available?

I looked through the menu on the tablet at the table and ordered the old-style king jokbal. These were the main menu prices I saw during my visit.

• Old-style king jokbal: ₩41,000
• Charcoal-grilled jokbal: ₩42,000
• Direct-flame spicy jokbal: ₩42,000
• Level 2 extra-spicy jokbal: ₩43,000
• Level 3 very spicy jokbal: ₩43,000

There were also Goheung fresh garlic jokbal, chilled jokbal, and half-and-half jokbal. Individual bossam (boiled pork wraps) and set menus with both jokbal and bossam were available as well.

What comes with the basic table setting?

The table setting included cabbage salad, ssammu (pickled radish sheets), dried shredded radish, lettuce and perilla leaves, garlic, and sauces. All of the side dishes and wrap vegetables could be refilled, so they were good alongside the meat.

The complimentary skewered fish cake soup had a warm, refreshing broth. The steamed egg served in a ttukbaegi (earthenware pot) was also soft and went well with the jokbal.

How did the old-style king jokbal taste?

The old-style king jokbal arrived generously piled on a large brass platter. Its brown skin had a glossy sheen, with sesame seeds sprinkled on top.

With the first piece, I noticed the chewy texture of the skin. The slices included both lean meat and fat, making them tender to chew.

The lean meat was moist rather than dry. It was not smoky jokbal, but I did not notice any off smell; it had a savory, clean flavor.

Did the added bossam kimchi go well with the jokbal?

I added bossam kimchi for ₩5,000. It was spicy-sweet and crisp, and it paired well with the chewy jokbal. Wrapped with the meat, it cut through the richness, making it a satisfying addition for me.

What were the takeout and visit events?

During my visit, the restaurant advertised a ₩3,000 discount for in-store takeout and a Naver receipt review event. The services mentioned for participating in the review included rice balls, oven-roasted jokbal, and mini jokbal. While I ate, I also often saw delivery drivers picking up packaged jokbal.

The lively atmosphere of watching baseball and the texture of the old-style king jokbal were highlights of this visit. The bossam kimchi and refillable side dishes also made the meal feel generous. However, it was busy in the evening, and the lack of dedicated parking is something to consider before visiting.