Large-size jokbal with naengmyeon in Suwan, Gwangju: Kkankkan Jjokbal

Large charcoal-grilled jokbal and naengmyeon at Kkankkan Jjokbal in Suwan, Gwangju

Jokbal restaurant in Suwan district | Review after eating the large charcoal-grilled jokbal + naengmyeon (cold noodles)

Some days you don't just want plain boiled jokbal (pig's trotters) — you want the one with that smoky charcoal flavor. This time I went to Kkankkan Jjokbal in Suwan district.

I usually like jokbal and was debating where to go, and ended up here. After going back and forth on the menu, I ordered the large charcoal-grilled jokbal along with naengmyeon.

Jokbal with naengmyeon — do I even need to explain? Chewy jokbal with cool, tangy cold noodles cuts the richness, and it's honestly one of my favorite combos.

Where Kkankkan Jjokbal Suwan Branch is, and what the restaurant feels like

Kkankkan Jjokbal Suwan Branch is located in the Suwan district food alley. You all know it, right? It's a real local staple around here. You know??? ^-^

There are lots of tables, so you can just sit wherever you like. I love that it's spacious.

Let's order quickly. As I said, I got the large jokbal plus an extra naengmyeon.

What does the large charcoal-grilled jokbal taste like?

Ordered the large charcoal-grilled jokbal. While waiting for the food, the dish I was most excited about was of course the charcoal-grilled jokbal.

Unlike regular jokbal, this one is grilled over charcoal, so it even looked a bit different visually. The faint smoky aroma got my appetite going even before I took a bite.

With jokbal, the chewy texture of the skin matters a lot, and this one had a nice chewy-yet-soft texture. The distinct charcoal flavor made it delicious on its own, and it also went great wrapped in lettuce.

Eating a piece of jokbal plain lets you really taste the meat itself, while eating it wrapped with sides gives you a different flavor altogether, so I ended up trying it several different ways.

The soup that comes per table, plus the receipt-review spicy bossam

Kkankan always gives you one soup per table, which I love. Perfect for cold winter days. There's a cool breeze blowing now, so... fall, and then winter, must be on the way.

Early on they used to add sundubu (soft tofu) too... haha the soup taste seems to have changed a little?

Boil it up again bubbling hot and it's completely delicious.

The receipt-review event is still running. It's an event where you get spicy bossam — and it's a lot, like over ten pieces, maybe fifteen? With onions laid underneath, it's amazingly good eaten together! But it's spicy, so be careful, you spice wimps out there hahahahaha

Smoky charcoal flavor on every piece of jokbal

What impressed me most this time at Kkankkan Jjokbal was definitely the smoky flavor from the charcoal grilling. I like jokbal, but eating it for a while can sometimes feel a bit greasy — the charcoal aroma made it much more appetizing.

It tasted even better when eaten warm, since the aroma came through more, so I kept reaching for piece after piece. Ordering the large size meant plenty to go around, and it seemed like a good size for a group.

Jokbal is more fun eaten with several people, adding various sides as you go. Wrapping jokbal in lettuce with extra sides, the plate empties before you know it.

Why jokbal and naengmyeon work so well together

And a menu you can't skip when eating jokbal is naengmyeon (cold noodles). We ordered it that day too, and eating a bite of naengmyeon between bites of jokbal cleaned up the palate nicely.

The tangy, cool naengmyeon paired even better with the chewy jokbal than I expected. If you're someone who likes eating meat followed by noodles, this combo will satisfy you.

You can wrap the jokbal and noodles together in one bite, or eat them separately — both are good, so enjoy it however you like.

Personally, I liked eating jokbal for a while first, then adding naengmyeon partway through. Starting by enjoying the jokbal's own flavor, then refreshing the palate with naengmyeon in between, kept it from getting tiring all the way to the end.

When you're craving jokbal in Suwan, Gwangju

Kkankkan Jjokbal in Suwan district, which I visited this time, is a great fit for people who prefer jokbal with a smoky charcoal flavor over the plain version. The chewy texture of the jokbal itself, combined with the distinct charcoal-grilled aroma, gave it a different appeal from regular jokbal.

Adding naengmyeon on top made it a filling meal too. It's easy to think of jokbal only as a late-night snack or drinking food, but eating it with naengmyeon and various sides like this, it's plenty for a full meal.

Above all, I liked that the charcoal-grilled jokbal is something any jokbal lover should try at least once. If you're looking for jokbal in Suwan district, or you generally like smoky grilled meat, I'd recommend trying the charcoal-grilled jokbal at Kkankkan Jjokbal.

That day I had the large charcoal-grilled jokbal + naengmyeon combo, and jokbal with naengmyeon really is hard to go wrong with. Chewy jokbal with a subtle charcoal aroma spreading through it, and then cool naengmyeon at the end!

On a day when you're craving jokbal in Suwan district, or want a filling meal, I'd recommend this combo. It's the kind of pairing that'll come to mind again the next time jokbal is calling :)

Don't miss the ice cream dessert corner

Oh!! And there's a dessert corner, so don't forget to stop by, okay? Ice cream — Maion almost forgot and was walking out... but when Daddy Kirin mentioned it, he ran back with such an excited face, am I right?? haha If it weren't for Dad, he would've completely forgotten and left... haha he showed so much gratitude to his dad... haha what a cute kid. Maion always eats jokbal so well!! Loved it!!