Jongno Seoul Korean BBQ with staff grilling: Jonggak-ap Nosang Gongyeong Juchajang

When you live in Europe for a long time, there are foods you crave most once you return to Korea, you know? One of them is meat grilled over charcoal 😂 This time, I wanted a proper meat feast near Jonggak Station, so I went to Jonggak-ap Nosang Gongyeong Juchajang.

Jonggak-ap Nosang Gongyeong Juchajang, Jongno direct branch

An easy location from Jonggak Station

Jonggak-ap Nosang Gongyeong Juchajang is on the fifth floor at 17 Samil-daero 17-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. It is easy to reach on foot from Jonggak Station, so it feels low-pressure when you are looking for an after-work gathering spot. It is on the fifth floor, but there is an elevator, and with group tables and more privately divided seating, it is a popular spot for Jonggak work dinners.

Wood interiors and a charcoal-grill atmosphere

The first things that catch your eye when you enter are the wood interior and the big brass-colored hoods! 🔥 Every table has charcoal-grilling equipment, so my anticipation was already rising before the meat even arrived haha.

The slightly dim, warm lighting made it an atmosphere that suited not only lively work dinners, but also gatherings with friends and dates.

Having visited restaurants in many countries while living in Europe for a long time, I found this Korean barbecue culture—so focused on ingredients and smoky flavor—freshly fun all over again♡

Beef and pork belly over real charcoal

The meat platter came out, and the visuals were seriously on point from the start♡ I loved that it let us enjoy everything from richly marbled beef to thick slices of pork belly at once.

Jonggak-ap Nosang Gongyeong Juchajang grills both beef and pork over real charcoal, with pork options including five-layer pork belly, pork jowl, and pork neck, plus a range of beef dishes!

What I liked most of all was that the staff grill the meat for you! 🙌🏻 It is such an important detail at a Korean BBQ restaurant. We could chat with friends while we ate, and having the meat grilled for us made the meal so much more relaxing.

The banchan (Korean side dishes) came out neatly too♡

Pork belly, scallion salad, and ssamjang

This was my favorite combination. 🥬 Lettuce, 🌶️ spicy-tangy scallion salad, 🥩 golden grilled pork belly, and a dab of 🥄 ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), all piled together in one bite! The spicy crunch of the scallions, the savory meat infused with charcoal aroma, and the ssamjang made it pure Korean flavor.

I ate plenty of Italian food during my 10 years in Europe, but sometimes I missed a wrap of Korean BBQ meat like this so, so much. 😂🇰🇷

Half-and-half naengmyeon with both broth and spicy styles

Jonggak-ap Nosang Gongyeong Juchajang has something unusual! Half-and-half naengmyeon!!!!

You know when you want both mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles)? Order this then!! Such genius-level sense♡

Bibim naengmyeon is something I would really miss with meat! It is insanely good alongside the barbecue too♡ Springy noodles came topped with cucumber and shredded radish, with properly spicy seasoning, and it felt like it freshened up my mouth after the meat.

I love mul naengmyeon because it is cool and clears the palate🤭 Meat → mul naengmyeon → meat → bibim naengmyeon: this combination really is an endless loop hahahahaha.

Finish with kkakdugi fried rice

It would be a shame to stop here. After the meat, we finished with kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) fried rice 🍚🔥 Carbs are essential!!!!

This fried rice was generously topped with seaweed flakes, scallions, and kkakdugi, so it felt like the perfect way to wrap up the lingering charcoal flavor after the meat! At a Korean BBQ restaurant, I do not feel like I have truly had a full meal until I eat fried rice or naengmyeon too. 😂

Set and à la carte menu prices

Jonggak-ap Nosang Gongyeong Juchajang offers quite a variety, from Korean beef and pork to meal dishes. It is great for ordering sets when visiting in a group, or for choosing just the cuts you want! 🥩

Signature set menus

• Premium set ₩167,000: shrimp meat cut + chuck flap + sirloin + short rib. Recommended if you want to enjoy several Korean beef cuts at once!
• Korean beef cake ₩197,000: chuck flap + short rib + flat iron. It is a Korean beef dish with the visuals to match, so it would be nice for a special day.
• Recommended set ₩99,000: today’s Korean beef + pork neck + five-layer pork belly. A good-value combination if you want both beef and pork!
• Pork A set ₩69,000: pork neck + five-layer pork belly + skirt meat
• Pork B set ₩119,000: pork neck + five-layer pork belly + skirt meat + pork jowl

For Korean beef, there is sirloin at ₩44,000, chuck flap at ₩49,000, shrimp meat cut at ₩49,000, and short rib at ₩44,000. Pork options include five-layer pork belly at ₩17,000, special pork neck at ₩17,000, pork jowl at ₩24,000, and skirt meat at ₩19,000. The five-layer pork belly is said to be Jonggak-ap Nosang Gongyeong Juchajang’s signature menu, so it is one I definitely want to try next time! 👀

Meal and side dishes

• Kkakdugi fried rice ₩8,000
• Half-and-half naengmyeon ₩7,000
• Mul naengmyeon, bibim naengmyeon, and kimchi rolled noodles ₩6,000 each
• Chadol doenjang jjigae (soybean-paste stew with beef brisket) and pork kimchi jjigae ₩6,000 each
• Steamed egg ₩5,000

Personally, I recommend ending the meal with bibim naengmyeon or kkakdugi fried rice after the meat! 😋🔥

What to know before a work dinner

It is about 330 m, or a four-minute walk, from Jonggak Station Exit 4, making it an easy place to choose for an after-work dinner or gathering! Hours are listed as daily from 12:00 to 23:00, with last orders at 22:00.

There is an elevator for an easy ride to the fifth floor, and reservations and group visits are available. It also has Wi-Fi and separate restrooms for men and women, so the conveniences are well covered.

To me, one of this place’s greatest strengths is its variety of seating! From partitioned tables to group seating, it looks useful for Jonggak dates, friend meetups, office dinners, and family gatherings alike. Group seating is listed for a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 80 people, making it a solid option for those looking for a larger work dinner or gathering venue too. Reservations are prioritized, though walk-ins are also said to be possible, so I recommend booking ahead if your group is large! 🙌

Free corkage and parking notes

And if you love drinks, take note of this 👀 🍷 Free corkage

🍷 This is a corkage-free restaurant where you can bring your own alcohol. As someone who came to love pairing wine and food during 10 years in Europe, I found that a very welcome point. 🇮🇹🇩🇪🍷 There is also said to be a separate terrace smoking area apart from the restaurant, which smokers may want to note.

Unfortunately, there is no on-site parking. If you visit by car, I recommend the nearby Bosingak Public Parking Lot. Since Jonggak Station is so close, I personally think the subway is the easiest way to get here.

A Jonggak gathering spot without the grilling burden

If you are looking for a meat restaurant near Jonggak Station, prefer somewhere the staff grill the meat, want to enjoy both beef and pork, or are looking for free corkage in Jongno or Jonggak, this is worth a visit. The combination of easy Jonggak Station access, charcoal grilling, staff grilling service, and group dining makes it seem like a good spot for an office dinner too♡

After returning to Korea from 10 years in Europe, a seemingly ordinary yet special Korean charcoal-grilled meat spread like this felt even more welcome. 🇮🇹🇩🇪➡️🇰🇷 Another delicious meal, and my happiness battery is fully charged! 🥩❤️