Jongno3-ga Korean BBQ with bean sprouts on the grill: Cham Dwaejitgan

Why Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch is our pick for pork belly near Jongno3-ga Station

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch is one of the few pork belly restaurants in Jongno that serves both Boseong nokdon and Jirisan black pork. There are so many BBQ spots in Jongno that it's hard to choose, but being able to compare two kinds of pork at one table really makes this place stand out. And the fact that they give you milk thistle when you order soju made it stick in my memory as one of the best pork belly spots near Jongno3-ga Station.

Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch: location, hours and menu prices

The address is 1st floor, Piccadilly CGV Theater, 1-89, 1 Donhwamun-ro 5ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and it's a 1-minute walk from Jongno3-ga Station on Lines 1, 3, and 5.

They're open daily from 12:00 to 23:00, with takeout, reservations, Wi-Fi, separate restrooms for men and women, and group seating — so it works great as a company dinner spot too. It's tucked away in an alley, but it's already a well-known hotspot, so there's a wait starting from 6pm! Judging by all the foreign tourists there, word has definitely gotten around 🤔

The menu includes cham samgyeopsal (Boseong nokdon) at ₩16,000, kkotmokssal (Boseong nokdon) at ₩16,000, Jirisan black pork ogyeopsal at ₩19,000, Jirisan black pork mokssal at ₩18,000, hangjeongsal and gabrisal (Boseong nokdon) at ₩19,000 each, Jirisan arrowroot cold noodles (water or mixed) at ₩7,000 each, kimchi stew at ₩7,000, and doenjang stew at ₩6,000.

What is cham samgyeopsal grilled with kimchi, bean sprouts and minari like?

Honestly, it's just delicious. 😎

The cham samgyeopsal (pork belly) has real thickness, so you get a satisfying chew, and the clean, distinct meaty aroma of Boseong nokdon really came through.

And the kimchi, bean sprouts, and minari (water dropwort) grilled alongside the meat — that's really this restaurant's kick!!

Grilling them together in the pork fat makes for an unbeatable dinner 🤗 And since the staff grill all the meat for you, it's incredibly easy to just sit back and eat~!

The signature potato wraps at Cham Dwaejitgan

And here's another signature of this place — the potato wraps (gamja-ssam)~!

I was eating too fast to snap a photo, but wrapping meat in the thin potato slices grilled right on the same pan was also a real treat ❤️ Or you can grill the potato really crispy and eat it like a potato chip 😍

How long is the wait, and the free milk thistle with soju

There tends to be a wait for pork belly dinners, so I really recommend using CatchTable to get in line for a spot in advance!!

That small thoughtful touch that eases your worries about the day after drinking makes this pork belly restaurant one I want to revisit 😁👍🏻 When you order soju, they give you milk thistle 🤗 This is just my personal impression, but I do feel like milk thistle actually helps... which ends up making me drink even more 🤔

What to order at Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch

I recommend ordering the cham samgyeopsal (Boseong nokdon) and Jirisan black pork ogyeopsal together so you can compare the texture and grain! Since there are so many side dishes grilled alongside, meat with a bit more fat seemed to pair better 😋

When you start feeling greasy, the kimchi stew is perfect for cleansing your palate! 👍🏻🤗 The pieces of meat in the kimchi stew were just as thick and generous as the meat you grill yourself~!! You have to try it~!! (Can you see that piece of meat bigger than the tofu!?)

Final verdict on Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch

With easy access right by the subway, great meat quality, and the thoughtful touch of milk thistle with every bottle of soju, this pork belly restaurant near Jongno3-ga checks all three boxes. If you're looking to add to your list of pork belly restaurants in Jongno, I recommend Cham Dwaejitgan Jongno Main Branch.