Myeongil-dong terrace jokbal restaurant for four: Iseon Hwaduk

With the cool breeze these days, doesn't it feel like the season of eating outdoors (yajang) has returned? This time I visited Iseon Hwaduk Jokbal, a Myeongil-dong favorite where you can enjoy both the outdoor-drinking vibe and great food.

Where is Iseon Hwaduk Jokbal Bossam Myeongil Branch, and what sets it apart?

Located on the winter stretch of Myeongni-dan-gil near Myeongil Station, the biggest feature of Iseon Hwaduk Jokbal Bossam — as the name suggests — is that the jokbal (pork trotter) is roasted in a wood-fired oven! It's open daily from 12:00 to 23:30.

Terrace outdoor seats and indoor group tables

Iseon Hwaduk Jokbal also has terrace seating, so on nice days you can enjoy jokbal at ease while feeling the cool breeze 🌿 Somehow the food tastes even better outdoors than in a stuffy indoor space! If you're visiting in the evening, I'd recommend the terrace :)

Of course, there's also a good variety of indoor seating. From comfortable sofa seats to group seating good for larger parties, it seemed like a fine spot for gatherings or work dinners too. There's also a large screen inside, so on match days you could enjoy jokbal while watching sports ⚽️🏀⚾️ Terrace vibes on nice days, cozy indoor seating whenever you want comfort — I liked that you can choose your seat depending on your mood :)

What four people ordered, and what it cost

The four of us ordered the wood-fired jokbal front leg (large) for ₩49,000 and rice balls for ₩5,000

Utensils and tissues were set at each table, and aprons were available in the store

The basic side dishes included ssamjang, garlic, and salted shrimp, along with radish kimchi, cabbage kimchi, chive salad, lettuce, and cheongyang peppers. These are the essential sides that go with jokbal, so it was nice to mix and match according to taste. Any sides that ran low could be refilled easily at the self bar :)

Started the feast with Ppony ❤️ (apparently it was Ppony's first time eating out!)

The complimentary sundubu-jjigae was also delicious 🥄 hot and spicy, it went great with the jokbal, but it would also make a perfect drinking snack on its own.

How did the wood-fired front-leg jokbal taste?

And then the main dish arrived — jokbal!! Because it's roasted once more in the wood-fired oven, the outside was slightly chewy with a subtle smoky flavor 🔥

Can you tell from the photo? The jokbal glistening with sheen, with that deep char from the wood-fired oven 🔥

The inside was soft and chewy, and the smoky flavor spread subtly through the mouth, making it hard to stop reaching for more haha. As expected, jokbal is best with the front leg — tender meat, great chewy texture 👍🏻

One bite with garlic wrap, one with salted shrimp, and finally, gnawing right off the bone 🤤

The free gorgonzola wood-fired pizza

And then the complimentary gorgonzola wood-fired pizza! I was a bit surprised at first that a jokbal place served pizza, but thinking about it, of course a wood-fired oven has to include pizza haha. It's light and savory, and even sweet when dipped in honey — great as a drinking snack after finishing the jokbal. Highly recommend (of course, I also happily ate it alongside the jokbal).

With the rice balls added, we had a really hearty spread, right? 🤤 Feeling the cool breeze while sitting around with family enjoying good food — this is what small, happy moments are made of 🫶🏻

Is Iseon Hwaduk worth it for a group of four?

Overall, it felt like a proper jokbal feast after a long time :) Because it's roasted once more in the wood-fired oven, it had a chewy texture and smoky flavor different from regular jokbal, and I loved the tender, chewy texture unique to the front leg 🤤 Above all, having a terrace made it perfect for enjoying that outdoor-drinking atmosphere in this cool weather 🌿

Inside, there's sofa seating, group seating, and even a large screen, so it seemed great for family dinners or larger groups alike. Between the jokbal and the complimentary gorgonzola pizza, plus the rice balls and sundubu-jjigae, we had a hearty meal to the very end! Still, for four adults, the large size isn't quite enough — I'd recommend the extra-large.

If you want to enjoy jokbal in that cool-weather outdoor-drinking mood, or try something a bit different from the usual jokbal, Iseon Hwaduk Jokbal in Myeongil-dong is worth a visit :) We'd love to come back on another nice day for jokbal and drinks on the terrace 🍻

Oh, and judging by how many delivery orders were coming in, it looks like you can also order through delivery apps! If visiting in person isn't an option, enjoy the wood-fired jokbal comfortably at home 😊