Apgujeong Rodeo BBQ restaurant, straw-fire pork belly: Chobeoljip

I went to 'Chobeoljip' in Apgujeong. I heard it's famous for aged pork belly near Apgujeong Rodeo, so I hurried over to check it out.

Where is Chobeoljip Apgujeong Rodeo, and what are its hours and parking?

Chobeoljip Apgujeong Rodeo Branch is on the 1st floor of 4 Apgujeong-ro 54-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, right in front of Apgujeong Rodeo Station. It's open daily from 11:00 to 3:00 the next day. Parking is paid — ₩5,000 for the first 120 minutes, ₩6,000 for each additional 60 minutes, capped at ₩50,000.

Chobeoljip's storefront and outdoor tables by Apgujeong Rodeo Station

Chobeoljip has outdoor tables so you can get that al fresco dining vibe!! You know the weather's been perfect for outdoor eating lately with the heat finally easing off. So I sat at an outdoor table too.

Pork belly pre-grilled over a straw fire...

Inside Chobeoljip: the hall and the self-serve salad bar

At the entrance of Chobeoljip you can see the staff prepping the meat right away. The inside of the restaurant was clean and pleasant too! The space was spacious and had that fresh, newly-opened feel, haha.

The salad bar is also free to use!! The side dishes here are so good that refilling is always a win.

As you can see from the menu, the lineup is pretty simple. Fewer menu items = good restaurant, that's my rule. It's kind of funny they have soy sauce marinated crab on the menu, I'm curious about that one, lol.

The weather was nice so we sat outside! Even though I came earlier than dinnertime, there were quite a few customers already. I guess it makes sense — this weather is perfect for enjoying outdoor dining these days.

Side dishes at Chobeoljip, aged kimchi included

At Chobeoljip, the side dishes get set up quickly once you sit down — and these side dishes are seriously good!! Even the plain bean sprout side dish was really really tasty. The kimchi isn't regular kimchi either, it's aged kimchi, ㅠㅠ. You can just feel the owner's food expertise...

I really love pork belly grilled on a cast iron plate like this, and even this part was perfect...

Straw-fire pork belly for two: what comes with it and how it tastes

Chobeoljip's straw-fire pork belly for two came out first. It's plated with cheongyang peppers, mushrooms, and even wasabi. Being pre-grilled already, it looked even more appetizing. Being pre-cut into bite-sized pieces was a nice touch too!!

Sizzling on the cast iron plate, the aged kimchi goes in...

The owner grills it for you. We just had to wait.

You could just tell the meat quality was really good at a glance. Honestly it looked like you could eat it as-is (??)

Golden brown grilled pork belly~ Maybe because it's pre-grilled over a straw fire, the aroma coming off the meat was insane ㅠ The aged kimchi and cheongyang peppers sizzling in the pork fat were also an absolute delicacy!!

The owner kindly put some side dishes on our plates that go well together, haha. Unfortunately I'm not a big fan of peppers... but I was touched by that kind of thoughtfulness.

The moment it hit my mouth, the juices really burst out ㅠ Pork belly really does need some fat on it. The ratio of fat to lean meat was just right, so it wasn't too greasy or too dry — you get to taste the meat at its absolute best. Seriously, you bite in and it bursts!!

It's good dipped in salt too, but the true way is with ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste dip)...

I think this aged kimchi, grilled in the pork belly fat, was the real MVP... it was seriously so so good.

Why the seafood doenjang stew is a must-add

I also ordered the seafood doenjang (soybean paste) stew at Chobeoljip.

It was kind of like a crab stew but with that savory doenjang flavor too — exactly the doenjang stew taste I love. I almost ordered another bowl of rice because of this stew... You absolutely have to order the stew, highly recommend!!

We added one more serving of meat, haha. Isn't it just so pretty... it's simply gorgeous-looking meat.

I don't know what this herb side dish is, but it seemed pickled in a soy sauce base, and it went perfectly with the pork belly.

Is Chobeoljip worth it for outdoor Korean BBQ in Apgujeong?

Chobeoljip is right in front of Apgujeong Rodeo Station so it's very easy to get to, and being able to fully enjoy that outdoor dining vibe right in the middle of the city makes it great for group visits too. The owner chatted with us while grilling the meat and was so cheerful that we had a really pleasant time. How about some straw-fire pork belly and a glass of soju for dinner in Apgujeong~??