Guro Korean restaurant with parking for group lunch: The Jokbal

I had something to do near Guro Station, so I stopped by a great lunch spot with an acquaintance. My acquaintance had been raving about it as Korea's first hotel-style jokbal specialist, so we had to visit. The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch has kept its flavor and tradition unchanged for 14 years.

A 14-year jokbal tradition

Jokbal (braised pork hock) is an appealing nourishing dish that has been loved since the Joseon era. Its chewy texture and nutty flavor are a given, and the plentiful collagen and gelatin make you feel as if your whole body is getting healthier with every bite. They say they boil fresh domestic pork hocks themselves every day for a deep, rich flavor. Fifteen carefully selected premium ingredients take away any unwanted odor, and I could really feel the class of Korea's first hotel-style jokbal specialist, which has held to its tradition for 14 years.

Location and parking between Guro and Sindorim stations

It sits midway between Exit 3 of Guro Station on Line 1 and Exit 1 of Sindorim Station on Line 2. It is the first shop on the first floor of the Sindorim Prugio 3 apartment commercial building, across from Ramada Seoul Sindorim Hotel, so getting there was easy—and the location is ideal for a company dinner with a group.

Use the commercial building parking lot

You can use the commercial building parking lot.

You can receive 1 hour and 30 minutes of parking validation, so you can relax over your meal without rushing off. The parking is well arranged, making this a really good place to visit by car, too.

Exterior and interior atmosphere

The L-shaped floor-to-ceiling windows and red awning marked the shop.

There was also a banner for the lunch menu, catching the eye of passersby.

The large sign was easy to spot even from afar, so I found it at a glance despite it being my first visit. The clean, orderly exterior raised my expectations right away.

Inside had an upscale atmosphere. Spacious tables for four were arranged throughout, with more four-person tables along the windows, so group meals were possible. There was also a private, room-like area with partitions on one side, and I loved the bright feel created by light streaming through the large windows.

It was spacious and clean, with an atmosphere that would be lovely for a casual drink, too.

Menu choices from sets to lunch meals

There was a satisfying selection, from great-value set menus to à la carte dishes.

• A Set (level 1 spice): char-grilled spicy jokbal + bossam (200 g), ₩50,000
• B Set: jokbal + bossam (200 g), ₩60,000
• Special Set: half-and-half jokbal + bossam, ₩69,000
• Joseon Hotel chef's premium front pork leg, ₩47,000
• Back pork leg, ₩42,000
• Half-and-half jokbal (level 1 spice), ₩50,000
• Busan cold jokbal salad, ₩47,000

• Warm, tender bossam, ₩38,000
• Sweet-and-tangy tray makguksu (buckwheat noodles), ₩9,000; mung bean pancake, ₩7,000; steamed egg, ₩6,000; rice balls, ₩3,000
• Bossam set, ₩11,000; spicy soft tofu stew set, ₩10,000; soft tofu bossam set, ₩13,900; char-grilled spicy jokbal set, ₩12,000; spicy Korean beef soup, ₩11,000

It looked great for nearby office workers coming for lunch or for dropping in after shopping nearby. It was also just right for a family meal or a generous feast with a group.

Level 1 spicy half-and-half jokbal

Today's order was the level 1 spicy half-and-half jokbal. It was so convenient because we did not have to choose between spicy and the regular flavor.

A generous platter of spicy jokbal full of smoky wok flavor and bouncy regular jokbal arrived, and I could not help admiring it from the moment I saw it.

The basic sides were radish kimchi and seasoned chives, both made and fermented in-house.

And the refreshing bean sprout soup that soothed the spice brought everything together perfectly.

I fell for the tender, clean-tasting jokbal with no unpleasant smell, eating it with the pleasantly spicy radish kimchi and then with the seasoned chives, too~

I ate it on its own, dipped it in salted shrimp, and wrapped it in leafy ssam (vegetable wraps), too.

After the fiery, smoky jokbal, I started thinking a shot of soju would be nice, too.

Final thoughts

The Jokbal Sindorim Main Branch is where you can enjoy special jokbal made by a Joseon Hotel chef along with a wide variety of dishes.

From the main dish backed by 14 years of know-how to the comfortable dining space, varied lunch menu, and convenient parking, it was a great place to visit with a group.

• Special jokbal perfected with the 14-year know-how of a Joseon Hotel chef
• Tender, chewy texture and clean flavor from fresh domestic pork hocks
• A varied menu that pairs well with jokbal
• A spacious, pleasant dining room with private dining areas
• Commercial building parking available, with 1 hour and 30 minutes of validation
• Conveniently located between Sindorim and Guro stations