Korean BBQ near Isu Station in Seoul: Chammak’s makchang set

I’d been looking for somewhere with that proper outdoor-pocha vibe lately, and I found exactly that kind of makchang spot near Isu Station!!! It’s Chammak Isu Station Branch, known for its first-generation Daegu-style makchang!

An outdoor-style makchang spot near Isu Station

Head in behind Hana Bank by exits 12 and 13 of Isu Station, and it’s on the left of Yongyongseonsaeng, across from Yeokjeon Halmeoni Maekju, on the first floor of Apple House!! It’s only 174 m from exit 13 of Chongshin University (Isu) Station, so it’s easy to walk to, too!

My first impression as soon as I walked in was how incredibly clean it was!! Even the sign looked brand-new!

I sat in the outer section, and they had all the doors open, so it really had that outdoor-stall feeling—and the tables were roomy, too!!

They can accommodate up to 100 people, so I think it would be really great for a company dinner or club gathering! They also have high chairs, so families dining out with little ones can come without worry!!

The menu and the makchang + pork belly set

• Makchang (grilled pork intestines) + pork belly set ₩39,000
• Mul-jjolmyeon (chewy noodles in cold broth) ₩6,000

Why was it so cool today? Haha. Sitting there with the gentle breeze naturally put me in a good mood.

There was more than enough for two people, haha. Both the makchang and pork belly were in such great condition ❤️

What’s at the self bar?

Water, soju glasses, and beer glasses are thoughtfully self-serve 🤗

At the self bar inside, I could help myself to all kinds of vegetables, ssam (wraps), and pickles. There were onions, perilla leaves, lettuce, seasoned bean sprouts, seasoned garlic scapes, Cheongyang chili peppers, and garlic!!!! It was seriously so well stocked, haha.

Chewy makchang and thick-cut fresh pork belly

Daegu means makchang! And makchang means Daegu, right!! Chammak is introduced as a first-generation makchang place from Daegu, haha. Of course I had to trust that and dig in!!! 😃

The makchang browned beautifully on the grill and kept that signature chewy texture!! It tasted clean, with none of that unpleasant odor.

The pork belly came thick-cut and full of juices, too!! This was hearty fresh pork belly that absolutely didn’t feel like a side act to the makchang!!

I piled on lots of kimchi and bean sprouts and grilled them together~ Pork belly grilled with kimchi is a 👉winning combo👈

I spotted enoki mushrooms at the self bar and grilled them, too—total texture genius. Add them to a ssam and it tastes twice as good 😀

There was such a generous amount of makchang, so it felt like amazing value, too!! I was happy because there was still makchang left no matter how much I ate... Delicious food that never seems to shrink—that is happiness...❤️

Complimentary steamed egg and mul-jjolmyeon to finish

While I was busily eating pork belly and makchang, the owner brought over complimentary gyeran-jjim (steamed egg), too 😃 I looove steamed egg with grilled meat. It was exactly the super-fluffy kind of steamed egg I like.

For dessert, I ordered mul-jjolmyeon! Haha, but it came in a bowl as big as a washbasin. Seriously haha—the size of the bowl alone was overwhelming.

It was packed with chewy noodles in sweet-and-tangy broth, and for ₩6,000, this portion felt like incredible value. When the meat starts to feel rich, one sip of this mul-jjolmyeon broth feels like a clean reset!!

Chammak Isu Station Branch: final thoughts

Overall, it was a satisfying visit: the restaurant was clean, it had that outdoor-stall vibe, and the self bar was so well stocked!! I recommend Chammak Isu Station Branch to anyone looking for a company dinner or gathering spot near Isu Station ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️