Gwangmyeong Korean BBQ with charcoal pork: Sammokjip Cheolsan

I visited Sammokjip Cheolsan Main Branch (삼목집 철산본점), a place near Cheolsan Station known for pork belly. Since they grill everything over charcoal for you, it was easy to relax and eat. There are so many barbecue places around Cheolsan Station that I agonized over where to go, but reviews kept mentioning the lovely charcoal aroma, so I chose Sammokjip this time. Honestly, I thought meat is meat~ but it was seriously insanely delicious. There was nobody there when I arrived at 6, but by around 7 after work it was full, with a wait forming.

Sammokjip Cheolsan Main Branch, great for work dinners and family gatherings

A charcoal barbecue restaurant near Cheolsan Station where staff grill for you

This is a charcoal-grilled pork belly specialist near Cheolsan Station. The staff grill the meat from start to finish, so even if you cannot grill meat, you can enjoy it at its best.

I ordered both pork belly and pork neck.

Pork belly with a gentle charcoal aroma

Pork belly ₩16,900

It was grilled over charcoal and cut quite thick. Seeing the meat fat sizzling over the coals made me want to eat it right away.

The moment I bit into it, I could feel the juices burst out. The gentle charcoal aroma had seeped in, giving it a flavor clearly different from pork belly cooked on a regular grill.

The staff carefully handled everything, from when to cut the meat to when to flip it, so I could eat comfortably without worrying about the heat.

There was plenty of lettuce at the self-serve bar, so I had lots of ssam (lettuce wraps) with the meat without a worry.

Tender pork neck and myeonginamul

Pork neck ₩16,900

The pork neck was just as thick as the pork belly. It had a good balance of fat and lean meat, so it was tender rather than dry.

The distinctive nutty flavor of pork neck came through nicely, making it great to alternate with the pork belly. I especially remember the myeonginamul (pickled wild garlic leaves): it was conveniently cut up and nicely salty and sweet, perfect with the meat.

Steamed egg between bites of meat

Steamed egg ₩4,000

I think there must have been sesame oil in the steamed egg because its aroma was especially nutty. Its soft texture and mild seasoning made it just right to eat between bites of meat.

This was the first time I had finished an entire bowl of steamed egg. At most barbecue restaurants I only have a few spoonfuls as a side dish, but I kept reaching for this one.

Fried rice with a memorable perilla oil aroma

Fried rice ₩5,000

The fried rice came already cooked on a separate iron plate, so I could have it alongside the meat. The aroma of perilla oil kept rising up; it felt like something I had never tried before, which was both intriguing and appealing.

The aroma was not overpowering, just a gentle flavor that kept coming back to me. It was also a filling way to wrap up after finishing the meat.

Sammokjip, a great restaurant five minutes on foot from Cheolsan Station

My first visit to Sammokjip Cheolsan Main Branch near Cheolsan Station! The thickness of the meat and charcoal aroma made it clearly more satisfying than an ordinary barbecue restaurant.

Hours and atmosphere

It is open from 2 PM to 1 AM, leaving plenty of time for dinner plans or work gatherings. Since it stays open late, I thought it would also be a nice place for a second round of drinks.

The interior had the grill plates and ventilation you would expect from a barbecue restaurant, and the smoke did not cling too heavily, so I could leave feeling comfortable after the meal.

The self-serve bar was full of fresh vegetables including garlic, green onion, and myeonginamul.

Parking at Sammokjip Cheolsan Main Branch

Unfortunately, parking at Sammokjip Cheolsan Main Branch is difficult. I recommend using a nearby public parking lot or street parking in the Cheolsan commercial district. If you plan to drive, it is best to check parking availability beforehand.

Around Cheolsan Station after your meal

It was an easy place to recommend for a dinner date near Cheolsan Station or a work gathering at a Cheolsan restaurant.