Where to Eat Samgyeopsal (Korean BBQ) in Myeongdong

What should you look for in a Myeongdong samgyeopsal place?

Myeongdong has a lot of Korean BBQ restaurants, and from the street they can look much the same. Five simple checks narrow the choice quickly. Under each one is how Musoe Kimchi Samgyeop measures up.

1. Price and portion

Samgyeopsal (Korean pork belly) is usually ordered by the serving, so compare the price together with the weight. Here a 150g serving of Cast Iron Kimchi Pork Belly is ₩16,000, and Cast Iron Minari Pork Belly, topped with fresh minari (Korean water parsley), is ₩18,000. If you prefer pork neck, the kimchi and minari versions cost the same: ₩16,000 and ₩18,000.

2. What it is grilled on

The grill changes the taste. This Myeongdong Korean BBQ uses a heavy cast iron lid that domes up in the middle. Pork belly goes around the rim, the fat runs toward the centre, and kimchi and tofu cook in it. Each bite pairs meat with kimchi that has soaked up the drippings. The kimchi is made at the brand's own kitchen in Gijang, Busan.

3. Distance from the subway

Myeongdong streets are crowded, so a place close to the station saves time. Leave Myeongdong Station (Line 4) through Exit 6, walk into the alley behind the CGV building, and the restaurant is on the 2nd floor of the Ediya building.

4. Opening hours

If you plan a late dinner after shopping, check the hours first. It opens every day from noon until midnight, with no closing day. Tables fill up at lunch and at dinner, so call ahead if you are coming as a group.

5. How easy it is to order and grill

You order from a tablet on your table, and staff cut the meat on the grill and help you cook it, so a first Korean BBQ is easy. Reservations are accepted, and there is a kids' menu and a private dining room.

How do you eat kimchi samgyeopsal on cast iron?

On a first visit, try it in this order.

1. Choose the meat — Cast Iron Kimchi Pork Belly (₩16,000) or Cast Iron Minari Pork Belly (₩18,000), each 150g per serving.
2. Grill — pork belly around the rim, kimchi and tofu in the centre. When the meat is done, staff cut it into bite-size pieces.
3. Add a side — soybean paste stew (₩6,000), japchae glass noodles (₩10,000), seafood pancake (₩15,000) or kimchi pancake (₩13,000).
4. Finish — fried rice with kimchi and minari cooked on the same grill (₩3,000). For something cold, try icy young radish noodles or kimchi noodles (₩6,000).
5. Drinks — makgeolli or soju (₩5,000 each), a 300cc draft beer (₩3,900) or a lemon sour (₩7,000).

If you want more meat, add another serving of pork belly (₩16,000) or minari pork belly (₩18,000).

Full menu with prices

Which dishes do guests talk about most?

In the reviews, the words that come up most are grilled meat (458 mentions) and samgyeopsal (280). After those come minari (32), the ordering tablet (21), japchae (18), fried rice (13) and kimchi samgyeopsal (12).

The combination guests mention most is an easy one to follow: samgyeopsal grilled with kimchi, minari on top, a plate of japchae on the side, and fried rice on the grill to finish.

How do you get there from Myeongdong Station, and how late is it open?

Take Seoul Subway Line 4 to Myeongdong Station and leave through Exit 6. Walk into the alley behind the CGV building until you reach the Ediya building; the restaurant is on its 2nd floor. After dark, look for the 'Musoe Kimchi Samgyeop' neon sign.

It is open every day from 12:00 to 24:00. There is paid street parking and paid parking lots nearby, but Myeongdong traffic is heavy and the subway is much easier.

The restaurant is on the 2nd floor, so the entrance, seating and restroom are difficult to use in a wheelchair. If you need a hand, please call 02-377-7777 before you visit.

Directions and map

Is it easy for visitors who don't speak Korean?

Ordering is done on the tablet at your table, and printed guides in other languages are kept in the room. Staff cut the meat and help with the grilling, so you do not need to know how Korean BBQ works before you arrive.

Cards and mobile NFC payments are accepted, and there is Wi-Fi. If the menu names are new to you, start with Cast Iron Kimchi Pork Belly, the dish the restaurant is named after.