Jongamgol Saenggogi: Great Jeju Pork Near Korea University
Maybe it's because I moved from Hannam-dong, a neighborhood packed with great restaurants, but I've felt like there are absolutely no good places to eat near my house. People say there are a few spots in front of Korea University, but they're just famous among the mediocre restaurants in this area—not places I'd feel comfortable recommending to anyone. I thought I was just losing my sense of taste and eating whatever was given to me, but then I discovered a really good K-BBQ joint.
Jongamgol Saenggogi
It's been a while since my family decided to go out for meat instead of pizza or raw fish for dinner. We thought about going all the way to the front of Korea University, but we ended up visiting "Jongamgol Saenggogi," a place I'd been eyeing for a while. Since it was the weekend and dinner service had just started, the tables at this average-sized restaurant were completely empty. Even so, the sound of people talking at the next table echoed right into my ears. It's not a place where you can have a quiet meal.
I didn't have high expectations, so I didn't take a picture of the menu. The prices are generally on the higher side, to the point where I thought, "This is too expensive..." A 200g serving of samgyeopsal (pork belly) is 15,000 KRW, and a 200g assorted fresh meat platter is 15,000 KRW. I'll take a picture of the menu next time I visit (and it seems like I'll be going often, not just once).
"It's expensive, but the meat quality is truly excellent."
I was worried about the high prices, but the owner insisted they bring in really good meat, so I couldn't even show my concern. They grilled it deliciously for us, and when I took a bite, it really tasted like premium meat. It's a distinctly different flavor from other BBQ places. Since they grill it for you when you order a plate, they cook it to absolute perfection. The meat itself is incredibly juicy, with no hint of that old meat taste, and it's absolutely delicious. For one, they don't burn the meat or cook it well-done and dry; they grill it to that perfectly tender, melt-in-your-mouth state. When you take a bite, juices explode in your mouth—something you can never experience with overcooked meat. When I took my first bite, I weirdly thought, "Is this just meat grease coming out?" but today I learned for the first time that this is the true pork juice I'd been missing out on.
"Try the first piece of meat without dipping it in anything. It's really delicious."
It feels like it's been a long time since I visited a place where the meat actually matches the owner's confidence. We also ordered gyeranjjim (steamed egg), and it was steamed perfectly without being dry. For a place that's open 24 hours, maintaining this level of quality is nothing short of amazing.
Riding the momentum of the pork, we ordered some beef too, but the beef was a failure. I was a bit worried since it was US beef, and sure enough, it came out completely frozen solid. After grilling and eating it, I just had this weird experience of longing for the pork again. It would have been much better to just order another round of pork for the same price.
Since then, I've gone back a few more times to eat a plate of fresh meat. They don't deliver, but they do offer takeout, so I've also packed it up to eat at home. Takeout requires a minimum order of two portions, so it might be a bit tricky for people living alone.
