Ikseon-dong Jagalchi Main Branch
익선동 자갈치 본점
About
Lively seafood and makhoe spot near Jongno 3-ga featuring fresh assorted raw fish tossed with crisp vegetables and savory sauce.
In the dense alleyways of Jongno 3-ga, Ikseondong Jagalchi has carved out a loyal following among seafood lovers seeking rough-cut sashimi and the communal pull of outdoor drinking. While the original outpost near Ikseon-dong established the brand’s reputation, its nearby second branch expands the footprint with a wider floor plan and street-level *yajang* seating that fills with office workers before six in the evening. The kitchen revolves around *makhoe*—wild-caught fish roughly sliced and served over a crisp bed of shredded cabbage, cucumbers, and fragrant water dropwort (*minari*). Proper eating here requires assembly: diners bundle the tender, chewy raw fish into sheets of roasted seaweed, spoon over savory seasoned sauce, and dust everything with nutty roasted soybean powder (*konggaru*) and flying fish roe for a textural snap. Refreshing bowls of bean sprout soup, tender sea tangle, and curly *ggosiraegi* (agar weed) frame the spread, offering clean oceanic notes alongside cold sips of beer and soju. Beyond the raw fish, the menu leans heavily into coastal comfort. Sharing sets pair platters of makhoe with briskly shucked live seafood—crunchy spoon worms (*gaebul*) and briny sea squirts (*meongge*) plucked directly from the street-facing tanks. Tables seeking hot broth gravitate toward the *tong-golbaengi-tang*, a clean, peppery soup packed with whole, shell-on whelks pried out with toothpicks, or steaming pots of clam broth. Thin, crisp chive pancakes (*buchujeon*) often find their way onto crowded metal tables as drinking companions. Atmospherically, the venue wears its rough edges openly; the hum of the crowd can run loud, and the outdoor setting prioritizes brisk, unpretentious turnover over delicate hospitality. Still, when the evening cools, snagging a plastic chair outside with a platter of chilled makhoe captures the distinct, lively energy of Jongno’s dusk.
Menu
- Makhoe (Assorted Chopped Raw Fish)
- 자연산 막회(소)₩38,000
- 자연산 통골뱅이(중)₩38,000
- 모듬 해산물(소)₩50,000
- 과메기(제철메뉴)₩28,000
- 석화(제철메뉴)₩28,000
Local tips
- Wrap the makhoe with seaweed, bean powder, fresh vegetables, and dipping sauce.
- Outdoor terrace seating is popular for evening drinks.
- Walk-in reservations can be queued via CatchTable on busy weekend evenings.
Details
- Jongno 3-ga Station
Opening hours
- Sunday
- 14:00–23:00
- Monday
- 14:30–23:30
- Tuesday
- 14:30–23:30
- Wednesday
- 14:30–23:30
- Thursday
- 14:30–23:30
- Friday
- 14:30–02:00
- Saturday
- 14:00–02:00