Dwaejine
돼지네
About
Cozy old-school pocha near Taereung Market serving generous plates of odor-free stir-fried gopchang and savory cartilage cooked on a large outdoor griddle.
Tucked near the entrance of Taereung Market between Junghwa and Jungnang stations, Dweji-ne Gopchang captures the unvarnished soul of an old-school Seoul cart bar. Anchored by a massive cast-iron flat top at the entrance, this cramped culinary institution seats barely ten patrons inside, though outdoor tables spill into the alleyway when the weather permits. It functions as an enduring sanctuary for neighborhood regulars seeking cold beers, sizzling iron plates, and late-night comfort food against a backdrop of buzzing market life. The owner wields decades of culinary intuition over the sizzling steel, preparing each order in generous heaps. Stir-fried vegetable gopchang (야채곱창) is a staple order, cooked to order with chewy glass noodles, fresh perilla leaves, and sweet cabbage. Cleaned meticulously, the pork intestines carry zero unwanted gaminess, arriving tender with a mild, smoky heat that warms without searing the palate. Equally sought-after is the odolppyeo (오돌뼈, spicy minced pork cartilage). Where lesser joints serve tooth-shattering bone shards, Dweji-ne chops it fine with plenty of meat attached, achieving a textured bite reminiscent of savory jeyuk bokkeum. The seasoning, carefully aged beforehand, strikes a deep, umami-rich balance. Regulars often order one portion of gopchang alongside one portion of odolppyeo, folding the meats into fresh lettuce with raw garlic, sliced chili, and the pungent secret dipping sauce provided on the side. Cool bowls of bean sprout soup, sliced cucumbers, and perilla leaves round out the table on simple portable gas burners, keeping the food hot from the first drink to the last. Rounding out the lean menu are drinking staples like boneless chicken feet, chicken gizzards, and hagfish. If space remains after the massive portions, finishing the pan with an order of stir-fried rice is practically mandatory—a final, comforting punctuation mark on an authentic dive.
Menu
- Stir-fried Vegetable Tripe₩13,000
- Spicy Stir-fried Pork Cartilage₩13,000
- Boneless Chicken Feet₩13,000
- Chicken Gizzards₩13,000
- Stir-fried Hagfish₩13,000
- Fried Rice₩2,000
- Spicy Stir-fried Squid₩14,000
- Gopchang₩13,000
Local tips
- Opening hours are irregular, so calling ahead before visiting is highly recommended.
- Order 1 portion of gopchang and 1 portion of odolppyeo for a classic local combination.
- Seating is limited to around 10 people indoors, but outdoor street tables are also available.
- Takeout is popular and portions are notably generous.
Details
- Junghwa Station
Opening hours
- Sunday
- 16:00–23:00
- Monday
- 16:00–23:00
- Tuesday
- 16:00–23:00
- Wednesday
- 16:00–23:00
- Thursday
- 16:00–23:00
- Friday
- 16:00–23:00
- Saturday
- 16:00–23:00