Meoksoejip
먹쇠집
About
Operating for over 40 years near Dongdaemun Station, this retro alleyway BBQ house serves tender seasoned pork ribs alongside an elaborate spread of banchan.
Tucked just thirty meters from Dongdaemun Station Exit 1, Meoksoejip operates with the unhurried gravity of a four-decade-old nopo. Stepping into this Changshin-dong back alley feels like a deliberate step back in time. Inside, floor cushions rest in the traditional seating area, an iron stove warms kettles of hot barley tea in colder months, and the sparse ventilation guarantees you will carry the rich scent of grilling meat on your clothes long after leaving. The definitive order here is the seasoned pork ribs (dwaeji galbi). Unlike contemporary versions weighed down by cloying marinades, the pork arrives coated in a balanced, subtly sweet soy base that allows the tender grain of the meat to take center stage. When laid across the hot grate, the edges caramelize rapidly, yielding a faint char that cuts through the pork fat. Wrapped in crisp lettuce with sharp raw garlic, savory ssamjang, and tangy pa-jeori (scallion salad), the ribs demand white rice to soak up the juices. Beyond pork, the kitchen also turns out beef ribs (so-galbi) and unseasoned cuts like thick samgyeopsal and pork neck, which deliver pure, fatty richness dipped simply in salt. What anchors the meal as an old-school Seoul feast is the generous spread of banchan. Rather than minimal garnishes, the table fills with fiery seasoned raw crab (yangnyeom-gejang), sweet pickled radish, deodeok (bellflower root) ready to be warmed on the grill grate, chilled dongchimi radish water kimchi, soft tofu ladled with seasoned soy, and braised potatoes. Finishing the table with a bubbling bowl of classic doenjang-jjigae resets the palate from the marinade’s sweetness. Unpolished and entirely true to its working-class neighborhood roots, Meoksoejip offers the straightforward comfort of an enduring neighborhood barbecue den.
Menu
- Marinated Pork Ribs₩17,000
- 소갈비(2대)₩40,000
- Pork Belly, 200g₩17,000
- 불고기(300g)₩17,000
- Short Rib Soup₩12,000
- Yukgaejang₩12,000
- Cold Noodles₩5,000
Local tips
- Ventilation is minimal and charcoal smoke is strong, so dress casually.
- Banquets include floor-seating areas alongside regular tables.
- Pair the pork ribs with the complimentary seasoned raw crab banchan.
Details
- Dongdaemun Station
Opening hours
- Sunday
- 12:00–22:00
- Monday
- 12:00–22:00
- Tuesday
- 12:00–22:00
- Wednesday
- 12:00–22:00
- Thursday
- 12:00–22:00
- Friday
- 12:00–22:00
- Saturday
- 12:00–22:00