Jeonju Sikdang
전주식당
About
Since 1985, legendary grilled fish specialist in Jongno's fish-grilling alley. Served with hot-stone rice and miso soup—a complete meal under 15,000 KRW.
# Jeonju Sikdang: Bossam Mastery in Jongno Tucked into Jongno 3-ga's historic bossam alley, Jeonju Sikdang anchors itself at the entrance with a reputation built on herbal-braised pork and meticulous side dishes. The restaurant draws both elderly regulars making pilgrimages from across Seoul and younger diners who've done their homework—a reliable indicator of longevity in this competitive district. The menu centers on variations of bossam, each distinguished by its accompanying banchan: oyster bossam, aralia shoots, and pollack sashimi. The pollack sashimi bossam deserves particular attention. The seasoned fish offers a bright, umami-forward counterpoint to the pale, herbal-braised meat, which arrives with its fat-to-lean ratio calibrated for clean eating. The pork itself carries the subtle medicinal notes of its long simmer—not overpowering, but present enough to justify the "herbal" designation. What separates Jeonju Sikdang from neighboring shops lies in the banchan. Beyond standard kimchi and radish, diners receive raw aralia shoots and seasoned pollack, signature touches that mark the establishment's particular craft. The aralia, tender and barely cooked, provides textural contrast and a whisper of natural bitterness. The pollack seasoning—a simple dress of vinegar and aromatics—is excellent enough to eat straight with rice. The restaurant maintains the worn, lived-in atmosphere of a true jongno fixture. Comfortable seating accommodates everyone from solo office workers to hiking groups, with traditional sitting rooms available for private gatherings. The kitchen clearly understands that bossam is a social meal, neither rushed nor precious. Arrive hungry enough to build proper lettuce wraps—meat, garlic, kimchi, and that pollack mixture in leaf-bound combination. This is where the dish's appeal becomes clear: straightforward technique applied with consistency across decades.
Menu
- Grilled mackerel₩14,000
- Grilled saury₩15,000
- Mixed grilled fish (4 types)
- Mixed grilled fish (3 types)₩36,000
- Doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew)
- Stone pot rice₩2,000
- Grilled cutlassfish₩15,000
- Grilled yellow croaker
- Grilled Spanish mackerel
Local tips
- Arrive before noon or after 2pm to avoid 30+ min waits
- Order 고등어구이 (mackerel) or 꽁치구이 (saury)—signature fish picks
- Solbap (stone pot rice) included; pour hot water at the end for nurungji (crispy rice)
- Open from 7:30am for breakfast; cash preferred
- Closed 1st & 3rd Sunday monthly
Details
Opening hours
- Sunday
- 11:00–14:00
- Monday
- 11:00–14:00
- Tuesday
- 11:00–14:00
- Wednesday
- 11:00–14:00
- Thursday
- 11:00–14:00
- Friday
- 11:00–14:00
- Saturday
- 11:00–14:00