Ipanjeopan
이판저판
About
A 25-year-old, 24-hour pork barbecue spot near Seodaemun Station serving affordable frozen and fresh pork belly with generous side dishes.
Tucked away along Tongil-ro near Seodaemun Station, Ipan Jeopan carries the quiet endurance of a quarter-century neighborhood fixture. Operating around the clock, this compact pork den houses just about six round tables, quickly claiming the patronage of Gwanghwamun office workers who fill every seat by early evening. Aprons hang near the open kitchen for guests to grab themselves, setting an unpretentious, straightforward tone where the rhythm of the meal revolves entirely around the sizzle of the grill. While fresh cuts like raw pork belly (*saeng-samgyeopsal*) and neck meat (*moksal*) grace the roster, regulars frequently gravitate toward the imported frozen pork belly (*naengsam*). Clean-tasting and completely devoid of gamy odors, the meat cooks atop sheets of paper foil, releasing rendered fat that acts as the cooking medium for the rest of the spread. Guests often supplement their cuts with quick-searing beef brisket (*chadolbaki*), arranging meat alongside generous helpings of aged, sour kimchi that caramelizes with a gentle sweetness under heat. What truly elevates Ipan Jeopan beyond a standard retro pork joint is its attentive banchan spread. Slices of pork find natural companions in savory pickled perilla leaves (*myeong-i namul*) and bowls of shredded scallions tossed with bean sprouts in a sweet-and-tangy bibim sauce. Pushed directly into the pork drippings on the foil, these dressed greens fry into an addictive accompaniment that routinely demands refills. Depending on the day's kitchen prep, lucky diners might also be handed a refreshing side of icy dongchimi broth swirled with cold somyeon noodles to cut through the rich grease. Modest, tidy, and refreshingly gentle on the wallet amid central Seoul's rising dining costs, it delivers an earnest, classic pork belly session calibrated for cold beer and clinking soju glasses.
Menu
- Imported Pork Belly₩11,000
- Fresh Pork Belly₩14,000
- 갈비살(150g)₩16,000
- 차돌박이(150g)₩14,000
- 생목살(160g)₩12,000
- 껍데기(150g)₩9,000
Local tips
- Table space is limited with only about six round tables; arrive before 6:30 PM to avoid a wait.
- Grill the ripe kimchi and bean sprout scallion salad alongside the pork.
- Call ahead late at night even though it is nominally open 24 hours.
Details
- Seodaemun Station
Opening hours
- Sunday
- 00:00–23:00
- Monday
- 00:00–23:00
- Tuesday
- 00:00–23:00
- Wednesday
- 00:00–23:00
- Thursday
- 00:00–23:00
- Friday
- 00:00–23:00
- Saturday
- 00:00–23:00