My friend informed me that she had started a new work near the city hall, so we made plans to visit Man Jok Oh Hyang Jokbal, a popular local restaurant I had never tried before.

Probably due to the high volume of diners, including international tourists, there was a sizable wait during peak dinner hours.

Luckily, the store's main location and annex are just next to each other, and the main location has two floors and plenty of seating. Even though we arrived at the peak dinner time, we only had to wait 30 minutes to be seated.

The Michelin Guide has included this restaurant for the past six years.

It is one of the three best Jokbal (pig trotter) restaurants in Seoul, and its reputation precedes it thanks to its inclusion in the Blue Ribbon Survey for eight consecutive years.

I work nearby, and everyone in my office has been raving about the great food, so I decided to check it out for myself.

The main building's takeout service only appears to be open at lunch.

We were taken to the upper level. This photo was taken just after I finished dining and left before they closed, but when I arrived, the restaurant was full of diners.

 

Menu

Jokbal (pig's trotters cooked with soy sauce) and Bossam (boiled pork dish) are signature dishes at this restaurant. Our friend who had been here before suggested we share a medium-sized Jokbal and a small bowl of noodles.

 

​Banchan

There was no need to order a separate soup because complimentary Tteok-mandu (dumpling with rice cakes) soup was included. Drinkers will adore it because broth can be refilled at no cost, but additional rice cakes and dumplings cost extra.

You can also get Banchan which pairs well with Jokbal.

When I questioned about this soup, they said it was just garlic sauce. However, at first glance, I mistook the design on the side for garlic. I really do believe that everyone will be confused.

The garlic sauce was given on the side to dip the cabbage served in a huge bowl. This cabbage helped to reduce the greasiness of the Jokbal.

The Jokbal plate will go on this silver part. I felt a pleasant warmth when I placed my hands on it.

Then a plate of Jokbal (pig trotter) was placed on it. The speed with which my Jokbal arrived after placing my order made me wonder if I had ordered fast food. That was probably why the restaurants have a fast turnover of customers!

The amount of Jokbal was smaller than I had anticipated, but the flesh was so dense that the two of us quickly became quite satisfied.

After hearing and seeing so much about them, my expectations were sky-high; thankfully, the pig trotters did not disappoint.

The inner lean meat was tender, whereas the outer fatty layer was chewy. It's soft and chewy at the same time, with a little soy sauce flavor. After taking a piece, my mouth dropped open from the deliciousness.

Jokbal is fantastic on its own, but when combined with radish kimchi, it becomes even more delightful. But my favorite combination is, of course, garlic sauce cabbage with Jokbal.

Buljokbal (spicy Jokbal) is just as tender and tasty as regular pig's trotter, but it has a little chewier texture, maybe due to the spice. The seasoning had a mild kick to it.

​A platter of Makguksu (buckwheat noodles) was also served. More noodles and vegetables than I anticipated were included in the Makguksu.

We were all so busy with our conversation and food that we almost forgot to toast her new employment. 

​Deliciously tender Jokbal can be found at Manjok Ohyang Jokbal (city hall branch), one of Seoul's top three pig's trotters restaurants. While the Buljokbal on the menu is tasty, I think I'll only order the Manjok Ohyang Jokbal, the restaurant's signature dish, on my next visit.

 

Address : 318-1 Taepyeongno 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul  OPEN GOOGLE MAP

Tel : +82-2-753-4755

Operation Hours : Monday-Friday : 11:30 - 22:00, Saturday-Sunday : 12:00 - 22:00

Instagram : Click for more images

 

Source : https://blog.naver.com/dbwjd16244/223079471349

Writer : dbwjd16244

Special thanks to dbwjd16244

 

Man Jok Oh Hyang Jokbal seoul restaurant pig trotter

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