Mungseokjip in Jongno 3-ga: Friday Wait and Korean BBQ

Hello! I recently made it back to Jongno in Seoul for the first time in a while. Jongno is known as a hub for **yajang**—casual outdoor-style dining—so before the weather turned colder, a friend and I headed there straight after work. We had planned to eat at Mungseokjip from the start, but things did not go quite as planned: we ended up waiting for three hours before we could eat. I’ve included my waiting tips below, so keep reading!

At the entrance to Mungseokjip, there are around six fully outdoor tables. Inside, there is a semi-outdoor-feeling space with an open ceiling. Many people were waiting a long time for the outdoor tables, but I actually found the indoor area more charming and prettier, so that is where I sat. The open ceiling and attractive lighting made me really happy with our table.

It is quite close to the main street by Jongno 3-ga Station. Walk past the street lined with outdoor dining spots and go just a little way into an alley—you should be able to find it quickly. Even though it had been a while since I visited Jongno, it was not difficult to locate. 📍 **Reported hours** 12:00–23:55 This is a place that opens from daytime, so it seemed like it could be nice for daytime drinks too. Since it stays open until nearly midnight, there is plenty of time to eat at a relaxed pace. 📍 **Parking** Parking is unavailable. Parking is difficult around Jongno in general, so the reviewer recommends using a nearby public parking lot.

Mungseok Set Kimchi fried rice Brisket doenjang stew Steamed egg Soju

There were only two of us, but we had waited so long and were so hungry that we could not resist ordering all of this. We figured three portions of meat, stew, steamed egg, and fried rice to finish would be reasonable!

Samgyeopsal and pork neck grilled under this kind of lighting—there is really nothing better. This was why I came to Jongno, so I could put up with a three-hour wait. Here is my tip for the waiting list: go to Mungseokjip as soon as you arrive in Jongno. There will probably be a wait whenever you go. We went to a café at around 4:00 without thinking much of it. We thought it might be too early to join the wait, so we decided to do it later. But when we went at 5:30, we did not eat until 8:30. To avoid the same experience, go early. Put your name on the waiting list before going to a café, spend time chatting there, and head back when your alert goes off. If you are visiting on Friday or Saturday, I strongly recommend making Mungseokjip your first stop.

The meat was as delicious as the wait had promised! The serving included two pieces of samgyeopsal and one piece of pork neck, and it was just the right amount for two women. It was cut thick to keep the texture, and we grilled the garlic alongside it too.

There is a self-service bar here. Since dishes move quickly, the items were replenished quickly as well, and it seemed to be kept fairly clean. I think that is one advantage of a popular place with good turnover: the ingredients also seem fresh and tasty.

The green onion kimchi was not part of the default table setting, but it was available at the self-service bar, so I brought some over. It was really delicious! Wrapped with the meat, it was such a good combination. Its strong seasoning paired perfectly with the richness of the samgyeopsal.

There were no perilla leaves, so I made wraps with lettuce and bean sprouts instead. I thought afterward that I should have lightly grilled the bean sprouts too. Meat wrapped with bean sprouts or kimchi was the most delicious combination, and garlic was essential as well.

The steamed egg looked excellent too. It was fluffy, hot, and tasty. It was mild rather than salty, making it a great companion for the meat. It rose high above the bowl, so the portion was more generous than it first appeared.

We ordered doenjang stew and rice, then mixed them together for a hearty doenjang rice soup. It had plenty of brisket and Cheongyang chili peppers, so it went especially well with the grilled meat. Definitely try it this way. Perhaps because it was brisket doenjang stew, it became especially nutty and satisfying with rice mixed in.

For the finishing touch: kimchi fried rice. After Korean BBQ, fried rice is essential—the Korean-style dessert! It came with plenty of seaweed flakes and a cute fried egg on top, and it was seriously addictive. Even though we were almost too full, we kept eating. Be sure to try the kimchi fried rice too. It was delicious enough to make me forget the three-hour wait.

It was rich and delicious. With egg, kimchi, seaweed flakes, and rice, it is a combination that is hard not to love. I grilled a little cabbage kimchi beside it and ate them together. As always, more kimchi made it even better.

This is the kind of outdoor-dining atmosphere you can expect. The lighting is also ideal for taking memorable photos. If you are considering Mungseokjip in Jongno, make sure to visit. The next time I am in Jongno, I will go back to Mungseokjip rather than look for somewhere else. And most importantly: arrive early and put your name on the waiting list first!