Seoul: Myth Jokbal (미쓰족발) @ Hongdae

If you don’t know what jokbal is, it’s basically pigs feet cooked with soy sauce and spices for a long time till it get tender.

The image of eating fatty pig feet meat might scare a lot of people, but if you want me to recommend you one unusual traditional dish of Korea it must be jokbal.

Believe me, I do not enjoy eating fatty foods but the fat in jokbal gives you this smooth and silky feel that melt right in your mouth without any chewing.

Jokbal trong tiếng Hàn được dùng để chỉ giò heo. Món Jokbal tại Hàn chính là móng giò được nấu với nước tương và các loại gia vị trong một khoảng thời gian dài đến khi thịt móng giò ngấm gia vị nhưng không làm thịt trở nên quá mềm. Tại Hàn jokbal được coi là một món nhậu, nhưng bạn hoàn toàn có thể thưởng thức jokbal mà không cần uống rượu nhé. (Ở nhà buồn nhất là thích ăn món nhắm mà hai đứa con gái bước vô quán nhậu gọi đồ ăn không là bị nhìn chằm chằm rồi…)

Myth Jokbal là nhà hàng với jokbal nổi tiếng tại khu Hongdae được mở cửa từ năm 1987. Nếu các bạn có ý định thử món jokbal tại đây mà không muốn đợi lâu, mình khuyên các bạn nên đến vào khoảng 5h chiều, đó là thời điểm trước khi cửa hàng mở cửa. Dù có những người đã đến trước thì thời gian các bạn phải đợi cũng sẽ không quá dài đâu.

Now about Myth Jokbal: it’s a jokbal specialist restaurant located in Honggik University area (Hongdae 홍대) that first opened in 1987 and has been selling jokbal since then. It’s super famous and there are people queuing outside of the restaurant everyday.

They have other locations all over Korea too, you can check out the list of other locations on their website (choose 매장소개 – the website is only available in Korean).

I visited Myth Jokbal in September with a friend, we got there pretty early since we wanted to checkout Hongdae handmade flea market and when we walked pass the restaurant wasn’t open yet. We walked back there around 5pm and there was already a line in front, just so you know how famous this place is.

Back in the days you just need to stand in line and wait, but lately they had put up a list for people to put down their name and number of people they are with on. When it’s your turn they will call out your name and guide you to your seats.

Remember to put your name on the list

They have other items on the menu other than jokbal too but we’re just two girls, one serving of jokbal is already more than enough for us. I would love to come back with more friends and try other foods too. You can check out the menu on their website in advance (choose 메뉴소개 > 메인메뉴).

They have two kinds of jokbal on the menu

Since we both had original jokbal before we decided to order Garlic Jokbal, and even though they say it’s hot on the menu it wasn’t spicy at all.

The serving for two

I have no word to describe this juicy, tender, greasy, delicious, fatty pleasure.

The jokbal came with three different kinds one sauces. One was soy sauce, one gave me the taste of a little miso in it, but I can’t record the taste of the other one at the moment, sorry.

The salad. I can tell there are two different dressings on that dish of fresh crunchy greens. We both agreed that their salad dressing was so delicious. I really loved it.

Korean cold noodles that come with the set. During winter it will be replaced with a hot pot of noodles instead.

Writing this post makes me hungry even though I just woke up and had my brunch. Give jokbal a try on your next Korea trip, you won’t regret it!

HOW TO GET THERE:

Myth Jokbal (미쓰족발) – Hongdae location
Address: 164-12 Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul – 1st floor
Website: http://mythjokbal.co.kr/
Operation hours: 11:00AM – 4:00AM next day

Directions:
1. Hongik University Station (홍대입구역) Exit 9, turn left on the street right outside of the exit.
2. Turn left at the second intersection (there is a Sexy Cookie store on your right).
3. You can see Myth Jokbal on your left.