A Japanese friend was visiting Seoul on business, so I met him for dinner and drinks. I had a few dishes in mind that would suit Japanese palates, but when I asked him first, he said he was curious about jokbal (pig's feet), so we visited a jokbal restaurant together.
Jokbal is often perceived as a delivery food, so it's rare to go out to eat it. But this place is notorious for selling out late at night. So, I steamed a medium-sized portion of jokbal two hours before arriving.
Around 7 p.m., everyone had already had their fill and left, so I was almost the last customer. Interestingly, the only table left was a group of Japanese people from Kansai. They seemed to really enjoy it, raving about it.
The side dishes were a simple spread of bean sprout soup, dongchimi (radish kimchi), seasoned chives, raw radish salad, and vegetables for wrapping. The overall flavor was refreshing and well-seasoned, which cut through the richness of the jokbal and made it a delightful dish.
The medium portion of jokbal is naturally smaller than the large portion, which uses the hind and front legs, but according to the owner, the difference isn't noticeable. The price was reasonable at 30,000 won, and it was served generously on a fairly large plate.
The owner had purposely prepared the tta-jok (spicy Korean pork feet) as a favored dish for Japanese customers. Freshly taken from a large pot, the meat and skin were incredibly succulent, with a distinct texture. The sheen was also glossy.
The seasoning was quite strong, and the sweetness became apparent with each bite, but it didn't linger long due to the texture of the tta-jok. The chewy gelatin soaked my mouth, and the meat naturally melted, leaving a lingering flavor of the seasoning.
Personally, I prefer tepid, almost seasoned, jokbal (pig's feet). Nevertheless, I ate this large portion without a hitch, so it was understandable that it had a certain charm, regardless of my taste.
PS: Beware of any hairs left on the skin.
Visited: Friday, 6:30 PM
Participants: 2
Waiting: Yes (over 30 minutes)
Menu: Jokbal (medium)
I visited for dinner and soju.
I went right after work, but both the main building and the annex were full.
There were about 6 groups waiting.
I wrote down my order at the annex and waited for over 30 minutes.
(You have to write down your phone number.)
I wonder when everyone gets off work. ㅠㅠ
We ordered only the Jokbal (medium) menu,
and didn't order any sides. The large and medium sizes seem to be divided into front and back trotters.
Perhaps because they have a good turnover and slice the trotters right away,
the back trotters were tender and delicious.
With the proliferation of chain restaurants, the quality of Jokbal seems to have improved,
but Waggle Waggle Jokbal is better than anywhere else.
The meat is tender and the skin is chewy.
Of all the Jokbal I've had recently,
it was, without hesitation, the best. Definitely a definite must-try. Haha
Thank you for the delicious meal~
