Eating premium Korean beef raw? It emits a faint sweetness that melts in your mouth

Text and photos byLittle Dot Paine

A friend went to Seoul on a group tour in January. In their free time, they visited Myeongdong and ate at Wangfei’s (a place I really had no interest in trying), then told me how Korean beef was just so-so and not tasty at all XD. To be honest, I hadn’t really had authentic Korean beef before either. Korean beef is graded, and only the truly high-grade stuff is amazingly delicious—definitely not inferior to Japanese wagyu (though the taste is quite different). Because of this, I seriously started digging online, looking for Korean-recommended Korean beef restaurants. I searched by region and found one in Hongdae called Wookjuk Rokchan 700 Restaurant, which specializes in Korean beef and is the highest grade, 1++. It’s not cheap, but I felt it was definitely worth trying. Plus, I happened to find out it was a newly opened shop, located right in Hongdae, and there was even a Chinese student working there (very friendly and cute). If you’re in Hongdae and want to try “premium Korean beef,” this place is worth considering.

This restaurant, 700食堂 Wookjuk Rokchan, has Chinese menus. It’s in the basement—don’t forget it’s closed on Sundays.

Jeoplyo Hantsal (150g), 25,000 KRW
Chalaraejip (200g), 22,000 KRW
?Chwan?Gi, mugwort rice, 1,500 KRW
?Cheon??, doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), 1,000 KRW

Charcoal-grilled meat

Turn on the gas to light it up faster

There are various side dishes to go with it, but I think Korean beef tastes sweetest when eaten on its own

Mix-and-eat side dish

I feel pretty relaxed eating in Korea—the variety is great, and you can eat however you like

Jeoplyo Hantsal (150g), 25,000 KRW
The portion above is for two people, so I think it’s about right for two, though you might not be full—maybe enough for women?

I saw this recommended by netizens and it caught my eye the most—my photo isn’t great, sigh

It’s a mix of two cuts, I’m not sure of the names, but the textures are indeed different

They use charcoal here but light it with gas, haha

The pink marbling is so beautiful (mouthwatering), so tender and juicy

The grilled meat smells amazing

It’s delicious on its own—I love this cut the most

Honestly, I still love this pink-colored meat the most, it’s incredibly tasty. The meat literally tastes sweet, juicy and tender—it’s really amazing (I swear), best grilled to medium-rare, perfect. The other cut gives more of a fresh beef texture, a bit chewier, with a stronger beef flavor and less oiliness (haha)

Chalaraejip (200g), 22,000 KRW

This is sashimi~~~ (raw beef!)

I think this is so delicious. You need this grade of meat to really enjoy it. I ate a lot—nothing like the Taiwanese-style thinly sliced raw beef made to taste like Japanese cuisine. This is about 2,500 times better (lol). It’s a completely different feeling, almost like biting your own tongue XD, an oddly soft sensation. Just occasionally there’s a small piece of sinew, which takes a bit more chewing, but those bits are easy to swallow. Most importantly, the Korean chili paste and sesame oil are incredible (the same sesame oil you get in bibimbap), super fragrant

This is also super delicious. Those who dare to eat raw beef must try it, and even if you don’t, you should try it at least once

This rice is special and quite tasty, with a small dish of soy sauce on the side for mixing in

We ordered miso soup, 1,000 KRW per bowl

There were shiitake mushrooms in it—I actually tried them for the first time. They tasted good, but it’s also a bit on the heavier flavor side.

Tip: I really want to eat real high-quality Korean beef once every time I go to Korea, because the taste is truly amazing. If you have a kitchen and want to save money, you can buy Korean beef from the supermarket—at about 10,000 KRW per 100g. Restaurants are roughly double that price, but of course they come with side dishes. At this restaurant, Chilbaek Sikdang, I asked if it was okay for just one person. It’s fine for one person, and since ordering just one portion of meat isn’t cheap, they said they do accept solo diners. But they recommend coming a bit later or right when they open, eating, and then leaving—so you’re not taking up the multi-person seating that later customers might want for drinking and socializing (we should also consider the restaurant's business, after all). Also, I saw a couple next to us who each ordered one portion of meat, one bowl of bracken rice per person, and one bowl of soup each—it felt very nutritious and healthy (with meat, veggies, and rice). I think you all could order like that too~ Oh, and there aren’t many seats at this restaurant, so you probably want to get there early. Showing up right when it opens is the safest bet. The business is pretty good.

Chilbaek Sikdang, Wookgeullocchan
Phone: 02-333-3006 (There really aren’t many seats, Korean speakers can make reservations)
Business hours: 18:00~. Closed on Sundays
Address: 4F, 22-6, Gurodong-ro 8-gil, Guro-gu (B1)
Coordinates: 37.557010, 126.927997
 

Paine the Little Explorer★Fun in Korea Rolling Around
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