The best-known TV-linked Korean BBQ restaurant in Seoul is Saemaeul Sikdang (새마을식당), a pork BBQ chain owned by TV chef Baek Jong-won. Its Dongdaemun branch is open daily from 11:00 to 23:30 and serves grilled pork belly for 14,000 won, according to a blog review. This guide also covers other popular Seoul BBQ spots that travel guides recommend, though none of the sources linked them to a specific TV show.
A note on sources: No official Korea Tourism Organization page on TV-famous Korean BBQ turned up. Everything below comes from travel blogs and was not checked against official sources. Prices and hours change, so confirm them on Naver Maps before you go.
Quick facts
- Main spot: Saemaeul Sikdang (새마을식당), Dongdaemun branch
- Hours: Open daily, 11:00-23:30
- Price: Grilled pork belly is listed at 14,000 won (blog review price, so check for updates)
- Location: 30 Eulji-ro 43-gil, Jung-gu, basement level, near Dongdaemun Gate
- Nearest station: Not confirmed in the source. Check Naver Maps for the closest subway station and exit.
Why Saemaeul Sikdang is the TV pick
Baek Jong-won is a TV chef known from shows such as Wednesday Food Talk and Alley Restaurant. More recently he appeared as a judge on Netflix's Culinary Class Wars. His chain, Saemaeul Sikdang, specializes in pork BBQ, and it is the clearest link between a Seoul BBQ restaurant and Korean TV in the sources for this guide.
The Dongdaemun branch is in a basement near Dongdaemun Gate. The space is narrow and gets busy at peak times, so expect a lively, crowded room. You grill the meat yourself at the table. If that is new to you, see the grilling tips further down.
For more background, here is a food blog write-up on Saemaeul Sikdang.
Menu and prices at Saemaeul Sikdang
A blog review lists the following prices. They were not checked against an official menu, so treat them as a guide only.
- Grilled pork belly: 14,000 won
- Pork neck: 13,000 won
- Pork ribs: 13,000 won
- Charcoal bulgogi: 10,900 won
- Kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew): 7,000 won
- Cold kimchi noodles: 6,000 won
- Steamed egg: 5,000 won
A simple order would be one or two grilled meats, plus a stew or the cold noodles to round out the meal. Any 2026 menu or price changes are unconfirmed, so check before you visit.
How to get there
The source did not name the subway station or exit, so the steps below rely on the address and a map app.
- Open Naver Maps and search for Saemaeul Sikdang in Dongdaemun.
- Check the listing for the current opening hours (the blog lists 11:00-23:30 daily) and for the nearest subway station and exit.
- Head toward Dongdaemun Gate, which is the landmark near the restaurant.
- Find 30 Eulji-ro 43-gil in Jung-gu.
- Look for the restaurant on the basement level and head down.
Other Seoul BBQ places visitors often try
The restaurants below are often recommended in guides for visitors. None of the sources tied them to a specific TV show, so they are listed as popular BBQ options rather than TV spots. Opening hours, reservation methods and any 2026 menu or price changes are unconfirmed for all of them.
- Baekjeong: A celebrity-founded chain with branches in Myeongdong (명동) and Gangnam (강남). It is known for pork belly and beef brisket, served with egg custard and corn cheese.
- Wangbijib (Myeongdong): Known for big portions of tenderloin and short ribs. Staff speak basic English, which helps if you are nervous about ordering.
- Samwon Garden (Gangnam): A long-running, family-style restaurant serving premium hanwoo (Korean beef).
- Ggupdang: Pork cured for 15 days and grilled over binchotan charcoal. The original branch is near Sinsa Station, and another is in Seongsu (성수). Here is a blog collection on Ggupdang for more detail.
- Mapo Sutbul Galbi: Charcoal-grilled unseasoned beef ribs, often eaten with doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew).
- Palsaik Samgyeopsal: Pork belly in eight marinade flavors, with several branches.
Budget guide
In Mapo (마포), Hongdae (홍대) and Seongsu, pork belly places often come to under 20,000 won per person, including soju. That makes pork belly the easier choice for tight budgets. Premium beef places such as Samwon Garden can be a different price level, though no exact prices were available.
For a sense of price tiers, Michelin's Bib Gourmand category covers restaurants under 45,000 won per person. The 2026 Seoul and Busan additions found while researching this guide were mostly noodle, soup and vegetarian spots, not BBQ. You can read about them in this article on the new Bib Gourmand picks.
Tips for your first Korean BBQ meal
- Book ahead or arrive early on weekends, when the popular places fill up.
- Many restaurants require a minimum of 2 portions, so solo travelers should ask before sitting down.
- Grill small amounts at a time, and do not flip the meat too often. Letting each side cook undisturbed gives better results.
- Wrap the meat in lettuce or perilla leaves with ssamjang (a seasoned dipping paste) and garlic, then eat it in one bite.
- At a self-grill place like Saemaeul Sikdang, you cook the meat yourself, so ask staff for help if you are unsure.
FAQ
Which Korean BBQ restaurant in Seoul is famous from TV?
Saemaeul Sikdang is the clearest example in the sources. It is a pork BBQ chain owned by TV chef Baek Jong-won, who is known from Wednesday Food Talk and Alley Restaurant, and from Netflix's Culinary Class Wars. The other restaurants in this guide are popular with visitors, but the sources did not link them to a specific TV show.
What are the opening hours of Saemaeul Sikdang in Dongdaemun?
A blog review lists the Dongdaemun branch as open daily from 11:00 to 23:30. Hours can change, so confirm them on Naver Maps before you go.
How much does Korean BBQ cost in Seoul?
At Saemaeul Sikdang, the blog review lists grilled pork belly at 14,000 won and pork neck at 13,000 won. In Mapo, Hongdae and Seongsu, pork belly places often come to under 20,000 won per person including soju. Prices may have changed since these sources were written, so check current prices before you visit.
Do I need a reservation for Korean BBQ in Seoul?
The sources advise booking ahead or arriving early on weekends. Reservation methods were not confirmed for any of the restaurants here, so check Naver Maps or each restaurant's listing. Also keep in mind that many places require a minimum of 2 portions.
Sources: Daniel Food Diary - Saemaeul Sikdang · Lady Iron Chef - Ggupdang · Secret Food Tours - Best Korean BBQ in Seoul · Asia News Network - Michelin Guide Seoul & Busan 2026 Bib Gourmand
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