Gilmok 길목

A pork grill restaurant tucked into the back alleys off Yeongdong-daero in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam. Its corkage-free policy has made it a favorite for diners who bring their own wine or other drinks to pair with the meat. Only domestic female pork is used, and the quality shows, the neck meat stays remarkably tender even after cooling. Dipping each piece in meljeot amplifies the salty, fermented umami, while grilled scallions and shishito peppers cut through the richness. Ogyeopsal (five-layer belly) and kkeopsal (skin) are also popular cuts, and adding the assorted vegetable plate opens up combinations like grilled bracken fern. Mixing cilantro into the house yangpa-kimchi (onion kimchi) has become a near-mandatory combination among regulars. The finishing bokkeumbap, finely chopped pork mixed into fried rice topped with a sunny-side-up egg, is a must-order, and the doenjang-sulbap (fermented soybean paste rice) improves noticeably with a pinch of added salt. Lines form from around 6 PM onward, and no reservations are accepted, though arriving before 5 PM typically allows immediate seating. The drum-barrel table setup means space is tight and the backless chairs are less comfortable for extended stays, but the wall covered in celebrity signatures speaks to the restaurant's devoted following. A recently opened annex next door has increased total seating capacity, and the Samsung Jungang branch serves as an alternative when the wait at the main location is too long.