Jokbal

Jokbal is a very popular pork dish to many Koreans worldwide. In translation, it means pig’s trotters or legs (boneless) which have been seasoned and steamed. It may sound strange and unappealing to foreigners, but anyone who has once tried jokbal will get into the charm of this delicate dish. The pork is spiced with black taffy, soybean sauce and ginger which give its irresistible taste of the meat. The secret of its popularity is the broth in which the jokbal is cooked as it is seasoned and simmered for about 2 to 3 hours. The steam rises from the pot until the mouth-watering meat is cooked to perfection. The secret of the delicious meaty flavor lies in the rich broth, and to this day, every restaurant’s broth recipe is considered top secret.

Almost all restaurants will serve the same condiments and side dishes to go along with jokbal. Various side dishes include lettuce, mul kimchi, kimchi, shredded radish, and buchu (Korean leek). And usual condiments include ssamjang (mixture of pepper and fermented bean paste) and salted shrimps for dipping. For consumption, jokbal can be wrapped in lettuce leaves along with some of the side dish or condiment to fully enjoy this meal.

Janchungdong Jokbal Street

Located near Jangchung Gymnasium (Jung-gu, Seoul) are about ten restaurants whose specialty is jokbal (pig’s trotters). In the past, the area teemed with customers, especially on game days at Jangchung Gymnasium. An area known for its traditional food, the restaurants here have done business for as many as fifty years.

Even now, whenever one hears the word jokbal, the first thing that comes to mind is Jangchung-dong jokbal. The secret of its popularity is the broth in which the jokbal are cooked. Around 30 jokbal are placed in a large pot, seasoned and simmered for 2~3 hours. The steam rises from the pot until the mouth-watering jokbal are done to perfection. It is claimed that the jokbal broth has a history as old as the restaurants themselves. There is always a little broth left over from a batch of jokbal, and more water is added to the remaining broth again and again with each new pot of trotters. The secret of the delicious meaty flavor lies in the rich broth, and to this day, every restaurant’s broth recipe is considered top secret.

Most of the signs along Jokbal Street in Jangchung-dong say, “The Original” “The Original of the Original” or “Grandma’s” In fact, it is impossible to know which restaurant was really the first because some restaurants started doing business at around the same time. Moreover, female proprietors who opened restaurants long ago really are grandmothers now. Instead of depending on these claims, it would be wise for customers to select a restaurant based on the unique taste.

Information

1.Address:Janchungdong, Jung-gu, Seoul.
2.Transportation:Dongguk University Station (Line 3), Exit 3.