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Best Outdoor Seating Samgyeopsal in Sindang, Seoul: A Delicious 야장 Experience at Taetae Samgyeopsal 2nd Branch

Hello everyone, 서진홍 here! The weather has gotten noticeably warmer recently. Even in Seoul, the temperature reaches 28 degrees Celsius during the day, feeling almost like summer. On days like these, outdoor dining restaurants, known as “야장” (Yajang) in Korean, are especially appealing. As the evening cools down, they become the perfect spot to enjoy a drink. Recently, I visited Taetae Samgyeopsal (태태삼겹) 2nd branch in Sindang, famous for its 야장 and delicious samgyeopsal. Let’s dive into the review!

Taetae Samgyeopsal has two locations in Sindang: the main branch and the 2nd branch. The 2nd branch is where you can enjoy the outdoor seating (야장). The main branch is also well-known; it was featured on the entertainment show “식스센스” (Sixth Sense) as a samgyeopsal restaurant that also sells Jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles), gaining significant popularity. Today, my focus was on the 야장 experience, so I headed to the 2nd branch.

Outdoor Dining Vibes and Waiting Experience

As expected with such perfect weather for 야장, there was a wait at the restaurant. I put my name down on the waiting list around 5 PM on a Thursday and got in around 6:30 PM. You need to go inside and request to be added to the waitlist directly with the staff. I waited at a nearby cafe. By the time I got in, the temperature had cooled down nicely, creating the perfect ambiance with ideal lighting, temperature, and humidity for enjoying drinks outdoors.

Menu Highlights: 칼삼겹살, 목살, and Jjajangmyeon

Taetae Samgyeopsal’s main menu is simple, featuring only two meat options: Kal Samgyeopsal (칼삼겹살 – Sliced Pork Belly) and Mokssal (목살 – Pork Shoulder). I actually liked this focused menu. For side dishes, they offer stews like Doenjang Jjigae (된장찌개 – Soybean Paste Stew) and the highly anticipated Jjajangmyeon. We ordered two servings of Kal Samgyeopsal, one serving of Mokssal, and some drinks.

Delicious Side Dishes and Self-Service Bar

The basic side dishes included lettuce, onions, Pajori (파절이 – seasoned green onion salad), and kimchi. For additional side dishes, there’s a self-service bar right next to the tables, which is very convenient. I was with two friends today. As soon as we sat down, we started with a refreshing glass of beer! Cheers!

Flavorful Kal Samgyeopsal and Grill Experience

The meat arrived, and the colors were vibrant! It was served with Minari (미나리 – water dropwort), kimchi, bean sprouts, and Myeolchi Jeot (멜젓 – anchovy sauce) on the grill. The meat is pre-cooked to some extent, but you still need to grill it thoroughly. Thankfully, the meat is already cut into pieces and arranged nicely, so you just need to monitor the grilling and flip them in place. It wasn’t too difficult. The grill’s heat was strong, and especially because the Samgyeopsal had 칼집 (knife cuts), it cooked quickly.

Although I initially chose this place for the atmosphere, the meat was genuinely delicious! The Kal Samgyeopsal was particularly tasty, so we even ordered an extra serving to eat with Jjajangmyeon later.

Atmosphere and Outdoor Ambiance

It wasn’t quite nighttime yet, but the string lights above us illuminated the space beautifully. As we chatted, the sun completely set, and the lights fully brightened the 야장 area. Personally, I wished to sit on the outer edge where you can get a better view of the Namsan view road and truly feel the 야장 vibe, but seating arrangements are not always up to me! We took some photos up there to enjoy the breeze.

Jjajangmyeon: An Unexpected Delight

Finally, the Jjajangmyeon we were anticipating arrived! Eating Jjajangmyeon at a Samgyeopsal restaurant is quite a unique experience. Some reviews even said the Jjajangmyeon was more delicious than the Samgyeopsal! It was sprinkled generously with chili powder. One slight disappointment was that it didn’t come with a fried egg. I thought I saw it on the side menu; maybe that was my mistake. Since we had to go to our next destination (2nd round!), we regretfully ordered only one to share. The Jjajangmyeon was good, living up to my expectations. I heard that Yoo Jae-seok (유재석, a famous Korean entertainer) also enjoyed it a lot on TV, and it was no exaggeration.

Final Thoughts and Recommendation

We wrapped up our first round here and headed to Okgyeongi (옥경이), a trendy bar right next door, for our second round. I recommend visiting Taetae Samgyeopsal to enjoy the 야장 atmosphere before the weather gets even hotter. The advantages of Taetae Samgyeopsal are that, for an outdoor dining spot, it’s relatively separated and not too noisy. The hygiene was good, and most importantly, the taste was excellent.

This video is a short-form video edited by fellow YouTuber Jeong Ho-gong (정호공). See you next time with more delicious food reviews! Please like and subscribe! [Music] Thank you! [Music]

Restaurant Information:
Name: Taetae Samgyeopsal 2nd Branch (태태삼겹 2호점)
Location: Sindang, Seoul (신당)
Rating: ★★★★☆ (Based on reviewer’s positive experience)
Main Dishes: Kal Samgyeopsal, Mokssal, Jjajangmyeon
Atmosphere: Outdoor Dining (야장), Casual, Lively