Piggy Bank Stone Grill Korean BBQ @ Hongdae, Seoul Korea

Hongdae Piggy Bank Stone Grill Korean BBQ Restaurant ( 홍대 돼지저금통 ) – one of our favourite Korean barbecue restaurants in Seoul Korea. We saw countless BBQ shops as we walked along Hongik University area, most of them filled with group diners, happily chatting away while tossing soju, tucking in delicious grilled meat in between.

Our target for dinner after a long day in Nami Island and Petite France was Hongdae Piggy Bank Stone Grill, a decades old restaurant famous for meat grilled on a layer of black colour stones, over charcoal fire. The restaurant is about 10 minutes walk from Hongdae subway station. From exit 8, walked straight passing a cross junction, continue to walk until you reach a roundabout. Turn left and walk straight until you reach another roundabout. From there, cross the road, walk down further and you should see a restaurant lined up with rows of piggy bank in striking red colour. That is Piggy Bank Stone Grill, somehow this decoration makes the shop lives up to its name ya?

It was 8.30PM, peak dinner hour for Koreans. Our stomach were growling, but Piggy Bank was full house, with few more customers waiting in front of us. 20 minutes later, we were lead into a small table at the inner corner of the restaurant. Piggy Bank is a small, but brightly-lit, lively BBQ Restaurant. Every staff was so busy but it didn’t take them long to bring us a menu, trying their best to intro us what the restaurant’s serve body gesture, pointing here and there on the food list. LOL. So nice of them.

Sogum-kul 12,000won/per portion

We had an order of Piggy Bank signature Salt Grilled Pork Meat, minimum order of 2 portions with 12,000won each. Other grilled items include beef ribs, grill pork belly, grill beef brisket, grill pork innards, and grill pork ribs. Best with soju, makguili or beer.

As usual, table was then served with lots of BBQ condiments like fresh lettuce, spicy scallions, sliced garlic, Korean spicy soy bean sauce to pair with your meat, together with few banchan to complete. We were also given a bowl of pipping hot doenjang soup.

Everything was in place in a jiffy. Banchan, condiments, then charcoal, pan, black colour rock stones, and it was ready to heat up, then put over thickly cut pork meat! Staff helped us on the grilling initially, but again, trying their best to teach us how we should continue later, and when we could start eating. At the same time one of the ahjuma showed “eating” gesture, followed by “thumbs up” indicating “good”. Haha. So cute.

Halfway eating, ahjuma helped us to move the meat to the side of the grilling pan, telling us that the heat is highest at the center and will easily burn the meat, making it tougher in texture too. Should put at side to keep the warmth but not overcooked.

Naeng Myeon 6000won

We also tried out Naeng Myeon ( Cold Buckwheat Noodles). It tasted like sour plum drink, further helmed with a mix of sweetness, sourness and savoury touch. Refreshing, interesting flavour for soup base but somehow we liked it. Paired well with long, thin, smooth noodles.

Overall a satisfying dinner. Dropped by at Coco Bruni Dessert Cafe on our way back to check out their chocolate ice cream but sadly, it was sold out. Had a chocolate cake with coffee instead. Decent, densely packed with chocolaty, but not much surprise.

Coco Bruni also offers premium chocolate, which can be ordered “ala-carte” from dessert counter, and packed into beautiful gift box. Price is expensive though.

Address:
Piggy Bank Stone Grill Korean BBQ Restaurant ( 홍대 돼지저금통 )
331-1 Seokyo-Dong,
Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
Contact: +82 2-323-6292
Business Hours: 3PM – 2AM daily

How to go:
From Hongik University / Hongdae Station exit 8, walked straight passing a cross junction, continue to walk until you reach a roundabout. Turn left and walk straight until you reach another roundabout. From there, cross the road, walk down further and you should see a restaurant lined up with rows of piggy bank in striking red colour.

Summary of Our 6D5N Trip