Jong Kak

I normally go here since it’s open late, and there aren’t that many Korean places near by.
The kalbi tang here is alright, but the broth lacks the beefy flavor. However the mandu gook is pretty good. I ordered fried mackerel with it for extra $ 5, which I also recommend. Keep in mind it may be a bit salty.
I normally get the hot stone bibimbap here and you can’t really go wrong with that. Don’t get the seafood pancake here! It’s mostly batter.
Side dishes here are good and I really enjoy that this place actually has decent service

Jong Kak has become one of my favorite Korean BBQ spot in the DMV area. I would definitely go here more often if it wasn’t so far from where I live. If you’re ever in Baltimore and want some good quality Korean food then this is the spot. I really like it that that instead of using a gas grill they cook their meat with coals. I believe that gives the meat so much more flavor. I know they have this all over NYC but never seen anywhere in the DMV that offers this. Prices are pretty high but the quality of the meat is worth it. If you just want pork belly then maybe this isn’t the best bang for the buck but for higher quality stuff I would recommend this spot. Seems like they offer a lot of other Korean dishes here but can’t really comment on it since I only had the kalbi and pork belly. The sides were on point as well.

First time here. I normally go to Nam Kang but I have wanted to try this place for a while now. Service was good.
I order the homemade fried dumplings. Delicious. Ordered the bi bam bap which was very good.
Overall I would come back here again.

It was around 2:30am when my girls and I started feeling hungry, despite the fact I was so tired from the drive and being feeling sleepy… I decided to give it a try.
There’s a saying «don’t judge the book by its cover» it’s true!!! When I first pulled up… I was scared to walk in because it was in Baltimore and it was somewhat by the bad area… but I’m glad my friends and I went inside… The waitress was such a sweetheart and the food were sooooo darn good. My friend favorite was steamed eggs… she’s obsessed with that thing. We got our meats and seafood soup… and we practically demolished our food
Drove home with a happy stomach

Fairly decent Korean food, fast service, clean atmosphere. The bibimbap was standard and the kimchi jjigae was fine. Nothing out of this world, but at least the price was okay. The seafood pancakes were pretty light and very good. The best part though — they give you the delicious yogurt drinks as a dessert! Overall, would probably go back to satisfy my Korean food cravings, but it didn’t rock my world. I would come back to try the Korean BBQ — kind of cool that they split the restaurant in two.

This is one of those places where you have to be a local to know about it. I came here with my family, this was my first time dining at a Korean BBQ. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed everything I had. We opted for the family size barbecue meal, this included 3 different meats. Beef, pork and chicken all seasoned well I might add. We also had a bowl of rice, soup and what seemed like endless picked veggies to add to our meat. Everything was sooooo good, I mean so good that as I type I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.
Your meal is prepared table side and as the meat is finished you just grab and serve yourself. The meats were very tender with a hint of spice. The tap water was free flowing, I can be a bit of a spice wimp so I needed that ice cold agua to help me get through the meal. It’s a bit of a tragedy; I love spicy food but my palette wont cooperate.
There is an entire menu of food aside from the BBQ meals, next time I go I am looking forward to trying my first hot pot. The noodle bowls look so delicious.

Though not located in the best part of the city, it is worth the trek out here, especially if you are having a Korean food craving. Lots of meat and yummies and Asian foods galore, which is definitely not typical of the inner city. I’ve been here several times, and I order the spicy tofu + seafood every time — comes with a bowl of rice and many side dishes. Perfect for satisfying a late night craving.

In a sketchy area near JHU. Amazing Korean BBQ. They have a small private parking lot. The best doenjang jigae I have ever eaten. I always try to eat here when I am in the Baltimore/​DC area.

Where to eat at 2 am. Seems like this is the ticket. On a dead Monday with a few options I braved my way here hoping not to find a hole in the wall or a carry out that’s listed as a restruant to drum up business. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived. There are about 8 dine in BBQ stations as well as a chair dine in area. The people who greated me were pleasant even though I was the only one popping in the door at 2 am. Very up on customer service was the staff here. They made me feel welcome at a time when I’m just as sure they would have liked to be going home. I haven’t had my meal yet but I’ve been offered a desert drink and the smells from the kitchen are bringing me a good note. I’ll give an update after I’ve eaten.

So the conversation always starts with, «How about korean barbecue tonight?» And my boyfriend shrugs and says, «I don’t know… maybe we should try…» But then fifteen minutes later, we find ourselves in the parking lot of Jong Kak, so excited for korean bbq. We really just can’t resist MEAT ON MEAT ON MEAT ON KOREAN BAN CHAN SIDES ON RICE.
I’ve tried both jong kak and nak won (they are right next to each other and jong kak is the one further away from charles street). Personally, I think jong kak wins because their meat marinade is much more sweet and delicious and juicy and also, the service is friendlier.
WHAT WE EAT:
(We always get combo 1– kalbi, bulgogi, spicy chicken, spicy pork) —
KALBI: really tender, a little fatty, the meat is cut right off the bone and the meat is definitely thicker and has some fat throughout. When cooked, the fat renders through. This one is definitely my favorite and the most flavorful.
BULGOGI: marinated, thin and stringier. Still delicious, but isn’t as fatty as the kalbi so not as much flavor. I would get this if you like leaner meat.
SPICY PORK: My least favorite. The pork is pretty lean, and cooks fairly quickly. This reminds me of a thin pork chop.
SPICY CHICKEN: Really tender, the spicy chicken tastes great with the charcoal flavor.
EGG CUSTARD CASSEROLE: This always comes with the combo and it’s so delicious, but very very hot. It pretty much tastes like the inside of a frittata or quiche.
SPICY TOFU SOUP: This also always comes with the combo. Again, incredibly spicy and hot. It’s a nice balance with the rice, and is perfect on winter nights.
BAN CHAN SIDES: These change from time to time. What we have had: cabbage kim chee, pickled cucumbers, bean sprouts, fish cake, potato salad, turnips, anchovies… Whenever we eat all of one side, we usually ask for more.
PRICE:
For the combo, and a beer, we ended up paying around $ 70, with tip. Not the cheapest dinner, but we always have leftovers that we eat for the lunch the next day– so it seems worth it.
SERVICE and ATMOSPHERE:
You really aren’t paying for ambiance, and the bright lighting is not flattering at all. However, the food itself is worth it and the service can be friendly. Usually, they are happy to bring you whatever you need, but sometimes they are too busy and forget. It’s not a big deal asking for something twice, but I guess if I had to ask for something three times, I might get upset. Another note, the fan that they turn on above you to suck up all the smoke can be REALLY LOUD. At one point, it felt like I was on a tarmac, and there was a plane getting ready to take off right next to me. I guess the alternative is to be choking on smoke… Either way, just be prepared for that.
OVERALL:
The food is delicious, the sides are delicious, and they sometimes give desserts like yogurt drinks or watermelon– obviously delicious. This is not the best place for a first date because of the loud fan and the awkwardness of making conversation while having someone flip and cook your meat or blow drying your grill to keep the flame going. But, this is a great place for a lazy night out to gorge on MEAT.

Came here after hearing about the new head chef. Wow the taste is amazing. Everything has very strong and very powerful flavors. You will not be bored of this food. The kalbi was savory and well marinated. The new spicy pork BBQ was awesome. It tasted like it was straight from Korea. Will eat here again for sure.

I brought my family here for the BBQ since they all drove in from Detroit for graduation weekend. The reason I brought them here was because they use coal to cook their meat, which sets them apart from other korean BBQ restaurants. After we placed our order, they brought out a gas stove. When I asked if we could have it cooked with the coal, the lady was extremely rude and spoke to me and my family in a condescending manner saying that we couldn’t have the coal because we didn’t make a reservation. We were about to pick up and leave, but everyone was hungry so we just settled for the gas stove; however, it left the meat tough and flavorless. If I knew they were going to do this I would’ve just gone to the restaurant next door.
Whenever we asked for something including rice (which they should’ve brought out automatically), the lady glared at us like she was doing us a favor. I did not appreciate her attitude. They never refilled our water or give us the extra napkins that we asked for, so we had to get both ourselves. I have been here multiple times in the past without a problem. However, after this experience I will not be coming back. It was a thorough disappointment.

This is my first 1 star review of my entire life on a website, Let’s see what happened: The the Kim chi of the side dishes tastes weird. I ordered cold noodle, and they forgot my order. Then, the noodle soup tastes like there’s detergent in it.
I was wondering the only reason for this resturant exists here might because they have free parking lot. So one star for the parking lot.
We should have gone to nak won.

Tried this place while visiting my parents in Baltimore. There Youk Gae Jang was quite good, but there Tofu stews are not similar to those of Korean Tofu Houses — rather a clear broth with Tofu pieces.
It’s OK in terms of food quality, but I agree with previous reviews that there are better places in the area, and the location is in a sketchy part of town that borders on feeling unsafe.
They do have their own parking lot adjacent to the restaurant, but as mentioned the restaurant is located across from an older apt complex with people always hanging around outside smoking and there were police activity.
Overall, better dining experiences elsewhere with better ambiance and in seemingly safer areas.

This is my favorite Korean BBQ place in the DMV. Now let me preface by saying that I’m NOT Korean (despite being constantly mistaken for) and have somewhat limited experience with KBBQ north of Annandale, VA. That being said, Jong Kak is my hands-​down favorite so far for a few reasons:
*COOK METHOD: over charcoal. Screw Honeypig, this is the real deal. Flavors are on another level because of the coals. Makes all the difference
*CHEAPER than most, but no deficit in quality
*FRESH and high quality offerings. Many different items compared to most KBBQs, especially in the…
*BANCHAN: some of the tastiest in the biz. I loved almost everything that was brought
Other pros: Easy parking, doesn’t get crazy busy.
Cons: bad neighborhood, meat may be less seasoned than some are accustomed to but trust me that is a good thing.
Regardless, this is the KBBQ to go to.

I ordered the Nak Ji Gop Dol Bi Bim Bop. It taste nor bad. But maybe next time, more people come would be better.

Man, David Simon wasn’t lying when his show, «The Wire,» hit the air, Bodymore, Murderland or Bal’more or Baltimore, whatever you want to call it is a unique city with many fine eats. Some on the yuppie side of town and some off of I-​83. And did we find a gem in Jong Kak. A place that looks like a 1970’s living room with wooden panels and tacky floor design is usually a bet for a decent meal, but this meal was awesome. The kicker was the restaurant using coals instead of your traditional gas stoves to serve you the Korean how. How awesome was that? Oh and to keep the coals going, hair dryers with extension cords all across the place. This place is a gem and I would go back in a heartbeat if I wasn’t closer to Annandale’s Little Korea than Bal’more’s.

This place rocks, hands down — it’s just kinda in a bad location.
Jong Kak is sketch with a capitol S. The location is basically sketch central, and it’s not a place I want to be hanging around outside at night (or at any other time). Parking near prawling druggies is not a fun experience. The building itself is okay, and the interior is cheap but serviceable. This is definitely not shooting for fine dining. Cleanliness is a bit of a question, but I didn’t feel super disgusted.
Jong Kak does Korean BBQ using charcoal, meaning that the entire process is a lot crazier than what you see at other joints. Each table has what amounts to a huge stone pit for a flaming can of charcoal, and the meat is cooked directly above it by someone on staff who uses a literal hairdryer to keep it hot. Very dangerous, but very efficient and amusing.
The food itself rocks. The meat was perfectly tender and amazing in every way, and I definitely see why charcoal was used over gas. The side dishes were equally awesome — the steamed egg was tasty, the kimchi was absolutely mind-​blowing, and the various other dishes all hit the spot in their respective way.
I’d highly recommend this place more if it wasn’t for the location and cleanliness, both of which could easily turn off most diners. Even the best food isn’t worth going through a crappy part of Baltimore sometimes.

Don’t let the hair dryers and location off North Ave deter you, this place is legit. Went here off of a recommendation from a flag football team mate with two girlfriends. We were a little scared to go in but they welcomed us. We ordered the first combo ½ (for 2 – 3 people) with the Korean BBQ (pork, ribs, beef and chicken). This was my first time eating Korean BBQ so I was intimidated when our waitress Lucy brought out what seemed like 10 small plates. Everything from rice, lettuce, assorted veggies (broccoli, kimchi, sprouts, green peppers, garlic more that I can’t think of) and two sauces.
Everything was FRESH! Lucy then brought out the meat and began cooking it on the grill in front of us. The hair dryer was used to keep the charcoal going. Aha! Now I understood why they were on every table. We tried all of the different meats. Delicious and so much food (left overs on deck). Honestly we could have had two more people for all of the food. We added the fried dumplings and those were just okay but that didn’t matter because everything else was great.
I would like to thank Lucy for being extremely patient and accommodating. She answered all of our questions and we never had to ask for anything. She refilled empty veggies and brought more. Such a sweetheart!
Sorry to write a book but I really enjoyed the experience and price wise it’s a good bang for your buck! KOREAN BBQ ON FLEEK or whatever those kids say now a days.

If you are in the mood for Korean, don’t need to drive all the way out to Ellicott City to stand in line at Honey Pig. I head over to Joung Kak and it’s smart to make reservations on a busy weekend night especially if you want the BBQ on your table. Otherwise just walk in on a week night and you’ll find plenty of seats. It’s great for large parties too.
Now you’re not going to find the fancy marble stuff in Shin Chon (also Ellicott City) but you will find a hole in the wall type atmosphere (but bigger) with a relaxing crowd, lots of Korean families and blow dryers to get your coals hot in the BBQ.
The portions are large and with all the pan chan (I always ask for extra cucumber kimchee and wakame (seaweed salad) if you’re not all completely starving, the four of us ordered two meat dishes plus a bowl of bibimbap. That was plenty enough for our stomachs to digest for dinner. I love the pork belly and spicy chicken but it’s allll good.
I like the little Korean yogurt shots at the end of dinner. I think it has enzymes to help break down all the yummy meat.