Jokbal is a specialized version of its distant cousin bossam, but this time, the succulent and tender meat comes from a pig’s most hardworking limbs: its feet.

Jokbal translates into “pigs’ feet,” a food concept that many non-Koreans often can’t comprehend. But to those who may quickly dismiss it as an outlandish food dish, jokbal falls into the same tradition of the French pied de cochon, Italian cotechino, and British pork trotters.

The broth in which jokbal is cooked gives it its seasoning and flavor. Typically, the pork will be spiced with sugar (often black taffy), soybean sauce, and ginger, but every restaurant (and halmoni) undoubtedly has its own special blend and recipe. After simmering for hours, the meat will be fully cooked. The bones are removed, and the meat is cut into thick slices. Jokbal is then served with your typical bossam condiments: lettuce wraps, kimchi, garlic, jalapeños, and ssamjang.

Because the pigs’ feet are filled with gelatins, jokbal is great for the skin and helps prevent wrinkles. Also, jokbal is known to detoxicate alcohol, meaning it’s perfect for those awful hangovers in the morning.

In Seoul, the neighborhood of Jangchung-dong is famous for its large number of jokbal restaurants. One such establishment, Jangchung-Dong Wong Jokbal, opened a branch in L.A.’s Koreatown about five years ago and was voted the “Best D.I.Y. Pig’s Foot Feast” of 2011 by LA Weekly. Here, you can get your jokbal fix of tender gelatinous meats wrapped in crunchy lettuce without any judgmental onlookers thinking, “Pigs’ feet?!”

Jangchung-Dong Wong Jokbal
425 S Western Ave Ste E
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 386-3535

Two weeks ago, we posted the Los Angeles edition of the top 5 late-night Korean eats, and as promised, here’s the East coast edition.

New York City is consistently praised as having the best dining-out options—at all hours of the night, and Korean cuisine is no exception to that. You can’t always get a home-cooked meal when the craving hits, but we think the restaurants below definitely hit the spot.

Almost every restaurant on our list of the Top 5 Late-Night Eats is open 24/7, which is great news since it’s New Year’s Eve. Check out the dishes below—you’re bound to find something to satisfy your taste buds after a long night of drinking!

1) NY Kom Tang Soot Bul Kalbi – Charcoal Grilled Kalbi

This kalbi house, located in the heart of Koreatown, opened in 1979 and claims to be the oldest Korean restaurant in New York City. NY Kom Tang Soot Bul Kalbi is famous for using charcoal grills instead of gas grills, which infuses the beef with a natural smoky flavor that is rare to taste at other Korean BBQ establishments.

The menu offers several options for BBQ meat, such as Chumooluck (prime rib steak marinated in soy sauce) and Samgyeopsal Gul (grilled pork slices). But customers come here mostly for their Kalbi marinated in soy sauce, which comes with a complimentary gyeran tang (steamed egg soup). The late-night meal of champions.

NY Kom Tang Soot Bul Kalbi
32 W 32nd St
New York, NY 10001
(212) 947-8482

2) Gahm Mi Oak – Seolleongtang 

Zagat-rated Gahm Mi Oak’s claim to fame is their delicious seolleongtang, or ox bone broth, served up 24 hours a day in the perfect milky-white color. Restaurant-goers that are familiar with the healing powers of Korean soup are sure to flock here for a quick hangover cure late at night, or early in the morning.

The soup dish is usually served unseasoned with slices of beef brisket, rice, and rice noodles; customers are presented with their own choice of adding in scallions, salt, and for a spicy kick—kimchi sauce.

Gahm Mi Oak
43 W 32nd St
New York, NY 10001
(212) 695-4113

3) Seoul Soon Dae – Soondae & Jokbal 

Those familiar with New York know that Manhattan’s K-town isn’t the only place to get a taste of high-quality Korean food—Flushing, Queens is littered with prime choices for Korean cuisine. Among them is Seoul Soon Dae which is located on Northern Blvd.

The house specialty that attracts diners is Soondae—boiled or steamed blood sausage stuffed with different ingredients like cellophane noodles, scallions, and rice. Soondae is typically considered street food, but makes for a very fulfilling meal. Also try their jokbal, pigs’ feet—it’s good for your skin and helps fight nasty hangovers!

Seoul Soon Dae
151-18 Northern Blvd.
Flushing, NY 11358
www.soondae.com

4) BCD Tofu House – Soondubu Jjigae

It is definitely worthwhile to list BCD Tofu House under our NYC edition as well considering it’s one of the busiest spots in K-town. Although the wait time on a Friday or Saturday night is normally an hour or longer, it’s a rare sight to see customers leave for another restaurant.

Food-lovers come to BCD for the boiling tofu stew, seasoned to your preferred level of spiciness, and for the varying selections of soondubu jjigae to choose from. BCD has undoubtedly mastered this dish; not to mention the other menu items are worth a taste, too, like the spicy raw crab or the spicy pork bulgogi. If you’re in NYC, BCD Tofu House is a must!

UPDATE: As of Dec. 31st, BCD Tofu House has closed permanently.

BCD Tofu House
17 W 32nd St
New York, NY 10001
www.bcdtofu.com

5) Dduk Tak – Comfort foods + 2-Cha (2nd round of drinks!) 

Dduk Tak—formerly Baden Baden—is one of the latest second-floor establishments to K-Town’s restaurant-lined 32nd street. Most of the dishes are said to be dangerously spicy, but they are well-paired with soju or makgeolli.

The restaurant-bar offers special deals for birthday celebrations, and on rainy days, customers are comforted with free pajeon (scallion pancake). Along with traditional Korean comfort foods like cheese ddeokbokki (spicy rice cakes with cheese), odang tang (fish cake soup), nakji bokkeum (spicy stir-fried octopus with veggies), and kimchi fried rice, the menu includes more exotic foods such as chicken feet, sea snails, and pigs’ feet—sure to sober you up!

Dduk Tak is comparable to Pocha 32, but with a cozier feel to it attributed to the wood decor and dimly lit setting. Although the restaurant isn’t open 24 hours, it is open until the wee hours of the morning after a long night of karaoke. Plus, it’s a great spot to go for a second round of drinking, a.k.a. 2-cha (pronounced ee-cha). They have colorful makgeolli cocktails!

Dduk Tak
28 W 32nd St., 2nd Fl.
New York, NY 10001
(212) 714-2266