# Solo dining in Hongdae, Seoul: a 2pm tendon gomtang at Doonjeong

- By Seorin (https://superchart.com/en/@a-meal-remembered-2/)
- Written Sep 1, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul
- Sponsored: This post was written after a sponsored store visit.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@a-meal-remembered-2/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@a-meal-remembered-2/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/index.md)

## In short

Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch is a gomtang (beef bone soup) and gopchang jeongol (beef tripe hot pot) restaurant in Dongyo-dong, Mapo, Seoul. After hearing Doonjeong had taken a Blue Ribbon two years running, the writer booked on Naver and came alone at 2pm for clear hanwoo gomtang with suji (beef tendon) at 16,000 won and a half plate of gogi-muchim (seasoned beef salad) at 11,000 won. The tendon and lean beef portions were generous and the wasabi soy dipping sauce was the highlight, making Doonjeong an easy pick for an unhurried solo lunch.

## Good to know

- **Address**: 183-12 Donggyo-ro, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- **Hours**: Daily 11:00–21:00 (break 15:00–17:00)
- **Last order**: 14:30 / 20:30
- **Parking**: Use a nearby public parking lot instead
- **Clear hanwoo gomtang (beef tendon)**: 16,000 won
- **Seasoned beef salad (half plate)**: 11,000 won
- **Other menu items**: Spicy hanwoo gomtang, yukhoe bibimbap, hanwoo tripe hot pot, shrimp and minari pancake
- **Drinks**: Traditional liquors, distilled spirits, makgeolli

*as written by the visitor on Sep 1, 2026*

I visited Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch, a gomtang (beef bone soup) and gopchang jeongol (tripe hot pot) restaurant known for its deep flavor in Dongyo-dong.

- 📍Address: 서울 마포구 동교로 183-12 1층 (183-12 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea)
- ⏰Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00 (break time 15:00–17:00 / last order 14:30, 20:30)
- 🅿️Parking: Nearby alternative parking recommended

## Why Doonjeong works for a solo lunch in Hongdae

I went to meet a friend in Hongdae, but my poor friend had a work meeting and had to go, leaving me alone.

We'd agreed to meet again for dinner later, but skipping lunch felt too empty, and I had a feeling I'd just end up filling my stomach with caffeine instead... So I went looking for a Hongdae lunch spot and picked Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch.

![Exterior of Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-01-1n0k7-900.webp)

I heard it had won the Blue Ribbon Survey award two years in a row, so I booked on Naver right away and went.

When I arrived and was taking photos outside, the owner came out the door and greeted me warmly, calling out my reservation name! The fact that they knew the reservation name and paid such careful attention gave me the sense they were not only kind but really on top of running the place. My trust went up before I'd even eaten ⬆️

![Entrance area of Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-02-3ro8l-900.webp)

![Dining room at Doonjeong with customers at 2pm](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-03-ylb9s-900.webp)

![Tables and seating at Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-04-gpprm-900.webp)

It was 2pm, past the main lunch rush, but the dining room was still quite full. (By the end, I was the only one left!😃 typical of a big eater)

## What one person ordered at Doonjeong, and the prices

- Clear hanwoo gomtang (tendon) - ₩16,000
- Meat muchim (half plate) - ₩11,000

![Menu board listing gomtang and meat muchim at Doonjeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-05-hkyus-900.webp)

I actually went planning to get the yukhoe bibimbap, but I saw 'suji' (tendon) on the menu and immediately ordered the tendon gomtang haha. I really love tendon, but it's oddly hard to find and often pricey, so I don't get to eat it often — and Doonjeong's tendon gomtang is only 16,000 won. It felt reasonably priced right from the start 👍

![Ceramic bowls stacked like a tower when served](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-06-7rnz0-900.webp)

They brought out a stack of ceramic bowls like a tower, and I wondered what it was — turned out to be kimchi when I opened it up.

![Napa cabbage kimchi and diced radish kimchi in ceramic bowls](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-07-wfb96-900.webp)

The color alone made the napa cabbage kimchi and diced radish kimchi look perfect!

![Table setting of Doonjeong's napa cabbage kimchi and diced radish kimchi](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-08-1px9g-900.webp)

Even the salt and pepper shakers are cute 🤍

![Salt and pepper shakers on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-09-n55wq-900.webp)

The gomtang comes in a heavy, elegant gold-toned bowl (basin?), and it's so hot that staff serve it wearing gloves. The spot they set it down was a bit awkward for me, so I hesitated for a second, and the owner immediately caught it — 'It's hot, let me move it for you, which side would you like it on?' — and reset it. Do these owners secretly learn mind-reading or people skills somewhere?? So thoughtful and kind 🤣

## Clear hanwoo gomtang with beef tendon, 16,000 won: how big is the portion?

![Clear hanwoo gomtang with tendon in a gold-toned bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-10-q379b-900.webp)

![Clear hanwoo gomtang showing tendon and lean meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-11-xnaej-900.webp)

![Broth and meat pieces in the clear hanwoo gomtang](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-12-sp1y4-m-900.webp)

Doonjeong's clear hanwoo gomtang is unseasoned pure broth, so you salt and pepper it to your own taste — but I wanted to pair it with the meat muchim, so I left it unseasoned on purpose and enjoyed it plain. The broth itself was clean but deep-flavored, plenty delicious even without salt.

Above all, the tendon portion was really generous! I assumed a tendon gomtang would only have tendon, but there were also three thick chunks of lean meat, plus plenty of jangjorim-style meat with visible grain — the portion felt really plentiful.

![Soy dipping sauce for meat topped with wasabi](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-13-ccon3-900.webp)

This is the soy dipping sauce for the meat, and they'd cutely piped a dab of wasabi into the corner. Mixing that wasabi in and dipping the meat — it was seriously. so. good! This sauce is genuinely amazing...

![A spoonful of rice topped with meat and kimchi](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-14-pm0vv-m-900.webp)

The tendon was so chewy, the meat so tender, it was delicious piled on rice with kimchi, and just as good paired with the meat muchim... I want to eat it again 🤤

For anyone who likes spicy flavors, there's also a 'spicy hanwoo gomtang' — pick whichever suits your taste!

## How the half plate of seasoned beef, 11,000 won, tastes

![Half plate of Doonjeong's meat muchim](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-15-hzqpr-900.webp)

![Close-up of meat muchim tossed with vegetables](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-16-1mma3-900.webp)

![Plate of spicy-seasoned meat muchim](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-17-10fr8-900.webp)

Next up was the meat muchim! You'd usually assume dishes like this are heavily seasoned, but Doonjeong's version stands out for keeping the freshness of the ingredients themselves clean and light. Still, for my taste, which leans toward bold flavors, it had just the right seasoning — mild but subtly spicy — and I really enjoyed it.

![Solo meal spread with gomtang and meat muchim](https://img.superchart.com/images/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch/dooonjeong-hongdae-sujigomtang-solo-lunch-18-r9kxq-1200.webp)

## Good for a solo lunch, good for evening drinks too

The food overall was clean, tidy, and fresh, and I found myself nodding along thinking 'Blue Ribbon-winning places really are different.' Both the staff and the owner were so kind, and there were foreign customers there when I visited, so it seems word has already spread internationally.

Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch is great for a filling solo lunch of gomtang or bibimbap, and just as good for an evening drink alongside hanwoo gopchang jeongol or shrimp minari pancake. They serve traditional liquor, distilled spirits, and makgeolli too.

I eat alone often and love it, but when something's really delicious, I somehow feel a little guilty eating it solo and end up vowing, 'Next time I have to bring my family and friends.' (Maybe that's why I keep gaining weight...) This place was exactly like that! If you're looking for a Hongik University Station restaurant or bar, don't hesitate — go to Doonjeong!

## Where it is

- Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch (도온정 홍대직영점)
- 183-12 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울특별시 마포구 동교로 183-12 1층)
- 서울특별시 마포구 동교로 183-12 1층
- 37.5574457, 126.9214142
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%8F%84%EC%98%A8%EC%A0%95%20%ED%99%8D%EB%8C%80%EC%A7%81%EC%98%81%EC%A0%90/@37.5574457,126.9214142,17z

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