Hongdae Korean BBQ finished with a ₩2,000 radish rice bowl: Chopilsal

I stopped by Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch, about 5 minutes from Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station.

This place used to be Busan-only, so when I heard they'd opened a Hongdae branch I got excited and went straight there — ended up having salted pork belly and finishing with a spicy radish rice bowl.

Checkpoints at a glance

• 3-5 min walk from Exit 1, Hongik Univ. Station
• The original pork specialty restaurant that first made honeycomb pork skin (beoljip kkeopdegi) trendy, starting in Busan
• Signature dishes: pork skin, salted pork belly, real dwitgogi, choryang pork ribs
• Ordered today: salted pork belly x3 servings (120g x 3), spicy radish rice bowl
• 10% discount coupon available by subscribing to alerts
• First order must be at least 3 servings
• Open normally even on Chuseok

Who is Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch good for?

I was walking near Hongik Univ. Station when I spotted that familiar red signboard and got excited — that's how I ended up at Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch. This place was originally known as Busan-only, to the point that some people made the trip out to Gwangalli and left without eating because the wait was too long.

The biggest upside now is that you can eat it right in Hongdae. It works fine for drinks with friends or a work dinner, and since waitlists are managed through Catch Table, it's low-pressure enough for a date too.

Location and basic info near Hongik Univ. Station

• 📍Name: Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch
• 🏠Address: 172 Donggyo-ro, 1st & 2nd floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 🚇Location: 273m from Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station (Airport Railroad, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, Line 2), about 3-5 min walk
• ⏰Hours: Mon-Thu 12:00-24:00 (last order 23:00), Fri-Sun 12:00-2:00 next day (last order 1:00)
• 📅Closed: No regular closing day ※Open normally even on Chuseok

Come in past the L7 building, loop once more around the Mega Coffee, and the restaurant appears right there.

The exterior on Donggyo-ro

The exterior has a theater-style sign packed with yellow lights, with the name Chopilsal Pork Grill written big — you can spot it from far away. Below the sign it advertises the original pork skin and the best salted pork belly.

First floor or second floor: which is better?

The restaurant is split across two floors.

Inside the first floor

The 1st floor had stainless round tables and chairs, with storage space inside the chairs, which was handy for stashing bags. The place is spacious so it didn't feel cramped at all. It had that lively BBQ-restaurant energy that's comfortable to eat in.

Inside the second floor

The 2nd floor was also centered around round tables, and I liked that the window seats let you see outside. Instead of staring at the walls while eating meat, you get to look out the window, which gave the 2nd floor its own distinct vibe.

Overall, the 1st floor feels like a lively BBQ joint, while the 2nd floor, with its window views, is a bit more relaxed for eating.

Why Chopilsal Pork Grill got famous in Busan

Chopilsal Pork Grill became famous because it's the original restaurant that developed honeycomb pork skin (beoljip kkeopdegi) for the first time in Korea in 2015 and made it a trend. Inside the restaurant there's a framed sign that reads something like 'the best can always change, but the original is always the only one,' along with a confident line saying they've never seen anywhere beat their honeycomb pork skin.

In Gwangalli, Busan, people are known to line up and wait fiercely for this honeycomb pork skin and pork belly. Haha.

The biggest point here is that you can now enjoy the same original-style honeycomb pork skin and pork belly right in Hongdae, Seoul.

Menu and prices at Chopilsal Pork Grill

• Pork skin 150g ₩9,500
• Salted pork belly 120g ₩12,000 (first order minimum is 2 servings)
• Real dwitgogi 120g ₩10,500
• Choryang pork ribs 180g ₩12,000
• Potato noodle add-on ₩2,000
• Shrimp fried rice ₩2,000
• Country pork kimchi jjigae ₩9,000
• Zucchini doenjang jjigae ₩7,000
• Chopilsal mixed cold noodles ₩8,000
• Double cheese steamed egg ₩4,500
• Spicy radish rice bowl ₩2,000
• Plain rice ₩1,000

Tasting 3 servings of salted ogyeopsal and the radish rice bowl

The banchan (side dishes)

Once seated, white kimchi, pickled sesame leaves, garlic, and cheongyang chili are set out first.

The pickle plate comes with pickled gungchae (a leafy green) and wild garlic leaves, plus spicy-seasoned radish and scallion shreds. The sauces also came out generously on individual plates.

Salted ogyeopsal, ₩12,900

I ordered 3 servings of salted pork belly this time and it came pre-cut into bite-sized pieces.

The chewy texture of pork belly with the skin still attached was so good.

The savory juices from the thick fat layer were impressive.

Eating it with a variety of vegetables cut the greasiness and brought out even more savoriness, so I kept eating piece after piece. Haha.

Spicy radish rice bowl, ₩2,000

After grilling and finishing all 3 servings, I ordered the spicy radish rice bowl, and I was surprised how generous the portion was for just ₩2,000.

The tangy, spicy flavor of the seasoned radish was really satisfying after all that meat,

and mixing in the leftover lettuce wraps and side dishes bit by bit worked really well. I finished every last bit — with the rice too, I was stuffed.

Naver reservations and discount perks

If you set up alerts on Naver Place, you can download a 10% discount coupon usable at lunch.

If you write a photo review and save the store, you can get a free tasting portion of 80g pork skin on the spot. There was also another event running — a giveaway of Hongdol-i, the Hongdae branch's mascot keychain doll.

Tips for grilling salted ogyeopsal

First bite, load on pollack roe! Try a well-grilled, golden piece of pork belly topped generously with pollack roe. It goes together better than you'd expect.

Keep it classic with a dip in salt! This time I tried dipping it lightly in salt. It's the combo that lets you taste the chewy texture and savoriness of the pork belly most cleanly.

Want more umami? Go for fermented anchovy sauce! The salty umami of the anchovy sauce made the flavor feel noticeably richer.

And you can't skip the grilled garlic and cheongyang chili! Grilling garlic and chili on the pan alongside the meat and eating them with the pork belly makes everything taste really clean.

What to check before visiting

The first order must be at least 3 servings, so even if you're a party of two, you need to order a minimum of 3 servings on your first round. There's no on-site parking lot, but the nearby Toros parking tower is the closest and most convenient option.

Regular reservations run from 2 to 5 people, and group reservations from 6 to 40 people, with anything larger handled by phone inquiry. Walk-in registration via the Catch Table app or the kiosk at the entrance lets you skip the wait and enter right away, but depending on the time you visit, some waiting may still occur, so keep that in mind.

Frequently asked questions

Did Chopilsal Pork Grill start out in Busan?

Yes, it's the original Busan-based restaurant that first developed and popularized honeycomb pork skin nationwide in 2015. The Busan flagship is famous for its fierce waitlists, and with the Hongdae branch now open, you can enjoy it in Seoul without the hassle.

Is the wait at the Hongdae branch long?

There's a system where you register on-site through the Catch Table app or the kiosk at the entrance and get seated without waiting in line. That said, since this restaurant gets a lot of reviews, some waiting can happen during evening hours, so it's a good idea to check the app before you go.

How many servings does the first order require?

The first order must be at least 3 servings. Even if you're visiting as a pair, you need to order a minimum of 3 servings on your first round, so keep that in mind.

Can Chopilsal Pork Grill host group dinners?

Yes, group reservations are available from 6 to 40 people, and anything over 40 can be arranged by phone. Since the restaurant runs spaciously across two floors, it works fine for work dinners or group gatherings.

Are there discounts or events?

Setting up alerts on Naver Place lets you download a 10% discount coupon, and writing a photo review plus saving the store gets you a free 80g tasting portion of pork skin. There's also an ongoing event where a 5-star photo review earns you the restaurant's mascot doll.

Is there parking?

There's no on-site parking lot; the nearby Toros parking tower is the closest option.

Would the writer go back?

Yes, the meat quality was good and finishing with the spicy radish rice bowl was satisfying overall, so next time I'd like to try the pork skin and the real dwitgogi as well.

Final thoughts on Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch

Being able to enjoy a place that used to be Busan-only right in Hongdae was the best part of this visit. Just one piece of the salted pork belly was enough to tell why the original restaurant has the name it does.

If you want to enjoy a Busan favorite near Hongik Univ. Station without worrying about waiting, I'd recommend Chopilsal Pork Grill Hongdae Branch.