24-hour hangover gukbap and cold makguksu in Hongdae: Yukjeon Gukbap

I visited Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Hongik University Station.

This place sells yukjeon gukbap, beef gukbap, gomtang (bone broth soup), and yukjeon mul-makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles), and what stands out is that the gukbap comes with both beef and yukjeon (pan-fried beef in egg batter) together.

This time I ordered the yukjeon gukbap and the yukjeon mul-makguksu. The spicy, filling gukbap paired well with the cool, refreshing makguksu — a great combo for curing a hangover.

Quick checkpoints at a glance

• About a 5-minute walk from Hongik University Station Exit 1
• Signature menu: yukjeon gukbap, beef gukbap, miso gomtang, hambak gomtang
• Ordered: yukjeon gukbap ₩11,000, yukjeon mul-makguksu, 1 bottle of soju
• Open 24 hours, 365 days a year
• Parking available right in front of the restaurant
• Side dishes served self-serve

Why a hangover meal here, and who it suits

After drinking the night before, I needed a hangover cure and went looking for a gukbap restaurant near Hongik University Station, which led me to Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch. Since it's open 24 hours, I appreciated that I could eat even late at night.

After trying it, the spicy, rich broth with beef and yukjeon together made for a pretty filling meal. It's a good spot if you're looking for a hangover cure or a hearty late-night meal near Hongik University Station, and it's fine for solo dining too.

Where Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch is and the basics

• Name: Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch
• Address: 9-1 World Cup buk-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor, South Korea
• Location: about 284m / 5-minute walk from Hongik University Station Exit 1
• Hours: Open 24 hours
• Closed: Chuseok holiday (September 25)

From Exit 1 of Hongik University Station, head toward the Hongik University Station intersection, then turn right past the Line Friends store. After about 50m, the restaurant is on the corner of the intersection, so it's easy to find. Being close to the station, it's also convenient to reach by public transportation.

The storefront

Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch has a traditional tiled-roof-style exterior and a sign that stands out.

Near the entrance there's a menu board, and you can also see a sign announcing 24-hour operation. It was easy to find the restaurant even at a late hour.

It was also nice being able to check the menu in advance right outside the restaurant.

Inside the restaurant and the solo dining seats

Inside, there are wood-toned tables and chairs. Overall it felt clean and comfortable, and the tables were spaced fairly generously.

There are also solo dining seats, so it's fine to eat alone, and it's not an awkward atmosphere to visit with a friend either.

What makes Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch different

What stood out most at Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch was exactly what the name suggests — the gukbap comes with yukjeon in it.

The gukbap has beef, ugeoji (dried radish greens), and bean sprouts, along with yukjeon (beef coated in egg batter and pan-fried), making it a bit different from a typical beef gukbap. The distinct savory flavor of the yukjeon blended with the spicy broth, making it feel even more filling.

Side dishes can be taken as needed from the self-serve bar, so it was easy to add more during the meal if something ran low.

Another notable feature is that it's open 24 hours. When looking for a late-night meal or a hangover cure near Hongik University Station, it's convenient not to have to worry much about the time.

Menu board and prices

• Yukjeon gukbap ₩11,000
• Beef gukbap ₩10,000
• Miso gomtang ₩11,000
• Hambak gomtang ₩14,000

There's also a beef tripe hot pot and makguksu (cold buckwheat noodle) dishes including the yukjeon mul-makguksu. With gukbap, gomtang, and makguksu all on the menu, there's a good variety to choose from depending on what you're in the mood for. This time I ordered the yukjeon gukbap and the yukjeon mul-makguksu.

The side dish spread

The side dishes were simple — kimchi, kkakdugi (radish kimchi), and pickled onion came as defaults, and I also grabbed some yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi) from the self-serve bar. Since I came for a hangover cure that day, I ordered the yukjeon gukbap and the yukjeon mul-makguksu.

Yukjeon gukbap, 11,000 won

The yukjeon gukbap is a dish where you first notice the rich, spicy beef broth. The broth has beef and ugeoji together, so the textures of the different ingredients blend well.

On top of that, there are several pieces of yukjeon, beef pan-fried in egg batter, which gives it a bit of a different feel from a typical beef gukbap.

The beef was cooked until tender and easy to chew, and with ugeoji and bean sprouts mixed in, the texture wasn't monotonous.

Thanks to the spicy broth, it was great for a hangover cure. Eating it with rice was so good haha.

Yukjeon mul-makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles)

The yukjeon mul-makguksu is the opposite of the gukbap, centered on a cool, clean flavor.

It's based on dongchimi (watery radish kimchi) broth topped with cucumber and seaweed flakes, with several slices of yukjeon on top. The buckwheat noodles had a chewy, springy texture.

Eating the julienned yukjeon together with the noodles made for a great combination of textures between the meat and the noodles — perfect for summer.

The perilla oil and cold broth cleanly cut through the richness of the yukjeon, and the combination was better than I expected.

Before you go: parking and group visits

Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch has parking space right in front of the restaurant, so it's usable if you visit by car. It's also worth noting that since the restaurant operates 24 hours, you can visit late at night or early in the morning. If you're planning to visit, it's a good idea to check the closing day or parking availability with the restaurant on the day of your visit.

Tips for eating it at its best

• Dip the yukjeon in the soy sauce that comes with it, and add onion and cheongyang chili for even better flavor.
• With the yukjeon mul-makguksu, eating the noodles without cutting them lets you feel the buckwheat noodles' distinct texture better.
• Since the dishes already come seasoned, it's good to try the base flavor first before adding vinegar or mustard.
• If you order the gomtang, taste the broth first, then adjust with salt and pepper.
• The meat is even better dipped in the mustard sauce that's served alongside it.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch?

It's located at 9-1 World Cup buk-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, about 284m / 5-minute walk from Hongik University Station Exit 1. There are also Hongdae and Hapjeong branches nearby, so it's easy to mix them up.

Is Yukjeon Gukbap Seogyo Branch open 24 hours?

Yes. It's open 24 hours, so you can eat there even late at night. However, it's closed on Chuseok holiday, September 25.

What are the signature dishes?

Yukjeon gukbap and beef gukbap are the signature dishes, and they also sell miso gomtang, hambak gomtang, and yukjeon mul-makguksu.

How much is the yukjeon gukbap?

Yukjeon gukbap is ₩11,000, beef gukbap is ₩10,000, miso gomtang is ₩11,000, and hambak gomtang is ₩14,000.

Is there parking?

There's a parking space right in front of the restaurant, so you can visit by car.

How do yukjeon gukbap and yukjeon mul-makguksu differ?

Yukjeon gukbap is centered on a spicy, rich beef broth, while yukjeon mul-makguksu features cool dongchimi broth with buckwheat noodles tossed in perilla oil.

Final thoughts on the visit

The yukjeon gukbap was filling, with a spicy, rich broth and plenty of beef and yukjeon, while the yukjeon mul-makguksu was cool and clean, pairing well alongside the gukbap.

In particular, having yukjeon mixed into the gukbap gave it a different appeal from a typical beef gukbap. It's an easy walk from Hongik University Station and open 24 hours, so it's worth a visit if you're near Hongik University Station looking for a hangover cure or a late-night meal.