Hongdae Korean restaurant for bibim Pyongyang naengmyeon instead: Anok

Today I went out to Hongdae and stopped by Anok, a newly opened gomtang restaurant, haha!

When people think of Hongdae restaurants, they usually picture young, trendy spots. Anok was a bit different. Even though it sits right in the lively heart of Hongdae, the moment you step inside, you feel the calm, quiet atmosphere unique to a hanok (traditional Korean house).

A hanok mood in the middle of Hongdae: first impressions of Anok

The hanok interior really stood out. The wood-centered decor blended beautifully with the traditional feel, so it didn't feel like just a place to grab a meal — it felt like properly enjoying a meal in a genuinely nice space.

If you're looking for a Korean restaurant with this kind of atmosphere in Hongdae, I think you'll really like it here.

Three orders: gomtang, bibim Pyongyang naengmyeon, braised pork tail

For this visit I ordered three dishes: gomtang, bibim Pyongyang naengmyeon, and braised pork tail. First up was the gomtang!

Gomtang — clean yet deep broth

One warm spoonful and my stomach felt at ease — it really made me think the foundation of Korean food is the broth. Rather than a broth punched up with strong seasoning, this one had a clean but deep flavor, which I loved.

Gomtang is a dish that really shines when eaten with rice, right? I spooned some rice into the broth and ate it with the meat, and it made for a filling but not heavy meal. If you're shopping or on a date in Hongdae and want something easy on the stomach, gomtang is a great choice.

What happens when you order bibim instead of mul naengmyeon?

Next up: bibim Pyongyang naengmyeon!

If you like the particular chewy texture of Pyongyang-style noodles, this is worth trying. This time, instead of the usual cold mul naengmyeon (cold broth version), I ordered it bibim (mixed with sauce).

I mixed the noodles well with the sauce and took a bite — the chewy noodles and the sauce worked really well together. After the plain, clean flavors of the gomtang, the bibim naengmyeon completely shifted my palate, and switching back and forth between the two was genuinely fun.

Personally, I'd also recommend pairing it with a meat dish. After a bite of tender, mild meat, following it with the bibim naengmyeon felt like the sour, spicy sauce cleaned my palate right up.

Braised pork tail — the most memorable texture

And another star of this meal: braised pork tail!

Pork tail probably isn't a familiar dish for a lot of people, but personally, it was the most memorable thing I ate this visit.

The chewy texture of the gently braised pork tail was captivating, and it offered a completely different kind of enjoyment from a regular cut of pork. It has a texture unlike eating just lean meat, so I found myself slowly savoring it. This dish also works well with rice, but I think it'd be great to order and share one at a time if you're visiting with a group.

If gomtang is the hearty main, bibim Pyongyang naengmyeon is the palate-reviver, and braised pork tail is what makes the table feel richer and more festive. Ordering all three together really highlighted how different each dish's charm was, making the meal feel much more varied than sticking to just one dish.

Good for a date or a quiet meal?

And something you can't leave out at Anok is the atmosphere of the space itself. The hanok-inspired interior made me momentarily forget I was in the middle of bustling Hongdae. These days, a lot of people care about the atmosphere of a space just as much as the taste of the food, and in that sense, Anok is a pretty compelling restaurant.

The mood is great for photos too, and it seems like it would suit a quiet meal or a date spot just as well. Best of all, it doesn't feel overly staged — you get to enjoy the traditional Korean atmosphere in a modern way.

In summary

If you're looking for good Korean food in Hongdae — or just a restaurant with a different vibe than usual — Anok is worth a visit. Personally, I was quite satisfied with the combo of a hearty gomtang, a palate-refreshing bibim Pyongyang naengmyeon, and the braised pork tail on the side.

Hongdae has all kinds of restaurants, but sometimes you crave honest, no-frills Korean food and a comfortable space more than something flashy. Anok is exactly the place for those days.

Anok is a Hongdae Korean restaurant where I got to enjoy great food along with the calm atmosphere unique to a hanok. Next time I'm in Hongdae, I'd love to come back and try more of the menu.