Reserved Korean BBQ table for two near City Hall: Geumseong Hoegwan

What kind of restaurant is Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch?

Today I'm reviewing my visit to Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch, a well-known BBQ spot near Seoul City Hall. I was looking for somewhere to eat good meat with my mom near City Hall Station when I found this place. When my mom and I eat out, we usually prefer somewhere clean and comfortable rather than too noisy or crowded, and this place looked like it fit the bill!

Where is Geumseong Hoegwan and how do you get there from City Hall Station?

Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch sits in the Bukchang-dong food alley near City Hall Station, so it wasn't hard to find. It's an easy walk from City Hall Station on Line 1 and Line 2, so getting there by public transit is convenient too.

• 📍 30 Namdaemun-ro 1-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• ⏰ Daily 11:00–23:00
• 🚘 No parking, use nearby public parking lots
• ✔️ Naver Reservation available, group bookings possible

I made a Naver reservation before visiting.

I came here with my mom that day, and I think it'd be a good pick for anyone looking for a place to eat with their mom near Seoul City Hall. There are a lot of restaurants around City Hall Station that office workers frequent, but Geumseong Hoegwan is open from lunch through dinner, so it was easy to time our visit around mealtime.

What's on the menu at Geumseong Hoegwan?

Geumseong Hoegwan is a charcoal BBQ specialist where you can enjoy both pork and beef. I liked that the menu has a good variety, so a group can each order the cut they're craving.

Signature dishes include nunkkotsal (snowflake pork), galbi bonsamgyeop, and seasoned beef king galbi, plus Hanwoo yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) for beef lovers. Nunkkotsal is known for its melt-in-your-mouth texture and juiciness, while galbi bonsamgyeop is carefully sliced and chilled-aged to bring out a rich meaty aroma and chewy texture. The seasoned beef king galbi apparently uses top-grade meat seasoned with Naju pear syrup for a premium touch.

They also have a lunch special menu — I'll have to try that next time!

How was the emperor galbi and the side dishes?

There were so many different cuts of meat on the menu. This time I went with the emperor galbi!

The taste of grilled meat can really depend on the sauces and side dishes, and I felt like Geumseong Hoegwan paid attention to that. There were lots of banchan (side dishes) and they were all clean and well presented.

The quality of the meat was really good. The portion was more generous than I expected too. It came with a bit of mushroom and vegetables on the side as well~

It was nice being able to sit and chat with my mom over a relaxed meal after a while. We often just eat something simple at home, but spending time grilling meat together outside and catching up turned out to be more enjoyable than I expected~

The free sundubu jjigae that comes with the meal

This sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) comes with the meal for free, so I didn't order a separate stew.

I think this would be a great choice for anyone looking for a place to eat with their mom near Seoul City Hall, or a BBQ restaurant to bring their parents to.

I wrapped some in lettuce and dipped some in salt — it had been a while since I enjoyed meat this much~

Finishing with bibim naengmyeon

We also had bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) together. It was tangy, sweet, and delicious.

Who is Geumseong Hoegwan a good fit for?

Since Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch is near City Hall Station, it's also close to spots like Namdaemun Market, Deoksugung Palace, and Gwanghwamun, so it's a good stop if you have errands nearby or need a meal after a date or outing. It works well as a lunch spot for office workers, and as a place for company dinners or family meals in the evening, so you can enjoy a different atmosphere depending on the time of day~!

If you're like me and want to enjoy a comfortable meal of great meat with your mom, Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch is worth a visit at least once. If you're looking for a good restaurant near Seoul City Hall or a BBQ spot near City Hall Station, check out Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch in the Bukchang-dong food alley 🤎