Hapjeong galbi restaurant, seolhwa galbi for two: Geumseong Hoegwan

Today I want to introduce Geumseong Hoegwan Hapjeong Main Branch, where I recently enjoyed everything from beef to seasoned pork galbi 😉

The meat was delicious, but what really stuck with me was how kind the owner and staff were. With the grill-for-you service plus generous side dishes, this is a Hapjeong BBQ spot that kept me in a good mood the whole meal🖤

Where Geumseong Hoegwan Hapjeong Main Branch is and when it opens

• Address: 78 Yanghwa-ro 6-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• Getting there: about 432m from Hapjeong Station Exit 6
• Hours: daily 11:00–23:00, open year-round
• Parking: paid parking at nearby Hapjeong Seogyo-dong Public Parking Lot No. 4
• Amenities: group seating, reservations, WiFi, high chairs

Inside Geumseong Hoegwan: a clean room and a friendly welcome

Geumseong Hoegwan is a charcoal-grill restaurant that catches your eye first with its blue sign and gold crown logo. The entrance had a subtly classic vibe that got me excited even before stepping in.

Inside, wood-tone interiors mixed with warm lighting made it feel cozy yet clean.

The walls were covered with autographs, which was fun to browse — nice to see a place this pretty when you came just for meat :) Above all, the owner was genuinely kind 😍 The staff were all friendly too, so the first impression was great, and the service stayed impressive throughout the meal.

What we ordered at Geumseong Hoegwan and what it cost

• Seolhwa galbi, 1 serving (₩23,000)
• Pork neck galbi (seasoned), 2 servings (₩34,000)
• Steamed egg (₩3,000)
• Zero-sugar cola (₩2,000)
• Rice (₩1,000)

Side dishes and dipping sauces served with the galbi

That day we had one serving of seolhwa galbi beef, two servings of seasoned pork galbi, and steamed egg on the side. The banchan (side dishes) came out well-suited to eating with meat — white kimchi, sliced onion, corn salad, and more.

The side dishes were genuinely tasty, good for eating between bites of meat.

There was a nice range of dipping sauces for the meat too — salt and wasabi of course, but also a steak sauce with breadcrumbs, which was an unusual combo. Good fun trying different pairings.

Seolhwa galbi: juicy beef short rib you get to gnaw off the bone

They grilled the seolhwa galbi first, and the juiciness in that first bite was insane 😍 That heavenly first-bite feeling of beef... you know it. Each chew released more savory flavor, so I found myself slowing down to really taste it.

Just a touch of salt let the meat's own flavor shine, and adding wasabi brought a sharp kick for a totally different experience.

Since it's rib meat, there's the fun of gnawing meat off the bone too! Galbi really should be eaten this way haha. And since the staff grilled everything for us, we didn't have to worry about timing the fire and could just relax and chat with each other. I could see this being a great spot for a Hapjeong work dinner.

Free soft tofu stew and the 3,000-won steamed egg

Ordering meat comes with a free soft tofu stew, which I really appreciated.

For a 'free' side dish, the portion was generous, with big spoonfuls of soft tofu — hearty enough to eat alongside the meat. The spicy broth was especially good at cutting through the richness when the meat started feeling heavy, so I kept scooping spoonful after spoonful until it was gone before I knew it... 😋

The steamed egg we added was only ₩3,000, but the portion was so generous it was genuinely satisfying 👍

It came out in a pretty sky-blue flower-shaped bowl, cute plating and great for photos too 😘 With the spicy stew next to the steamed egg, the table felt even more filled out.

Seasoned pork neck galbi, the rice-stealer of the meal

After the beef, the seasoned pork galbi was also satisfying.

The seasoning wasn't too strong or sharp, so it stayed easy to keep eating. Grilled golden brown over the charcoal, the ribs had a glossy sheen that looked appetizing.

The meat and the seasoning matched really well — good with side dishes or on its own. Even the grilled vegetables were delicious haha. I was enjoying the original order so much that I ended up adding one more serving.. 😎

Tip: the seasoning burns fast over high heat, so it needs to be grilled slowly over low heat — order it early!

Why Geumseong Hoegwan suits both friends and work dinners in Hapjeong

Geumseong Hoegwan Hapjeong Main Branch was satisfying all around — not just the meat but the friendly service and the staff grilling for us. The prices felt reasonable too, and with the free soft tofu stew and solid sides, I left feeling well and truly fed.

To sum up why I'd recommend it, in three points!

• ① Juicy beef and pork galbi with seasoning that isn't too heavy
• ② Friendly service from the owner and staff, plus grilling done for you
• ③ A solid spread with free soft tofu stew and ₩3,000 steamed egg

I'd recommend this place to anyone in Hapjeong looking to set up a dinner with friends or find a relaxed BBQ spot for a work get-together :)