Korean restaurant in Mapo, Seoul: beef soup and yukhoe bibimbap

Wanting a filling meal with warm broth, I went to Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch (도온정 홍대직영점). This time, I ordered clear Korean beef soup and Korean beef yukhoe bibimbap, and added an extra order of yukhoe (seasoned raw beef).

Is it easy to reach from Hongik University Station?

The restaurant is on the first floor at 183-12 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It was close to Hongik University Station Exit 1, so I found it easy to reach by public transportation.

At the entrance, I saw notices that it had been selected for the Blue Ribbon Survey in 2025 and 2026. That raised my expectations before the meal.

Where can you park if you drive?

There is no parking support at the building. At the time of the original post, nearby Toros Parking Tower was suggested. If you bought a parking pass in advance through the Kakao T Parking app, it was listed as ₩1,000 for one hour on weekdays and ₩1,500 for one hour on weekends, and the restaurant was within a three-minute walk from the parking tower.

What were the atmosphere and table setting like?

From the outside of the building to the inside of the restaurant, everything gave a neat impression.

The spoon, rice bowl, and soup bowl were substantial brassware. The table setting made the meal feel thoughtfully presented.

The open kitchen was visible from the seats, and the kitchen I saw was neatly organized. The owner also checked whether I needed anything during the meal, so I could eat comfortably.

How were the broth and beef in the clear Korean beef soup?

I was told that the signature dish is a clear gomtang (beef soup) simmered for a long time with Korean native cattle. The broth I ordered was clear and transparent, but one spoonful revealed a deep, nutty flavor.

To my taste, neither any unpleasant meat smell nor seasoning flavor stood out. It was mild rather than overpowering, and I kept spooning up the broth.

The beef was tender, and I also liked mixing rice into the broth and topping it with kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi).

There was also a spicy Korean beef soup on the menu. What I had this time was the clear soup.

How is the extra yukhoe served with the yukhoe bibimbap?

The extra Korean beef yukhoe I added to the yukhoe bibimbap came on a separate plate. They also provided sesame oil so I could enjoy it separately like a side dish. Lightly dipping it in the sesame oil, it was tender and nutty.

The bibimbap was generously topped with minari (water parsley) and yukhoe. After mixing in the sauce, the crisp texture and fresh aroma of the minari worked well with the pleasantly chewy yukhoe. I liked that there was still yukhoe in every bite through the last spoonful.

What stayed with me after the meal?

The clear yet nutty gomtang broth and the yukhoe bibimbap with minari stayed with me. It suited a day when I wanted a satisfying meal of warm broth and Korean food.

I also saw gopchang jeongol (beef offal hot pot) on the menu. I did not try it this time, but next time I would like to leave the car behind and have it with a drink.