Gongdeok cold noodle restaurant, 10,000-won naengmyeon: Horangi Gotgan

Here's Horangi Gotgan (호랭이곳간), a popular lunch spot for office workers near Gongdeok Station. Even the name has a certain energy to it haha. I drive an academy shuttle for work and often pass through the alleys near elementary schools, and I kept noticing how packed this place was even on weekdays, so I finally went to try it with a friend who lives in Gongdeok.

Where is Horangi Gotgan Gongdeok Branch, and what are the hours and parking?

Horangi Gotgan Gongdeok Branch is about a 3-minute walk from Gongdeok Station, right in the alley next to Gongdeok Elementary School. It's open daily from 11:00 to 21:30, last order at 21:00, with no break time.

There's parking for about 2 cars right next to the restaurant, but some building tenants also park there, so it's worth checking before you go. I got lucky and found a spot — lucky Vicky moment 🕶

Inside Horangi Gotgan Gongdeok Branch: mood and seating

There are little tigers sitting by the window haha. Maybe because the name is Horangi (tiger) Gotgan, the interior leans slightly red-toned too. There are about 8–9 tables, and the food comes out pretty fast.

How to order: the table kiosk at Horangi Gotgan

You order using the kiosk at each table.

Horangi Gotgan Gongdeok Branch menu and prices

• [Seasonal menu] Yeolmu bibimbap (young radish greens rice bowl) ₩10,000 / Hongdukkae mul-naengmyeon ₩10,000 / Hongdukkae bibim-naengmyeon ₩10,000 / Yeolmu mul-naengmyeon ₩10,000 / Yeolmu bibim-naengmyeon ₩10,000
• [Bone broth rice] Sagolbap (bone broth rice) ₩10,000 / Spicy sagolbap ₩11,000 / Spicy sundubu sagolbap ₩12,000 / Spicy gopchang sagolbap ₩13,000
• [Bibimbap] Samgyeop bibimbap ₩10,000 / Woo-samgyeop bibimbap ₩10,000 / Beef bulgogi bibimbap ₩11,000 / Yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef) ₩12,000
• [Rice bowls] Flame-grilled soy pork bowl ₩11,000 / Flame-grilled pork bowl ₩11,000 / Flame-grilled octopus bowl ₩13,000
• [Anju / drinking snacks] Horangi hangover soup ₩28,000 / Beef shank and minari boiled meat ₩24,000 / Horangi bossam (boiled pork wrap) ₩27,000 / Napa cabbage-wrapped pork with tofu kimchi ₩21,000 / Beef shank and minari salad ₩16,000 / Pork belly with tofu kimchi ₩18,000 / Cheese potato pancake ₩16,000 / Perilla oil fried egg ₩7,000
• [Sides] Nurungji tangsuyuk (scorched rice sweet and sour pork) ₩10,000 / Juicy tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty) ₩9,000 / Juicy dumplings ₩9,000 / Mini kimchi pancake ₩9,000 / Grilled pork platter ₩9,900

There's a wide range of Korean dishes for a full meal — soup rice, bibimbap, rice bowls, and seasonal naengmyeon — and the prices, around 10,000–12,000 won, are pretty reasonable for Gongdeok. They also serve anju and alcohol, so at night this place turns into more of a gotgan-style pub. That beef shank dish with a shot of soju sounds good right about now.

Hongdukkae mul-naengmyeon, bibim-naengmyeon and nurungji tangsuyuk

At Horangi Gotgan Gongdeok Branch we ordered hongdukkae mul-naengmyeon ₩10,000, hongdukkae bibim-naengmyeon ₩10,000, and nurungji tangsuyuk ₩10,000. My friend was craving noodles, so I went with naengmyeon too.

With the weather getting cooler, this might be my last naengmyeon of the year. Though I'll probably order it again after eating meat at a barbecue place... right?

Both the mul-naengmyeon and bibim-naengmyeon are plated very neatly. They come topped with egg and thin slices of beef that look like they'd go into jangjorim (soy-braised beef), and there's quite a generous amount, which I liked. It's a different kind of topping from the usual sliced boiled meat garnish.

Both the mul and bibim versions were refreshingly cold, the noodles had good chew, and the broth was nicely savory. The bibim-naengmyeon also has a bit of broth mixed in.

Nurungji tangsuyuk for 10,000 won: how big is the portion and how does it taste?

The ₩10,000 side, nurungji tangsuyuk. Compared to a full-sized tangsuyuk the portion is small, but for 10,000 won this is pretty solid. The sauce tastes like it has a touch of ginger, and it's on the thick, rich side — really tasty. The nurungji (crispy scorched rice) served alongside has a fun, crunchy, nutty texture that pairs really well with it.

The batter isn't too thick, and it's packed full of loin meat inside, so a bite of tangsuyuk followed by a bite of naengmyeon is just great. Naengmyeon with tangsuyuk...? You might think that's an odd combo, but it actually works really well haha. Tasty thing + tasty thing = tasty thing.

Is Horangi Gotgan worth it for a cheap Korean meal near Gongdeok Station?

With prices sitting around 10,000–12,000 won, this is a place you can have lunch or dinner without much of a burden. The restaurant is clean, the dishes come out neatly plated, and the taste is above average, which is probably why office workers keep coming back. If you're looking for a good-value Korean meal near Gongdeok Station, I'd recommend it :)