Hwajeong-dong yukgaejang and ox head gukbap late dinner: Pyeongando

Yesterday evening my wife and I had something to do near Hwajeong Station, and it ran later than expected, so we ended up grabbing dinner before heading home. It was a bit late for dinner, but since this place is open 24 hours, we didn't have to worry about it. Since COVID, even convenience stores have cut back on 24-hour operation, so finding a place still open around the clock felt like a small win. Here's my review of this Hwajeong-dong gukbap restaurant everyone raves about, Pyeongando Restaurant Hwajeong Branch.

Talking about craftsmanship in food is easy, but actually pulling it off is another story entirely... This place boils its own head meat four times a day, at 11am, 1pm, 6pm, and 9pm, so if you time your visit right, you'll get it even fresher. Pretty impressive, honestly.

What is Pyeongando Restaurant Hwajeong Branch like inside?

The moment we walked into Pyeongando Restaurant Hwajeong Branch, the first thing I noticed was how much cleaner it was than I expected. The wood-toned tables had generous spacing between them, so we could eat comfortably without worrying about the next table over. Even in the evening, there were solo diners, couples like us, and larger groups scattered around.

There were also dedicated solo seats, so eating alone here wouldn't feel awkward at all. The space felt roomy enough that it'd work well for a work dinner or a group gathering too.

Ordering was simple through the table-order tablet, and after the first side dish, you help yourself from the self-serve bar as needed. One thing that stood out here: they offer unlimited refills of sundae (blood sausage) and organ meat.

Sundae and organ meat refill hours at Pyeongando

At Pyeongando Restaurant Hwajeong Branch, the sundae and organ meat refill service only runs twice a day, from 11:30 to 14:00 and 17:30 to 20:00. We showed up outside those hours, so unfortunately we missed out, haha. Next time I'll definitely time it right to go for the sundae refill.

I got a quick glimpse of the kitchen and it looked clean too, so I could eat with peace of mind.

What we ordered: ox head gukbap set and traditional yukgaejang

We ordered the ox head gukbap set and the traditional yukgaejang. Ordering the set meant we got sundae, liver, lung, and a few other organ meats alongside, so the table ended up more generous than I expected. The price wasn't heavy either, so it was more than enough for the two of us to eat until we were full. Ordering both the gukbap and the yukgaejang meant we could go back and forth between them, which was great. I also noticed a lot of other diners ordering the dumplings, so now I'm curious about those too.

Is the Korean beef ox head gukbap any good?

To be honest, the ox head gukbap was just an unremarkable, solid dish.

The broth wasn't bad, but it wasn't especially surprising either — it just felt like it stuck to the basics. Then again, it's Korean beef ox head gukbap at this price, so honestly that's already pretty great, haha.

The traditional yukgaejang was the surprise of the night

But the traditional yukgaejang really caught me off guard. The moment I took the first spoonful, I thought 'wait, what is this' — the flavor was on a completely different level. I've made yukgaejang at home plenty of times and eaten it out plenty more, and hitting this level of flavor isn't as easy as it sounds.

But the yukgaejang at Pyeongando Restaurant Hwajeong Branch felt like something you'd find at a five-star hotel. Honestly, I went in thinking 'yukgaejang is yukgaejang everywhere,' but that assumption completely flipped. The broth was spicy yet deep, sharp without being harsh, with such a rich savory depth that I kept reaching for another spoonful. My wife's eyes went wide the moment she tried it and she said, 'This is genuinely delicious,' haha.

This is genuinely delicious

Personally, I think I'd go back just for this yukgaejang alone. Next time, I'm planning to order only the yukgaejang and give it a proper, focused try.

The sundae and organ meats that came out first had no off smell at all, and they were tender rather than chewy — topped with a bit of salted shrimp, they were clean and satisfying. The kimchi and diced radish kimchi that came as standard sides were nicely sweet and tangy, perfect for whetting the appetite.

Seeing how clean our bowls were by the end, I think that says everything about how good the food actually was.

Location, parking and hours in Hwajeong-dong, Goyang

• 📍 Location: Right across from Deogyang-gu Office, so it's not far from Hwajeong Station either
• 🅿️ Parking: The building only has mechanical parking, so large cars can't use it. We found it easier to park at the Deogyang-gu Office lot instead — it's free on weekends and gives 1 free hour on weekdays, so there's no need to stress about it
• ⏰ Hours: Open 24 hours, every day of the year, so you can drop by late in the evening or even in the middle of the night. It'd also make a great hangover-cure spot the morning after drinking
• Sundae and organ meat refills run on set hours, so I'd recommend checking the schedule before you head over, haha

If you're near Hwajeong Station looking for a hearty meal, or hunting for a 24-hour hangover-soup spot, this place is worth a visit.