Hongdae restaurant for a spicy pork tail and naengmyeon combo: Anok

Anok, a hanok Korean restaurant in the middle of Hongdae

Anok is a hanok-style (traditional Korean house) Korean restaurant at 13-4 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, smack in the middle of Hongdae. I found a hidden gem where you can feel real Korean beauty and deep flavor at the same time, right in the heart of Hongdae!

I had no idea a place this quiet and beautiful was hiding in Hongdae until now — the moment I opened the door, that classic hanok atmosphere hit me. It's hard to imagine a better space for enjoying refined Korean food in the middle of the city.

Why Anok works for bringing foreign friends

Hongdae is such a hotspot for tourists, right? Between the interior that carries real Korean style and the clean, deep flavors of the food here, I'd strongly recommend this place if you're bringing a foreign friend or guest along!

Anok's main menu, dish by dish

• Clear pork gomtang (맑은 돼지곰탕) — a deep, refined broth that anchors this signature soup
• Pyongyang naengmyeon (평양냉면) — clean buckwheat cold noodles that show off pure mildness
• Braised pork tail jjim (돼지꼬리찜) — spicy seasoning meeting chewy texture, hard to resist
• Chilled sliced pork (냉제육) — chewy, clean pork with no off-flavor at all
• Pork boiled meat platter (돈복쟁반) — a hearty hot-pot-style spread of pork cuts and boiled meat, great with drinks

Three dishes for two people: how much food is it?

We ordered clear pork gomtang, Pyongyang naengmyeon, and braised pork tail jjim. Since there were two of us, I ordered pretty generously because I wanted to try a bit of everything. It was a little too much food for two, but I just couldn't resist trying all the signature mains.

Clear pork gomtang at Anok

The clear pork gomtang came out first, and it was the definition of clean. It's a soup served in a transparent, no-frills broth, and the moment I took a spoonful, deep savory flavor spread through my mouth — a different kind of appeal from the usual gomtang I've had.

There was zero off-flavor, and it left me full and satisfied in a way that fully earned Anok's reputation as a Hongdae gomtang spot. A bowl of hot gomtang enjoyed in that hanok atmosphere was pure healing!

Braised pork tail jjim, the spicy one

And the dish that left the strongest impression today was this braised pork tail jjim! Pork tail is mostly skin and collagen, so if it's not made well it can turn greasy fast — but Anok's version has a savory, spicy seasoning that cuts right through any greasiness. The chewy, springy skin is coated in an addictive spicy sauce, and one bite instantly makes you want more.

The combo: pork tail jjim with Pyongyang naengmyeon

Here's a golden tip from Anok: when you eat the spicy pork tail jjim, pair it with the Pyongyang naengmyeon! Anok's naengmyeon broth is incredibly mild and clean, not overpowering at all. Take a bite of the spicy, chewy pork tail jjim, then drink the cool, clean naengmyeon broth or wrap some noodles around it — the combo of the two dishes is honestly a work of art.

I wondered whether the naengmyeon's flavor would even come through against something that bold and spicy, but it worked out better than expected. Honestly, I don't usually like Pyongyang naengmyeon, but eating it alongside the pork tail jjim kept pulling me back for more. The balance between spicy and mild was just right, so I never got tired of it and enjoyed it right to the end.

Anok for a full meal or just a drink

Hongdae is such a global neighborhood, so it's a great spot for foreign visitors to experience diverse, high-level Korean food culture. Beyond a proper sit-down meal, the atmosphere is also great for a simple drink after work or in the evening.

On top of the main dishes, it's a lovely place to order simple drinking snacks — pork tail jjim, chewy chilled sliced pork, or the hearty pork boiled meat platter — with a glass of traditional liquor or soju. If you want to feel that quiet hanok charm in Hongdae over a refined bowl of gomtang, or over drinks with great snacks, give this place a visit!

Anok hours, seating and parking

• Address: 서울 마포구 홍익로 13-4 (13-4 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea)
• Hours 11:00 - 22:00 / Last order 21:00
• Closed every Monday
• Group seating up to 12 people / No parking available