Songpa gopchang restaurant revisited every two months: Jinseong

Today I'm introducing Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Bangi Direct Branch, located in the Bangi-dong food alley. This is the place I come to whenever I'm craving beef gopchang (grilled beef intestines) in Bangi-dong.

I think I come here about once every two months — it's that good, and the staff are so kind that you can trust this place completely.

How long is the wait at 7:30 on a weekday?

Even on a weekday evening, Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Bangi Direct Branch was packed and there was a wait. I arrived around 7:30, and with about 3 parties ahead of me, I got seated a little after 8.

There was one party left ahead of me, but the person before me said their companion hadn't shown up and let me go first — time saved! Thank you so much, haha.

You write your name and party size on the waitlist, sit down, and wait to be called in order.

And here's Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang once I finally got in! This is the basic setup, and on top of that they bring out kimchi and steamed egg.

Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Bangi Direct Branch menu and prices

The menu is very simple —

• Beef gopchang ₩19,000
• Beef daechang ₩19,000
• Beef makchang ₩20,000
• Kkakdugi fried rice ₩9,000
• Anchovy noodles ₩6,000

That's the whole lineup.

The signature minari-pickle garlic sauce and three kimchi

This is what I'd call Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang's signature — the minari (water dropwort) pickle garlic sauce! Tangy and sweet with a spicy kick from cheongyang chili, it's basically a cheat code, haha. It cuts through the richness of the gopchang and daechang and tastes amazing.

Pair it with their three house-made kimchi and the conditions for eating gopchang are complete.

• Yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi)
• Gat kimchi (mustard leaf kimchi)
• Scallion kimchi

Grilling the scallion kimchi in the beef fat especially brings out the scallion's sweetness while any spiciness disappears completely — it's so good, haha. I love beef gopchang restaurants that serve scallion kimchi the most.

They cut all three kimchi for you right at the table too.

Ordering 2 portions of gopchang and 1 of daechang

I ordered 2 portions of beef gopchang and 1 portion of beef daechang. I usually always order 3 portions of gopchang, but this time I tried daechang too, and it was just as delicious. The savory fat that comes pouring out — eating it after a while, it's somehow even better!!!

The steamed egg here is genuinely well-seasoned, haha. Big portion too and just the best!

The Bangi-dong open-air grill mood from a window seat

Luckily I got seated by the window, and it gave off that outdoor-dining vibe — since it was a weekday there weren't many people passing by, which was really nice. Outdoor-table season is coming soon, and I noticed more and more outdoor tables starting to appear along the Bangi-dong food alley.

Do the staff grill for you? Timer-managed service

Once the gopchang and daechang are cooked enough, staff come by to cut and finish grilling them, so all you have to do is wait for the timer to go off. Just flip the vegetables, potatoes, and rice cakes so they don't burn.

See how quickly it's browned up! Eating daechang after a while, the savory, fatty taste fills your mouth — it's so good. Definitely dip it in the minari sauce and eat it with cheongyang chili!

Piling on the minari and cheongyang chili like this makes for a great combo, and you can keep eating without feeling like it's too rich. They'll refill it fresh once you finish, so don't hesitate to ask! Pile on plenty of chive salad and grill it too.

I also tried it with scallion kimchi and chives together — another combo I love! Eating it this way, you can even taste the fat coming through the vegetables as you chew, haha.

Soju from the drinks fridge, plus tips for visiting

They also have a dedicated soju fridge here, so the soju is ice cold — order without worry, haha. Excessive drinking is bad for your health... haha. I drank way too much that night and almost died a little, but everyone please drink in moderation!

If you want to grill gopchang or daechang in the Bangi-dong food alley, I'd recommend going early and putting your name on the waitlist first. In the evening, since the gopchang takes time to cook, table turnover takes a while!