Korean BBQ in Hongdae, Seoul for a work dinner of 6: Gogikkun Gim

Booking a Hongdae work dinner for 6 after office hours

After work on a weekday, I went back to Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch with some work juniors for a proper meat party — this place has quite the reputation as a Hongdae go-to.

Everyone agreed we needed thick, juicy meat and a cold drink to blow off some work stress, so we booked a table for 6 at this spot, which is also close to the Hapjeong restaurant strip.

Finding the entrance and sign of Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch

Arriving in front of the restaurant, a sign in a warm, friendly font up on the building caught my eye right away, and a large standing sign of Gogikkun Gim Chunbae stood by the building entrance.

There was a heartfelt line posted saying the goal was to build a restaurant that one person visits a hundred times rather than a hundred people visit once — it built my trust before I'd even stepped inside.

We went up the stairs and opened the heavy wooden door of the main entrance.

Partitioned seating that suits a group dinner

Stepping inside, the interior was really cozy and atmospheric.

Soft, warm lighting and dark wood partitions divided the space privately, so unlike a typical noisy BBQ joint, it was a great atmosphere for actually focusing on conversation.

The ventilation was also well set up, so there was no worry about smoke or smell, and the tables had plenty of room — perfect for a group dinner or gathering like ours with juniors from work.

By the way, the restroom is on the 4th floor, and it doesn't seem to be used much normally.

We sat down and ordered through the tablet at the table.

The beef and pork set with myeoljeot (fermented anchovy dipping sauce)

We ordered the set menu that lets you enjoy plenty of beef and pork at once, and picked fried rice and half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles) as sides for extra staying power.

Soon the charcoal brazier was lit, and along with neat side dishes, a platter of assorted meat arrived in gorgeous color.

Big seared marks on king oyster mushrooms, yellow corn, and the beef with its bright red flesh and beautiful snowflake marbling next to the thick-cut pork were mouthwatering just to look at.

We laid the thick cuts on the hot charcoal copper grate along with the myeoljeot sauce and started grilling.

With a sizzling sound, the meat took on a smoky charcoal aroma as it cooked, and the juices glistening on the surface were pure art.

Picking up a nicely browned piece of the Hongdae samgyeopsal (pork belly) and dipping it lightly in salt, the crispy exterior gave way to savory, rich juices that filled my mouth.

The texture was chewy yet tender with no gamey smell at all, and dipping it into the bubbling, salty myeoljeot doubled the savoriness — I couldn't help but let out a sigh of satisfaction.

The hanwoo (Korean beef) sirloin grilled alongside also melted the moment it hit my mouth, and all my juniors kept giving it a thumbs up.

Fried rice and half-and-half naengmyeon to finish the meal

While enjoying the meat, I took a big scoop of the fried rice, generously stir-fried on the grill plate.

With its sweet-and-spicy seasoning mixed with savory seaweed flakes, sesame seeds, and chopped green onion, it was the perfect carb side to cut through the meat's richness.

Next came the half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles), which cleverly let you enjoy cool mul-naengmyeon with floating ice slush and sweet-spicy bibim-naengmyeon together in one divided bowl.

Wrapping a last piece of meat in the chewy noodles along with crunchy cucumber and pickled radish washed away all the greasiness in one refreshing bite.

The pork was excellent too...

Is Gogikkun Gim Chunbae worth booking for a Hongdae company dinner?

The cozy, private interior, the overwhelming quality of top-grade meat infused with charcoal aroma, and the friendly service — everything exceeded expectations.

If you're looking for high-quality meat and a good atmosphere for a gathering around the Hongdae and Hapjeong area, I'd definitely recommend trying the hearty Hongdae samgyeopsal at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch, famous as a go-to spot in both neighborhoods.