Hongdae Korean BBQ with free pork skin and soybean powder: Gogikkun

I finally got together with my juniors from work in Hongdae. We all love meat, so while hunting for a good Korean BBQ place in Hongdae, we settled on Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch (고기꾼김춘배 홍대본점), which has long been known for its quality! Four of us went, and we ate until we were stuffed and happy.

Where is Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch, and what's the vibe?

The restaurant sits right on Hongdae's main street, so it's very easy to get to. It's a Korean BBQ spot with a great atmosphere in a Hongdae hot spot.

The big, wood-look sign on the building made it easy to spot right away.

Various standing signs greeted us at the entrance. One sincere line touched me: "We'd rather build a restaurant that one person visits 100 times than one that 100 people visit once."

A restaurant with that philosophy, I thought, is one you can trust.

Inside, it was cozy with soft lighting, and without the usual chaos of a BBQ place the mood was really nice. The warm feel of the wooden interior makes it ideal for a team dinner or even a date. On one side hung a plaque reading "Head Office Certified Restaurant," which raised our expectations even more.

Team dinner for four: which set did we order?

With four people, we first ordered the hanwoo/hanjeon (Korean beef/pork) set for two and decided to add pork belly later. I studied the "Gim Chunbae SET" menu carefully, since it promises good beef and pork at reasonable prices.

The set lineup was impressively full. After some debate, to taste a variety of cuts we ordered the hanwoo/hanjeon set for two first and planned to add pork belly afterward.

Side dishes at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae

As soon as we ordered, the staff quickly set out the side dishes neatly. Around the charcoal brazier with its grill grate came crunchy white kimchi, myeongi namul (wild garlic-chive greens) that pair perfectly with meat, sweet-and-sour pickled onions, and a spring onion salad that really wakes up the appetite. These were the perfect supporting cast for the meat. The spring onion salad with white kimchi was especially fantastic.

How does the hanwoo/handon set for two look and taste?

The set for two comes on a big round plate with beef, pork, branded king oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and corn. It was plated like a work of art, and all of us gasped as if we'd planned it.

The beef had marbling that looked like fallen snow, the pork was thick with a vivid pink color, and the king oyster mushrooms were branded with the name "Gogikkun Gim Chunbae." It was an overwhelming sight, the kind where you really do eat with your eyes first.

There were also shiitake mushrooms neatly scored in a cross pattern and yellow corn, so grilling it all over charcoal promised plenty of fun.

Charcoal-grilled beef and pork full of juice

The heat was so strong that even the thick cuts cooked beautifully, crisp outside and juicy inside.

I dipped a well-cooked piece of beef in just a little salt and popped it in my mouth. The juices burst out and a deep, rich nuttiness filled my mouth.

The smell of meat grilling over charcoal teased our noses and boosted my juniors' appetites even more. Grilling the king oyster mushrooms, shiitake and corn alongside the meat was a treat of its own. The branded mushrooms looked great and tasted great.

How was the extra ogyeopsal (five-layer pork belly)?

We polished off the set in no time and added 2 portions of pork belly (osyeopsal, five-layer pork belly). The skin was pleasantly chewy and the fat-to-lean ratio was a perfect golden balance, so even before grilling I understood why this place is famous as a high-quality Hongdae pork belly spot.

When the extra meat hit the hot charcoal, it sizzled with that lovely sound and the savory aroma spread once more. Wrapping the chewy pork belly in a big lettuce wrap with spring onion salad made the day's tiredness vanish. It was fantastic.

Free pork skin from the Naver review event, dipped in soybean powder

Around the time we paid, the owner told us about a Naver review event, so we joined. As soon as we did, he gave us pork skin (kkeopdegi)!

It was free, but the quality was excellent.

The pork skin looked really appetizing sizzling on the grill. Dipped in konggaru (roasted soybean powder), it was chewy and nutty, just wonderful. The saying that you have one stomach for meat and a separate one for pork skin felt very true.

Finishing with half-and-half naengmyeon and kkakdukbap

The grand finale was kkakdugi fried rice (diced radish kimchi fried rice) and half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles). Carbs to finish, of course!

At a BBQ place I always agonize over mul naengmyeon (cold broth) or bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed), so I was delighted that here both come at once in a divided bowl, like a jjamjjamyeon dish. Clever!

Sipping the icy mul naengmyeon broth with slush floating in it washed away every last bit of meat grease and felt so refreshing. The sweet-and-spicy bibim naengmyeon topped with a leftover piece of meat, yuk-ssam naengmyeon style, had a magical pull: I was full but kept eating.

The kkakdugi fried rice came in a round iron bowl, stir-fried spicy and sweet with a strong scorched-rice flavor. The crunchy, well-fermented kkakdugi, seaweed flakes and whole sesame seeds made my mouth water all over again.

No matter how full you are from meat, this is a K-dessert that no Korean can resist. The chewy bits of kkakdugi and the salty, nutty rice blended so well that I couldn't stop my spoon. We scraped up even the nurungji (scorched rice) stuck to the bottom of the pan, and everyone finished the meal very satisfied.

Is Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch good for a team dinner?

With quality meat in a pleasant, atmospheric space and friendly staff, it was a great evening, and even my picky juniors couldn't stop praising it.

The quality for the price is excellent, so I strongly recommend it for a team dinner. The four of us ate until we were full and happy. Everyone was so satisfied that we promised to come again.

If you're looking for a no-fail BBQ spot for a group dinner near Hongdae or Hapjeong, or an atmospheric BBQ place for a date with someone special, I'd recommend Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch without hesitation. On days when I crave good meat and a glass of soju, this will probably be the first place that comes to mind.