Gyodae lunchtime lamb skewers with Tsingtao beer: Hanseong Yang Kkochi

It's the hottest day of summer, so I had to eat something restorative — pork or beef? Then I remembered Jeon Hyun-moo devouring lamb on I Live Alone, so my friend and I headed to a lamb skewer spot near Gyodae Station, Hanseong Yang Kkochi, for a drink.

Where is Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2, and when to go

Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 is a lamb skewer and lamb rib specialist near Gyodae Station. I booked a 1:30pm slot through Naver reservation ahead of time. The signage is hard to miss, with a big side sign and a standing sign out front.

Hanseong Yang Kkochi near Gyodae Station serves not just lamb skewers but premium lamb ribs, lamb loin skewers and more, so you can work through different cuts. It's been featured on TV and now has two branches in Gyodae — I went to branch 2.

Do I even need to mention how good lamb is for you.

Inside: roomy tables for a group dinner near Gyodae Station

Inside, Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 is spacious, clearly set up for the many office workers around Gyodae Station who come for group dinners. The seats were roomy and ventilation was good.

Table seating runs along both sides, with sofa seating arranged in the center and to the right.

What's on the menu at Hanseong Yang Kkochi, and what it costs

You order directly from a tablet at the table. Lamb dishes range from lamb skewers at ₩17,000 to premium lamb ribs at ₩35,000 up to whole lamb ribs at ₩56,000. There's also a good lineup of Chinese dishes to share, like spicy fried shrimp, fish-fragrant eggplant, sweet and sour pork, and stir-fried three shreds.

The table setting: cumin and cheongyang chili soy sauce

At Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2, you cook everything over red-hot charcoal. Cumin, cheongyang chili soy sauce, pickled onion, peanuts and pickled mustard greens come out as banchan.

I always used to eat lamb skewers with just cumin, but dipping them in this cheongyang chili soy sauce was salty and clean, and it worked really well too.

The pickled mustard greens and other side dishes weren't too salty — clean and light, easy to pair with the mains.

Lamb skewers vs lamb loin skewers: which cut is thicker?

And here's what we ordered: lamb skewers and lamb loin skewers. I've had lamb loin skewers elsewhere before, but the ones at Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 were thicker than other places — I liked that.

They bring out hot charcoal, and you put the skewers in to cook.

The meat felt fresh and good quality. The lamb skewers already came coated in cumin.

Fish-fragrant eggplant, ordered instead of mala xiangguo

And the dish we ordered — fish-fragrant eggplant! I was torn between ordering mala xiangguo, but went with the eggplant instead, and wow, this place is a real Chinese food gem!! I'd never had eggplant fried this crispy in square stick shapes before, and it held up even against the version I once had at a lamb skewer place near Seoul National University Station.

Crispy and tangy — the kind of taste that keeps your chopsticks going back for more. It paired really well as a drinking snack too. The kind of dish you'd want again, one that revives your appetite even when you have none. The heat was strong enough that everything cooked quickly.

The oil drained right out and the outside turned a nice golden brown

A well-grilled skewer. The lamb loin skewers were noticeably bigger, cut into chunks almost twice the size of a regular skewer.

Lamb skewers and Tsingtao: day drinking on the last dog day of summer

Dipping each skewer into cumin and cheongyang chili soy sauce separately. The lamb skewers are delicious on their own, but rich meat always calls for beer!

Lamb skewers really do call for Tsingtao! It had been a while since I'd had lamb skewers, and paired with Tsingtao, this day-drinking session was pure bliss!

The lamb skewers were great, but the Chinese dishes that call for a drink were also really good value — this place works well for a couple's date, but it's also easy to share a range of dishes with a group, so I'd recommend it for a Gyodae Station work dinner or gathering.

Is Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 worth a visit?

If you're looking for lamb skewers or lamb ribs near Gyodae Station, Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 is well worth a visit. The lamb skewers were savory and moist with no gamey smell, and the lamb loin skewers had real meaty flavor and juiciness — anyone who's tried lamb skewers before will be satisfied.