Gopchang restaurant in Dunsan-dong with scallion kimchi refills: Uhwa

An honest review of Uhwa Gopchang's main branch — Dunsan-dong's go-to gopchang spot for that outdoor drinking-tent vibe

Where is Uhwa Gopchang, and what are its hours?

Uhwa Gopchang is a gopchang restaurant at 58 Daedeok-daero 195beon-gil, Seo-gu, Daejeon, tucked just a bit off Dunsan-dong's main street. As the weather's been cooling down, I've been on the hunt for somewhere to enjoy a cool drink outdoors, and I heard there's a gopchang place in Dunsan-dong where you can really soak up that outdoor tent atmosphere — so I went to check it out.

• ⏰ Hours: open daily from 17:00 to 24:00
• 🅿️ Parking: use nearby side streets or underground parking lots

What the outdoor tables feel like at 7pm

I love gopchang, so I went in with high expectations, arriving around 7pm — and the outdoor tables were already packed with people! It was peak dinner hour, so the place was buzzing with a lively crowd. Once I sat down outside, the cool breeze and that outdoor-tent atmosphere really put me in a good mood.

As soon as we sat down, we ordered a mixed gopchang platter for two and a bottle of Chamisul soju. Ordering was easy — just scan the QR code on the table.

The side dishes — and a free scallion kimchi refill

A bit later, the standard side dishes came out: seaweed soup, tteokbokki, raw liver, tripe, pickled onion, and more. I liked that it was a light lineup to whet the appetite before the main food arrived. The seasoning on all the side dishes was spot on and everything was tasty! The perilla leaves and paji kimchi (scallion kimchi) in particular were seriously so good! I ended up getting a refill of the paji kimchi.

What's in the mixed gopchang platter for two, and how it tastes

After a bit of a wait, the mixed gopchang platter arrived — and wow?! The staff grilled everything from start to finish and cut it into bite-sized pieces, so it was so easy to eat! They even cut the daechang (large intestine) so it cooked all the way through — seriously delicious. (The owner's got some serious skills..)

The mixed gopchang platter came with heart, beef brisket, daechang, gopchang, rice cake, mushroom, potato, kimchi, and bean sprouts. The lineup was generous, the combination worked well, and the portion was more than enough. The gopchang was packed full of fat inside, so it was genuinely nutty and rich without being greasy! No off smell at all. To my taste, it was on par with that famous Jjeoyang gopchang (golden gopchang) I had ages ago!

And eating it together with the paji kimchi and regular kimchi cut right through the richness, so I could keep eating without getting sick of it! Paired with soju, it was the perfect drinking snack haha.

Finishing the meal with fried rice

After finishing the gopchang, we also had the fried rice, and honestly the look of it doesn't do it justice. Rice fried in all that delicious gopchang fat — the combination is just insane (eaten with the paji kimchi, it just disappears..).

Uhwa Gopchang: the good and the not so good

The biggest upside from this visit was, hands down, that refreshing outdoor-tent atmosphere. Eating gopchang in what feels like an outdoor terrace space made the whole experience feel that much more special.

That said, during peak hours the place can get pretty crowded and a bit noisy. Also worth noting that popular seats or times may involve a wait. (Staff set up a new table every time more guests arrive!)

Is Uhwa Gopchang worth a visit in Dunsan-dong?

If you want to soak up that outdoor-tent feeling in Dunsan-dong, or you're after a really good mixed gopchang platter, I don't think you'll regret a visit here. It's a great spot for a casual, fun time with friends or a partner.