Gangnam Korean BBQ date night with bear yuzu highball: Gogikkun

We dropped the kids off at my parents' place and had ourselves a precious free afternoon again!

How to find Gogikkun Kimchunbae Gangnam behind the Gangnam CGV

This time we headed to Gangnam Station. Our destination was 'Gogikkun Kimchunbae Gangnam,' a Korean BBQ restaurant known by word of mouth around Gangnam Station — we found it easily after walking up the road behind the Gangnam CGV.

Funny enough, my husband and I first met on a blind date, and that first meeting spot was right in front of the Gangnam CGV haha. I'd just come back from living in Mexico, so this was my first time walking this street in a while — it brought back a lot of memories.

There was even a waiting area with a thoughtfully placed cold water fridge!

What side dishes and seating does Gogikkun Kimchunbae Gangnam have?

Since we'd made a reservation ahead of time, our table already had neat little banchan (side dishes) set up when we arrived.

There were as many as four different dipping sauces for the meat, plus crisp fresh scallion strips, wild garlic leaves, and baek-kimchi (white kimchi) — a nicely stocked spread.

They also handed us clean disposable aprons right away, a nice touch.

Looking around, the partitions were well set up, making it easy to enjoy a quiet, cozy meal with just the two of us. My husband said it's actually a regular spot he goes to with coworkers.

What we ordered: 200g premium-selected ogyeopsal and pork neck

We ordered the premium-selected pork neck (200g) and premium-selected pork belly (200g), along with soju, beer, and a refreshing yuzu highball. Of course, we didn't forget to ask for the complimentary melotdeot!

The menu board thoughtfully noted free items for wedding-invite gatherings and pregnant customers, a thank-you discount for firefighters, military, and police, and even had first-aid supplies on hand just in case.

The yuzu highball with a bear-shaped yuzu ice cube

Our drinks came out first. Between cool autumn air and still-strong sunshine these days, a cold soju-beer mix really hit the spot.

Then came the yuzu highball, with an adorable bear-shaped yuzu ice cube floating inside — it was seriously so cute!

The ice didn't fully melt even by the end of the meal, so the drink stayed cold and refreshing all the way through.

Charcoal grilling: staff cook the pork at your table

Once the charcoal grill was set, they also brought us small ice chips. Apparently, since pork drips fat while grilling and can flare up, a bit of ice on the flame helps calm it down.

We laid the thick cuts of pork belly and pork neck onto the hot grill, and they started sizzling right away.

Since we're not the best at grilling, the staff kindly stepped in to help whenever they saw us struggling — we were really grateful, haha.

Getting to enjoy a leisurely charcoal-grilled meal without the kids, after so many rushed mealtimes taking care of them, really felt like freedom.

How to eat it: meljeot, white kimchi and scallion salad

The thick cuts of meat had really impressive juiciness.

We dipped it lightly in salt sometimes, or paired it with baek-kimchi, melotdeot, and crisp scallion strips — it kept going down without ever getting boring.

Dipped in the sizzling melotdeot, or eaten with ssamjang or salt, it was delicious either way.

My favorite combo was meat piled on baek-kimchi with scallion strips on top — especially good.

Second round: seasoned pork skin and kimchi-mari guksu

We were already pretty full from the meat, but a Korean meal doesn't feel complete without some carbs, right?

So we ordered kimchi noodle soup (kimchi-mari guksu) loaded with slushy ice, plus seasoned pork skin, which my husband loves.

Grilled golden-brown with the occasional ice cube on the pan, the seasoned pork skin was chewy and savory — dipped in misugaru (roasted grain powder), it was a real treat.

The kimchi noodle soup came out generously in a big metal bowl. The thin noodles were properly rinsed and springy, and the rich broth cut right through any greasiness! Eating it with the leftover meat made it even better.

Is Gogikkun Kimchunbae Gangnam worth it? Book before you go

After a while, we got to enjoy a Gangnam outing with the kids briefly taken care of, chatting with my husband about how we first met — a happy little taste of freedom.

If you're looking for a private spot near Gangnam Station with excellent grilled meat, I'd recommend Gogikkun Kimchunbae Gangnam.

As we were leaving, there were already teams waiting for a table! Make sure to reserve ahead, haha.