Late-night Gangnam BBQ with the Meat Explosion set: Kkondae Kim Bujang

Is Kkondae Kim Bujang good for a Gangnam Station group dinner?

A lot of people these days are agonizing over where to hold a group dinner or gathering — I was one of them recently, searching forever to find a spot for a friends' meetup. That's how I ended up at Kkondae Kim Bujang Gogi-jip Gangnam Station Branch, which turned out to be a perfect Korean BBQ spot for a Gangnam Station group dinner. Here's my honest review.

It's only 340m from Gangnam Station Exit 11, so walking there wasn't a hassle at all, and since it's open until 12:30am the next day on weekdays and Saturdays, it worked out great as a second-round drinking spot too.

Inside the wide hall and well-spaced tables

I came with friends, and the first thing that hit me was how spacious and clean the place was. What I appreciated most was the generous spacing between tables — we could talk freely without worrying about the table next to us. The hall felt big enough to easily handle a large group dinner or gathering.

There are so many Korean BBQ spots near Gangnam Station, and I always end up at a cramped, noisy one. It had been a while since I'd seen this much space between tables. At a group dinner, voices tend to get loud, and not having to worry about the neighboring table turned out to be a bigger perk than I expected. The interior was well-kept too, so sitting for a long time never felt uncomfortable.

What comes with Kim Chajang's Meat Explosion set

True to the restaurant's concept, even the menu names were fun.

We ordered Kim Chajang's Meat Explosion Set off the menu. The name alone made the choice easy, and a staff member grilled it right at our table, so we could focus purely on eating. Not having to worry about who's manning the grill during a group dinner turned out to be a subtly big plus.

The basic side dishes came in a 10-item spread, which surprised all my friends. Everything was tasty and paired well with the meat.

These mushrooms were soft and chewy and delicious too. The texture was so chewy that at first bite I thought, wait, is this abalone?

The drinks were neatly arranged, and each order came out ice-cold.

How the staff-grilled pork belly, pork neck and kkodeulsal tasted

The staff were so skilled at grilling that we could focus on conversation without any worry. The pork belly had good thickness, giving it a satisfying bite, and the fatty parts had great flavor. The pork neck was relatively lean, so it was nice to alternate between the two.

Personally, the kkodeulsal (chewy pork muscle meat) was my favorite — I'd especially recommend it to anyone who loves a chewy texture.

The pork skin was trimmed and prepared so well that even after filling up on meat, we could still enjoy it as a light finisher.

Late-night dinners and second rounds near Gangnam Station

Spacious, comfortable atmosphere, the ease of having someone grill for you, and solid satisfaction across every cut — this is a place I'd recommend without hesitation if you're deciding on a group dinner spot near Gangnam Station. It stays open late, so it's great for continuing into a second round of drinks, and the roomy seating is a big plus for larger groups too.