Hongdae Korean BBQ by Gyeongui Line Forest Park: Gogikkun Gimchunbae

On an early evening with a pleasantly cool breeze, my husband and I were out in Hongdae and had dinner at Gogikkun Gimchunbae, a place I had noticed while walking along Gyeongui Line Forest Park before. The weather lately is just perfect for that open-air tent-bar vibe, and I loved that this Korean BBQ restaurant lets you enjoy the atmosphere of the forest park after stepping just a little away from busy Hongdae Entrance.

A Korean BBQ restaurant tucked along Gyeongui Line Forest Park

A Korean BBQ restaurant found on a walk through Gyeongui Line Forest Park

Gyeongui Line Forest Park was created by turning the former Gyeongui Line railway tracks into a park.

It also connects to the Hongdae Red Road walking route, so it has a quieter atmosphere that feels quite different from Hongdae's crowded main streets. As we walked along the forest path, Gogikkun Gimchunbae appeared right through the trees, so we got there as if we were simply taking a stroll.

The atmosphere at Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch

As you walk over, the low building and tiled roof, which bring a hanok to mind, catch your eye from a distance. It was a Korean BBQ restaurant with an atmosphere a little different from its surroundings, so it made an impression from the start.

Inside, it felt cozy overall, with that proper old-school restaurant mood that would be great for drinks with friends in the evening or a stop after work.

Most of all, the main entrance was thrown wide open, and it had exactly the open-air tent-bar atmosphere my husband loves. Just imagining grilling meat while looking at all that greenery, the mood already felt complete before we had even sat down.

A set for two with Korean beef and Korean pork

Gogikkun Gimchunbae has sets that combine Korean beef and Korean pork, Korean pork sets, and individual cuts. We chose the Korean beef and pork set for two. It comes with pork neck, pork rib meat, and today's Korean beef, for a total of 600g.

Eating only pork felt a little disappointing, but having only Korean beef felt like a splurge, so this was just right for us since we wanted to try both. At 600g, it is a generous amount for two people, but my husband is such a big eater that we could definitely handle it. If you want a lighter meal, there is also a Korean pork set for two.

• Korean pork set for 2: pork neck + pork rib meat + pork belly, 600g total, ₩66,000
• Korean beef and pork set for 2: pork neck + pork rib meat + today's Korean beef, 600g total, ₩109,000
• Half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles): mul-naengmyeon + bibim-naengmyeon, ₩7,000
• Kkakdugi fried rice: 2 servings, ₩8,000

The Korean pork set lets you have pork neck, pork rib meat, and pork belly all at once, so it seemed like the safest set for two if pork is your focus. More than anything, whenever I order naengmyeon (cold noodles) for dessert, I always agonize over whether to get mul-naengmyeon or bibim-naengmyeon. But this place has half-and-half naengmyeon, so I could have both and ordered it right away without any hesitation.

Staff-grilled Korean beef and pork, plus the sides

At Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch, the staff grill the meat themselves from beginning to end. Thanks to that, we could just relax and eat without worrying about the grill at all.

They started by grilling the beef, and the marbling looked so good. From the first bite, it really felt like it was melting in my mouth. The juices were still beautifully there too, so it was delicious from the very first piece.

For the pork, the rib meat with the rib bone attached felt a little unusual. The pork neck was also served in thick cuts, and it looked fresh from the color alone, so I was excited. Once I tried it, rather than being only soft, it was nicely springy with a great chew, and it was delicious even with just a light dip in salt.

I especially liked that minari (water celery) came with the meal to eat alongside the meat. Its herbal aroma went so well with the rich pork, making everything feel much cleaner when I had some in between bites.

The naengmyeon had a clean flavor, so it was perfect to eat with the meat. And when the kkakdugi fried rice arrived, I was genuinely shocked by the portion. It was so abundant that I wondered if it had come out by mistake, but in the end we ate every last bit of it.

It even had finely chopped meat mixed in, so it became richer the more I chewed, with the savory depth of the kkakdugi adding even more flavor. Overall, I was happy not only with the meat but also with the atmosphere and the convenience of having everything grilled for us. If you are looking for a place in Hongdae to enjoy an old-school restaurant mood and meat with an open forest-park view, I think this is worth a stop :)