Mokdong 2nd-round Korean BBQ: hagfish, shrimp egg custard at Gamgol

I went back to Mokdong, where I used to live, for the first time in a while. I met a friend, we had a good dinner for round one, and then we wondered, "Where should we go for round two?" Someone recommended Gamgol Yeontanjip (감골연탄집), famous for its drinking snacks, so we went.

With briquette grills, good meat alone is already a win, but when the side dishes are good too, the drinks just keep flowing. To get to the point: the skin with real briquette aroma and the spicy hagfish were satisfying, but personally the shrimp egg custard was the real surprise. If you're looking for a good meat restaurant near Omokgyo, or a place for round two and a drink in Mokdong, this place will more than satisfy you.

Where is Gamgol Yeontanjip Mokdong, and what's the atmosphere like?

Gamgol Yeontanjip Mokdong is in the eating alley about a 5-minute walk from Omokgyo Station. The alley is packed with places for a drink in Mokdong, so it's easy to move over for round two after round one.

Inside, floral wallpaper and little props caught my eye. In today's terms: retro vibes! It even felt a bit like an old-school street-stall tent, a comfortable Mokdong pub for drinking with friends.

Gamgol Yeontanjip Mokdong menu and how to order

You order on the kiosk installed at each table. You don't have to keep calling the staff, so ordering was easy.

The main menu is pork, with a wide range of briquette-grilled items like pork skin and hagfish (kkomjangeo). We had already eaten dinner, so we ordered just two snacks: 1 serving of honeycomb pork skin and spicy marinated hagfish. As you'd expect from a top Omokgyo meat restaurant, there's a big variety of briquette-grilled dishes, so next time I want to try the pork cuts too.

What side dishes come with the Korean BBQ?

The side dishes at Gamgol Yeontanjip come out neater than I expected. Each one was prepared cleanly, so I was happy from the start.

Pickled green onion, kimchi and ssam vegetables: a lineup that goes well with briquette grilling. The kimchi in particular looked delicious even before grilling.

How does briquette-grilled honeycomb pork skin taste?

The spicy marinated hagfish and honeycomb pork skin came out first! Since the hagfish was already marinated, we decided to grill the skin first.

The honeycomb pork skin is cut into long strips, so it was easy to flip and grill.

We put kimchi on to grill too. Grilled kimchi is a must with briquette-grilled food.

The aroma rising from the skin cooking over the briquettes was wonderful. It definitely picks up a briquette smokiness that's different from charcoal.

The heat was just right, so it turned golden faster than I expected. The moment it's crispy outside and chewy inside!

I dipped it in roasted soybean powder and took a bite: chewy and nutty, just as it should be. If you like pork skin, you'll be happy with this.

Next I wrapped it in a perilla leaf. The fragrant leaf made it feel like a whole different dish.

I tried the kimchi grilled alongside, too. The tangy flavor kept me reaching for more.

What's the best way to eat spicy marinated hagfish?

Then we swapped the grill plate and put on the spicy marinated hagfish. It comes already cut into bite-size pieces, so it was easy to grill.

As soon as it started cooking, a slightly spicy marinade aroma rose up. That smell alone tells you it's a drinking snack.

Golden-cooked hagfish! It kept its springy texture and the marinade had soaked in just right.

I dipped it lightly in mayonnaise, and surprisingly the combo was really good. The spicy marinade and nutty mayo go well together, so I kept reaching for more.

Best dish of the night: the 5,900-won shrimp egg custard

As we ate, I noticed one dish that every table seemed to order: shrimp egg custard (gyeran-jjim, steamed egg)! I was curious, so I ordered it right away.

At ₩5,900, I honestly didn't expect much, but with the first bite I understood why everyone orders it. It's generously filled with plump barley shrimp and the egg is incredibly soft. The savory depth is great, so it works wonderfully as a drinking snack too, and personally it's among the best egg custards I've ever had. I'd go back just for this one dish!

Who should go to Gamgol Yeontanjip Mokdong for second-round drinks?

• Recommended if you like briquette grilling
• Recommended if you're looking for a second-round pub
• Recommended for company dinners and friend gatherings
• Be sure to order the shrimp egg custard

Gamgol Yeontanjip isn't just good at briquette grilling. The side dishes are good, both the honeycomb pork skin and the spicy marinated hagfish were satisfying, and above all the shrimp egg custard left a real impression. If you're looking for a top Omokgyo meat restaurant, it's good for a company dinner or a drink with friends, and I'd recommend it as a second-round spot after a date in Mokdong too!

Next time I'd like to go back and try the signature pork briquette grill.