Hongdae Korean BBQ, stone grill vs the charcoal main branch: Gogikkun

Yesterday I got so stressed after work that I headed to my go-to spot, Gogikkun Gimchunbae (고기꾼김춘배)! I'd mostly been to the Hongdae main branch, but the open-air vibe by the forest path looked so good. So this time I went to the Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch. The menu is a little different from the main branch, so I'll cover that too!!

Where is Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch, and what are the hours?

Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch is next to Gyeongui Line Forest Park, off Seogang-ro in Mapo, Seoul, and it's open daily from 12:00 to 23:00.

• Location: 31-2 Seogang-ro 13-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 12:00–23:00

Window seats at Gogikkun Gimchunbae Supgil Branch: do you need to book?

Almost all the window seats seem to be reserved, so I recommend booking ahead. I arrived around 6:30 PM on a weekday and it was already pretty busy.

I often stroll the Gyeongui Line Forest Park whenever I'm in Hongdae, and every time I walked past this place the vibe was so good I thought, I have to come here. I even considered the outdoor seats, but it gets a bit chilly in the evening, haha, so we sat by the window.

And here's why I love Gogikkun Gimchunbae: corkage is free! We really love wine, so free corkage gets all my love ♥

Inside Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch: the atmosphere

Sitting by the window gives you a half-open-air feel. The place was nearly full, so it was awkward to take photos (sob), but I snapped a bit to show you the vibe. A cool breeze drifted in and the greenery outside was so lovely.

Supgil Branch menu and prices: how is it different from the main branch?

The cuts in the set menu differ a little from the Hongdae main branch. The main branch has ogyeopsal (five-layer pork belly), while the Supgil Branch has regular samgyeop (pork belly). Order placed!

• Hanwoo/HanDon set for two ₩109,000 (pork neck, rib meat, today's hanwoo)
• Kkakdugi fried rice (cubed radish kimchi fried rice) ₩8,000
• Half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles) ₩7,000

Another difference: the Supgil Branch uses this stone grill, while the main branch grills over charcoal! Pick whichever suits your taste~

Gogikkun Gimchunbae side dishes: why is the myeongi (pickled wild garlic leaf) so good?

The side dishes (banchan) at the Supgil Branch are bean sprouts, myeongi namul (pickled wild garlic-like greens), pickled onions, shredded scallions and a dipping sauce. The myeongi is insanely good. Seriously, so so good.

Wine and meat at an open-air table. That green walking-path view in front of you is just so pretty. It's not specially decorated, but it felt like escaping the bustle of downtown Seoul and relaxing.

Korean beef and pork set for two: what's in it and how it tastes

That day the Hanwoo/HanDon set for two came with 250g pork neck, 200g rib meat and 150g salchisal (chuck flap). Look at the marbling on that salchisal! Whether it's the main branch or the Supgil Branch, Gimchunbae's meat quality is clearly good.

The staff grill everything for you, so you can just sit back and eat. Starting with the salchisal~

Chuck flap (salchisal): tender, and the set portion is just right

The salchisal is so tender and bursting with juice, a different kind of delicious from sirloin. But it's fatty, so I can't eat a lot of it,,, and the amount in the set is just right. Still, Gimchunbae has a variety of sauces and side dishes to go with it, so it didn't feel too greasy.

Beef rib finger meat wrapped in myeongi with garlic sauce

Next, the rib meat! I think it has a nice balance of lean meat and fat like pork belly, and you can really taste the nutty fat flavor you get from hangjeongsal (pork jowl).

It's tasty with just ssamjang (dipping paste), but please try wrapping it in myeongi namul (sob). I recommend topping it with the minced garlic sauce(?) too!!!

Pork neck: thick Korean pork grilled with minari and kimchi

The pork neck is grilled together with minari (water dropwort) and kimchi. I don't eat minari, so I passed ^^ Pork neck is thick and mostly lean, so it gets really dry if grilled wrong, but the staff grilled it just right and it was tender.

One bite rolled up in grilled kimchi. Kimchi is already delicious, and grilled in pork fat it's even better, right~ I'll gain weight, but it's my favorite combo, ahead of every other side dish ♥ Although here it gets slightly beaten by the myeongi namul, lol

Kkakdugi fried rice, stir-fried on the stone grill at the Supgil Branch

Because the Supgil Branch uses a stone grill rather than charcoal, the kkakdugi fried rice (₩8,000) is stir-fried right on the stone. At the main branch the fried rice came separately in a bowl, which was a little disappointing. Fried rice is best when it's pressed onto the grill (sob)

The lighting made my photo look kind of unappetizing, but you absolutely have to order the kkakdugi fried rice. It's made with kkakdugi instead of kimchi, which you rarely find at other BBQ places, with a lovely crunchy texture and a little meat mixed in, so how could it not be good!!!

Finishing with half-and-half naengmyeon

Gogikkun Gimchunbae's half-and-half naengmyeon (₩7,000) solves the dilemma of choosing between mulnaengmyeon (broth) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed). The spicy one is a bit hot and wipes away the greasiness of the meat, and the broth one is seasoned perfectly without any mustard or vinegar.

The restroom inside is clean too, so good.

Verdict: looking for open-air Korean BBQ in Hongdae?

I'd recommend Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch if you're looking for a Korean BBQ place with a great open-air atmosphere in Hongdae. Free corkage meant we could enjoy delicious meat with the drinks we wanted. Visit before it gets colder and soak up the open-air vibe!!