Guro Seoul Korean BBQ with spicy eel and octopus: Meongteongguri

I had dinner plans with a friend in Sindorim, so while looking for a good nearby place, we ended up visiting Meongteongguri Kkomjangeo Makchang Guro-gu Sindorim Branch (멍텅구리꼼장어막창 구로구신도림점).

From its name, I thought it might specialize only in hagfish and makchang (pork large intestine), but the menu had a surprisingly broad selection: hagfish and webfoot octopus, of course, plus beef rib meat, pork belly, and pork skin.

So even if you visit with someone who does not usually eat hagfish, everyone can choose what they want and enjoy it charcoal-grilled.

Above all, the restaurant is decorated in a retro style that is hard to find these days. It looked like a nice option for dinner in Sindorim, a casual drink with a meal, or even a work gathering.

Where is it, between Sindorim and Guro Stations?

Address: 2F, 620-1 Gyeongin-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul, South Korea Hours: Tue–Sun 16:00–24:00 Last order: 23:00 Regular closing day: Every Monday

It sits between Sindorim Station and Guro Station, near Ramada Hotel and The Link Seoul, so it was not hard to find.

A retro bar with full-on 1980s–90s vibes

After checking the sign and heading up to the second floor, the interior was even more fun than I expected.

The space is centered on mint and burgundy tones, with photos from the 1980s and 1990s posted throughout. On one side, an old TV played Gayo Top 10.

That day, familiar songs from Sechs Kies, Uhm Jung-hwa, Seo Taiji and Boys, and more were playing. Listening while we waited for the food was such a treat. As my friend and I hummed along whenever we knew a song, old memories naturally came up too. 😆

The round tables were especially fun—they gave it the feel of an old-fashioned Korean barbecue restaurant. The tables were reasonably spaced, too, so it also looked suitable for a Sindorim company dinner or group get-together.

A varied menu, from hagfish and octopus to meat

There were more choices on the menu than I expected.

Salt-grilled wild king hagfish ₩20,000 Seasoned hagfish ₩16,000 Seasoned webfoot octopus ₩16,000 Beef rib meat ₩16,000 Old-style makchang ₩15,000 Par-cooked pork belly ₩15,000 Pork skin ₩10,000

Hagfish is naturally the centerpiece here, but there is also seasoned webfoot octopus, beef rib meat, and par-cooked pork belly, so you can choose to suit your taste. There are combo menus for trying several things at once as well, which would be great for a group.

Kkomjju ₩30,000 Jjusam ₩30,000 Kkomjjusam ₩44,000 Kkomjjudak ₩44,000

We ordered seasoned hagfish and seasoned webfoot octopus

We ordered two portions of seasoned hagfish plus one portion of seasoned webfoot octopus, then added soybean-paste rice stew as a side.

The basic side dishes were the first things set on our table: young-radish kimchi, dressed lettuce, fresh vegetables, perilla leaves in soy sauce, and hot bean-sprout soup.

The bean-sprout soup was more pleasantly spicy than expected, making it nice to have a spoonful of broth before the grilled food.

As we were having the soup, the charcoal arrived shortly after. 🔥

How did we grill the seasoned hagfish and octopus?

The seasoned hagfish and octopus did not arrive separately; they came tossed together in the sauce, and the serving was quite generous. The two of us eat fairly well and can usually finish about three portions, but after finishing all three portions here, we were absolutely stuffed.

The hagfish had already been partially grilled before being mixed with the sauce, so it did not need long over the charcoal. We just cooked it until the sauce was sizzling and it was heated through.

It was best not to overcook the webfoot octopus either. A light cook kept its springy, tender texture intact.

I tried the hagfish first, and its texture was really interesting. It was bouncy and pleasantly chewy, with a little springy snap when you bit into it. The sweet-spicy seasoning had soaked in, and the charcoal aroma made me keep reaching for more.

The sauce was not just overwhelmingly spicy; it had a balanced sweetness and savory depth that would go really well with drinks.

The webfoot octopus had a different appeal. Every bite had a pop of bounce, while staying tender and chewy. A light charcoal aroma worked beautifully with the savory sauce too.

Even as we got fuller and fuller, we kept grilling and eating the hagfish and octopus left on the charcoal. 😂

Soybean-paste rice stew you should order even when full

The soybean-paste rice stew we ordered as a side was also very satisfying. We were already pretty full after diligently eating the hagfish and octopus, but once it arrived, I simply could not put down my spoon.

It comes bubbling away, with rice mixed into a thick soybean-paste stew along with plenty of zucchini and tofu.

It was hot, so at first I blew on each spoonful and ate carefully. The nutty, salty soybean-paste flavor brought the rice, tofu, and zucchini together perfectly for finishing a grilled meal.

Personally, I would recommend ordering the soybean-paste rice stew even if you are full. 👍

They also said that leaving a receipt review gets you complimentary soybean-paste stew or steamed egg. We were too full to take part in the receipt-review event, but I definitely want to use it next time.

An easygoing dinner spot in Sindorim

Meongteongguri Kkomjangeo Makchang Guro-gu Sindorim Branch is appealing not simply as a place to eat hagfish, but because you can choose various dishes to grill over charcoal according to your taste. Hagfish lovers can have hagfish, seafood lovers can pick octopus, and anyone unfamiliar with hagfish can order beef rib meat or par-cooked pork belly, making it easy for a group with different preferences.

Most of all, the 1980s–90s music, old TV, and retro interior gave it a slightly different atmosphere from an ordinary Korean barbecue place. If you are looking between Sindorim and Guro Stations for dinner, a company gathering, or somewhere for drinks after your first stop, it is worth visiting. We had a really enjoyable evening chatting comfortably over delicious charcoal grilling and reminiscing while listening to familiar old songs. 😊