Friday Korean BBQ lunch at City Hall Station: hanwoo 1+ set, Geumseong

Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch (금성회관 서울시청직영점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Bukchang-dong, near City Hall Station in Seoul, serving grilled hanwoo (Korean beef) and pork plus lunch specials. This time I went for a good-value hanwoo lunch. The hanwoo 1+ galbi-sal set came with sundubu stew (soft tofu stew) and rice, so it was really filling, and I added steamed egg and cold noodles too. Here's the menu and how it went.

Where is Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch?

It's at 30 Namdaemun-ro 1-gil, 1st floor, Jung-gu, Seoul, in Bukchang-dong. It's a good pick when you're looking for a meal around City Hall and City Hall Station, but parking is difficult, so you'll need a nearby paid parking lot.

⬆️ See here for the nearby paid parking lot

Friday lunch with my bestie, with a reservation

I booked ahead so my best friend and I could have lunch here on a Friday. You order through a kiosk at the table, which was handy not just for the first order but for adding more later~

When you're hunting for Korean BBQ around City Hall or City Hall Station, you wonder whether you can get meat on a lunch menu and whether a proper meal comes with it. At Geumseong Hoegwan, the hanwoo galbi-sal set includes a stew and rice, so you get meat and a meal in one go.

How was the hanwoo 1+ galbi-sal set?

What we ordered was the hanwoo 1+ galbi-sal set (beef rib meat set) for 2. Once grilled, it wasn't tough and had a rich, savory juiciness, so I was happy with it.

This is how the hanwoo galbi-sal came out. Beautiful color, and looks delicious, right?

Grilled up, it wasn't tough and the meat's savory juices really came through. A light dip in salt lets you enjoy the natural flavor of the beef,

and adding wasabi gives it a sharp kick that made it feel like a different dish. If you want grilled hanwoo for lunch near City Hall, I recommend Geumseong Hoegwan's hanwoo 1+ galbi-sal set~~

Does the lunch set include sundubu stew and rice?

Yes, the hanwoo 1+ galbi-sal set at Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch came with sundubu stew and rice. It's not just meat, which is what I liked most about this lunch special.

The sundubu stew came in one earthenware pot for two. The broth was spicy and went well with the meat, and with the rice it was plenty for a meal.

Side dishes and fried eggs

The side dishes were stir-fried sausage, seasoned bean sprouts, corn salad and white kimchi~

Since I'd reserved, the 4 side dishes were already set on the table, and after we ordered, they brought a well-done fried egg for each person.

With sides for the meat plus stew and rice, you don't need to add a separate meal item and still leave full. Total win~! I'd recommend it to anyone around City Hall looking for a lunch where they can have meat and a full meal together.

Extras: steamed egg, icy mul naengmyeon, grilling vegetables

The extras we ordered at Geumseong Hoegwan were steamed egg and mul naengmyeon. The steamed egg was mild, and the naengmyeon had ice flakes floating in it, so it was refreshing.

The steamed egg came in a small bowl and wasn't strongly seasoned, a bit on the bland side. That actually made it easy to eat without feeling heavy.

The naengmyeon noodles were nice and chewy. A swirl of vinegar and mustard, a couple of times around..

Love those floating ice flakes. It was October.. but the weather was hot that day. Drinking that icy naengmyeon broth was so cool and refreshing. There seemed to be fewer vegetables compared to the meat, so I added grilling vegetables too. A ₩3,000 happiness, you could say?

Grilled vegetables are a treat with meat, after all~ The stew and rice in the set were enough for a meal on their own, but I liked that the side menu is varied and you can add more. Finally, they gave us a big serving of plum tea as dessert, which doubles as a digestive aid. Perfect, right?

Checkpoints before visiting Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch

Is it easy to reach by public transport?

It's about a 4-minute walk from Exit 7 of City Hall Station (Lines 1 and 2).

Can you park?

Parking is difficult, so use a nearby paid parking lot.

What does the lunch set include?

The hanwoo 1+ galbi-sal set came with sundubu stew and rice, and side dishes and a fried egg were provided too.

Can you visit after booking on Naver?

I hear there are various events for Naver bookings, so I recommend reserving before you go.

Verdict: who is this City Hall Korean BBQ restaurant for?

Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Bukchang-dong near City Hall and City Hall Station where you can enjoy meat and a lunch special. The spicy sundubu stew and rice included in the lunch menu made it a satisfyingly full meal, and I liked the variety of side menu items. If you want to enjoy proper meat at lunch, give it a look.

👍 Highly recommended for (Yes!)

• People who want a hanwoo lunch near City Hall
• People who want rice with their meat dishes
• People looking for a lunch spot with coworkers in Bukchang-dong

👎 Not recommended for (No!)

• People who want a simple meal without meat
• People looking for a clean restaurant with no grilled-meat smell
• People who don't prefer eating meat