Hagfish pub near Dunchondong Station: pork skin set & fish cake soup

Today I visited Ppalgan Kkomjangeo (빨간꼼장어) Dunchondong Station Main Branch, a true local spot that only those in the know seem to find near Dunchondong Station! Around the end of the workday, the savory, spicy smell of charcoal drifts through the alley and pulls in lots of people. When you crave that chewy hagfish texture and a spicy sauce that melts away stress, there's no better place. Let me show you the scene that makes you want a glass of soju right away!

Ppalgan Kkomjangeo Dunchondong Station: hours and parking

• Address: 8 Pungseong-ro 56-gil, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
• Hours: daily 16:30–23:00, closed every Sunday
• Parking: not available (nearby paid lots: Dunchon Station traditional market public lot / Oscar Shopping Center)

How to find Ppalgan Kkomjangeo from Dunchondong Station

Ppalgan Kkomjangeo Dunchondong Station Main Branch has an orange sign that stands out from far away and gives off classic famous-restaurant vibes! The smell of food grilling over charcoal hits your nose right at the entrance :)

Public transport access is really great. It's about a 3–5 minute walk from Exit 4 of Dunchondong Station on subway Line 5, so it's perfect for an after-work drink! If you're driving, I recommend the Dunchon Station traditional market public parking lot or another nearby paid lot. Since it's right by the station, try to take public transport so you can enjoy tasty hagfish and a glass of soju without worry!

How does the waiting list at Ppalgan Kkomjangeo work?

If there's a wait, you write your party size and name on the waiting list by the door. I visited late on a weekday evening and there was no wait :)

Inside Ppalgan Kkomjangeo: the pocha atmosphere

Inside, round tables give it a warm pocha (Korean tavern) feel, perfect for huddling together and chatting.

The walls covered with customers' messages prove how long this place has been loved.

It's an ideal place to drop in with friends or coworkers and shake off the day's fatigue!

The vent hood at each table even has tips on how to enjoy hagfish, chicken feet, pork skin and more :)

Ppalgan Kkomjangeo menu and takeout

Besides its signature hagfish (kkomjangeo), Ppalgan Kkomjangeo Dunchondong Station Main Branch sells a variety of dishes including chicken feet, pork intestines, pork skin and pork ribs.

Takeout is available too, so next time I'm thinking of taking some home to enjoy comfortably!

Set 2, spicy hagfish and pork skin for 39,000 won: what free side dishes come with it?

At Ppalgan Kkomjangeo we had Set 2 (₩39,000): spicy hagfish plus pork skin!

One of the biggest charms here is the incredibly generous free side dishes and the great-value sets! I was surprised by the sides that arrived as soon as we sat down. Warm tofu kimchi and a refreshing fish cake soup come out as standard! The quality was so good that you could easily finish a bottle of soju before the main dish even arrives :)

On top of that, they thoughtfully prepared seasoned lettuce, perilla leaf kimchi and a special sauce to go with the hagfish and pork skin!

How does the charcoal-grilled spicy hagfish taste?

At last, the main dishes of Set 2, spicy hagfish and pork skin, were ready and looking delicious!

The hagfish, evenly coated in red sauce, is overwhelming just to look at. As it turns golden over the charcoal, the savory depth of the sauce just explodes,

and with the first bite, that signature hagfish texture, crunchy yet chewy, is fantastic! The more you chew, the more the savory juices mingle with the spicy sauce, and it's seriously addictive.

Thanks to the subtle smoky flavor, it tastes clean with no off smell at all. The rice cake sticks (tteok) mixed in among the hagfish were nicely savory when cooked over the charcoal, too.

Add the various side dishes and the special sauce, and the flavor is outstanding :)

Pork skin dipped in soybean powder

And how chewy was the pork skin that came with Set 2? It's lightly seasoned so it's tasty as is, but grill it until crisp and dip it in soybean powder (kongga-ru), and the mix of nutty and chewy is a work of art.

One bite of spicy hagfish, then one bite of nutty pork skin: this combo really made me glad we ordered Set 2 :)

Who is Ppalgan Kkomjangeo Dunchondong Station Main Branch for?

From the free side dishes to the main dishes, nothing was lacking at Ppalgan Kkomjangeo Dunchondong Station Main Branch. Thanks to the owner's generosity, it was a meal that left me full and in a good mood :) If you're looking for a proper hagfish spot near Dunchondong Station, or want a hearty pocha-style meal with drinks, don't hesitate to visit. One taste and you'll understand why people become regulars!