Gyodae Station gimbap shop: fast black rice roll & chicken set, Halls

Why I stopped at Halls Gimbap Main Branch for a quick meal near Gyodae Station

After finishing some urgent errands near Gyodae, I suddenly got hungry and went looking for somewhere simple to eat, and ended up at Halls Gimbap Main Branch (홀스김밥본점). I didn't want to wander around hunting for a grand Gyodae Station restaurant. I badly needed a place for a quick meal.

A set with gimbap (seaweed rice roll) and dakgangjeong (sweet-spicy crispy fried chicken) was right there on the menu. It was much more filling than just one roll of gimbap, and the dakgangjeong was surprisingly good, so I felt I'd chosen well. It was simple snack food, but it was a warm meal you could tell was made with care.

Where is Halls Gimbap Main Branch, and what are its hours?

Halls Gimbap Main Branch is at 90 Seochojungang-ro 22-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Unit 101 on the 1st floor. It's open Monday to Friday 08:00–20:00, with a break time from 15:00 to 16:00 in the middle.

On Saturdays it runs from 8 a.m. to 15:00, and it's closed every Sunday, so check the day before you plan a visit.

From Exit 1 of Gyodae Station, walk a little way into the alley and the shop appears right in front of you. From outside it doesn't look like the rough, worn-out snack bar you might imagine. The exterior is much cleaner and more stylish, so it caught my eye right away.

Inside Halls Gimbap Main Branch: easy for eating alone?

Inside, there are bar tables, wooden chairs and window solo seats, so eating alone was comfortable. The cozy bar table and wooden chairs stood out with a nice mood. Stylish menu posters are stuck up here and there, so it was fun to plan what to eat in advance. Overall the interior was clean and well kept.

When I sat at the window, warm sunlight drifted in past the folding door. I loved the cute, charming atmosphere, and with solo tables tucked into every corner I could eat in peace without worrying about anyone's glances.

The neat tablecloths and green potted plants on the outdoor terrace were lovely too. Thanks to the cool weather, some people were relaxing outside while they ate, and I thought it was a perfect spot for a short break in the middle of a dry city.

Ordering at Halls Gimbap Main Branch is done at the kiosk

Halls Gimbap Main Branch is self-service, with ordering at a kiosk by the entrance. The smart kiosk was right there as I walked in, so I finished my order without delay. Picking items one by one on the clean screen with the Halls logo was really easy. Being self-service actually made things more convenient.

Looking slowly over the menu, the gimbap prices were really reasonable, and the dakgangjeong set kept catching my eye. There was also a notice about warm bonito (katsuobushi) broth, so I was already looking forward to having some soup with my gimbap.

What the dakgangjeong and Halls gimbap set includes, and how it tastes

The dakgangjeong and Halls gimbap set came out as a full tray, with green chili peppers and a Coca-Cola, all plated beautifully. Seeing the neatly arranged food woke my hungry appetite right up. The old saying that good-looking food tastes good came straight to mind.

Halls gimbap made with black rice, packed with fillings

The basic gimbap at Halls Gimbap Main Branch is definitely not the stuffed-with-rice kind. Fresh fillings like egg omelet strips, cucumber and fish cake are chunky and generous, and even a single slice gives off that packed feeling.

The gimbap came carefully arranged on a neat stainless steel tray, and since it's made with black rice it felt a lot healthier. Seeing all those fillings, I could feel the owner's warm generosity. It looked filling just to look at.

Sweet-spicy, crunchy dakgangjeong

The dakgangjeong was evenly coated in sweet-spicy sauce, and the green chili on top added a pretty splash of color. You could practically see the crunchy coating with your eyes, and the set felt generous, which made me happy.

When I picked up a piece with chopsticks and popped it in my mouth, the crunch was the first thing I noticed. The sweet-spicy sauce spread through my mouth and perked up my lost appetite. It was the addictive kind where your hand keeps reaching for more.

Looking closely at the cross-section, the chicken meat inside was full. The coating was thin yet crunchy, and the inside was plain and not greasy at all. It was a really well-balanced dakgangjeong.

I opened the can of Coca-Cola and poured it into a cup of ice, and that fizzy freshness was the best. After setting up my meal, one sip and I already felt full and satisfied. It was a perfect, harmonious meal.

Does Halls Gimbap Main Branch do lunch boxes and takeout?

Halls Gimbap Main Branch has a wide range of lunch box sets too, so it looked great for group orders. The takeout containers were neatly arranged without a thing out of place, so I thought next time I might take some to the office as a snack.

If I go back to Halls Gimbap Main Branch, I'd like to try a different kind of gimbap, but I'd order the dakgangjeong again. On a day when a single roll of gimbap feels like not quite enough, why not start with the hearty basic set?

It was a really satisfying meal for me personally, so I strongly recommend it to anyone wondering about a gimbap lunch near Gyodae.