Pyeongchang gopchang restaurant with corkage wine: Daegwallyeong

7 minutes from Alpensia: a gopchang grill made for a drink

On the first night of our Pyeongchang trip, we picked Korean beef gopchang (grilled beef intestine) for dinner. Daegwallyeong Hanwoo Gopchang & Gukbap is about a 7-minute drive from Alpensia Resort, and since we wanted to drink, we took a taxi. (One-way fare was around ₩12,000.)

What I loved most was that corkage was allowed for one bottle (₩10,000 per bottle). We'd brought a wine that we thought would pair well with the fatty gopchang and daechang, and the savory intestine flavor with the wine's acidity turned out to be a fantastic combination — a really smart choice. If you're near Alpensia trying to figure out dinner, I'd recommend Daegwallyeong Hanwoo Gopchang & Gukbap for hanwoo gopchang with a drink.

Hours, closed days and parking

• Open daily 11:00 to 22:00
• Break time Mon, Wed, Fri 14:30–17:00
• Closed on Tuesdays
• Large parking lot
• Baby chairs available

The interior was quite spacious and clean, and the staff were friendly.

Menu and prices

True to its name, Daegwallyeong Hanwoo Gopchang & Gukbap's main menu is gopchang and gukbap (rice soup). The gukbap options include haejangguk, beef head gukbap, and sundaeguk, and there are plenty of drinking-friendly menus like hanwoo gopchang, set menus, and beef head suyuk (boiled beef head).

• Assorted single platter (500g): ₩50,000 / gopchang, daechang, makchang, heart
• Assorted double platter (1kg): ₩95,000
• Beef head suyuk (medium): ₩45,000
• Daegwallyeong haejangguk, beef head gukbap: ₩12,000
• Sundaeguk: ₩10,000

Ordering the 1kg assorted platter: pre-grilling time and side dishes

We ordered the assorted double platter, and we were told it takes a bit of time since the kitchen pre-grills everything before bringing it out. But having it all cooked for us was so convenient, we could wait as long as needed haha ^^*

The banchan (side dishes) — stir-fried fish cake, stir-fried anchovies, kimchi, pickles, seasoned dried radish greens — were all neat and delicious, so I kept reaching for them before the gopchang arrived. The stir-fried anchovies especially were so good.

Bringing our own wine with the corkage fee

While waiting for the gopchang, we lightly wet our throats with the wine we'd brought. The corkage fee was reasonable, and they kindly set out wine glasses for everyone. Since it was a rare trip with the whole family together, we had so much catching up to do that we got lost in chatting, and before we knew it the gopchang arrived.

The assorted grill arrives fully cooked from the kitchen

The staff bring it out almost fully cooked from the kitchen, so you just keep it warm over low heat as you eat. The upside of this grilling method is no worrying about oil splatter, and no one person has to struggle grilling for everyone. There's a variety of parts — heart, gopchang, daechang — plus rice cake and potatoes, so it's fun picking through everything.

Three sauces: truffle oil, garlic and spicy

There are three sauces — truffle oil, garlic sauce, and spicy sauce — and even the same food tasted different depending on the sauce.

From the tender heart to the chewy makchang, it was a perfect dinner choice for a Daegwallyeong meal out. Since Pyeongchang is near Hoengseong, which is famous for hanwoo, I think that's probably why the hanwoo gopchang tasted even better.

The freshly dressed chive salad was also refreshing and delicious.

The potatoes and rice cake cooked in the gopchang fat were also savory and delicious.

How the heart, gopchang and daechang tasted

The tender heart and the gopchang, packed with rich fat and fresh with no gamey smell, were great — dipped in garlic sauce, I could eat a lot without feeling greasy at all. The heart in particular was soft and flavorful like beef, and by my standards, it was the tastiest of all.

The daechang, soft inside and chewy-crisp outside, was also delicious. Since you can try heart, gopchang, and daechang all together, I'd recommend ordering the assorted grill if you're not sure what to choose. You can also order more of whichever part suits your taste after trying them, so if you're coming with a group, starting with the assorted platter and then ordering individual items afterward would work well too.

The gukbap and fried rice both seemed like they'd be delicious too, but since we'd had a late lunch, we were too full to order a meal separately, which was a bit of a shame. I heard the beef head gukbap here is supposedly amazing. If you're looking for a restaurant or bar near Alpensia in Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang, Daegwallyeong Hanwoo Gopchang & Gukbap is close by, so I'd recommend it.