Weekend Hongdae Korean BBQ with my husband, aged meat set: Gogikkun

Where is Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch?

Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch (고기꾼김춘배 홍대본점) sits right in the middle of the main Hongdae area, on the 3rd floor of the building at 369-44 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's also an easy walk from Hongik Univ. Station and Sangsu Station, so it fit perfectly into a day of shopping and soaking up the atmosphere.

A few days ago, on a weekend, my husband and I made a cozy little Seoul outing of it, and I was craving juicy, savory meat, so we headed to Hongdae. There are so many BBQ places in this neighborhood that I couldn't decide, but I heard that among its several branches, the main branch has stood in the same spot for over 10 years, building its reputation on refrigerator-aged meat. So that's where we went.

Are Gogikkun's partitioned booths in Hongdae good for a date?

The restaurant has a soft wood-toned interior, and every table has a partitioned seat, so it was great for eating and talking quietly, just the two of us. We went up to the 3rd floor and stepped inside, and you can really feel the know-how of running the main branch for 10 years, enough to spawn several other branches, in the tidy atmosphere all around.

The partitions were honestly one of the biggest pluses. Barbecue places on the main Hongdae street are often noisy, with neighboring tables squeezed right up against you and a hectic feel, but here the space is well separated, so my husband and I could chat privately and cozily over our meal.

What's in the Hanwoo/Handon set for two (₩118,000)?

The Hanwoo/HanDon set for two (한우/한돈 2인 SET) is ₩118,000 and includes pork belly (150g), fresh galbi-sal (marbled rib meat, 250g) and today's hanwoo (Korean beef, 200g). When I opened the menu, a set that lets you enjoy both hanwoo and Korean pork in one sitting jumped out, so we ordered it without a second thought.

They told us that all of their meat is refrigerator-aged, never frozen, and carefully selected. Soon a plate of glossy, bright red meat arrived: thick pork belly, finely marbled fresh galbi-sal, and the hanwoo of the day that they said was in the best condition. The quality was impressive at a glance.

Does Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae grill the meat for you?

Yes! The staff grill all the meat for you, with great care. They put each cut on the hot charcoal grill in turn and cook it to perfection, and this was honestly the big highlight for me.

My husband didn't have to scramble over the grill either. We could just talk quietly together and watch the meat cook, so the whole meal felt so relaxed and easy.

How do the hanwoo of the day, galbi-sal and pork belly taste?

I took the first well-grilled piece of today's hanwoo, dipped it lightly in just salt, and popped it in my mouth. The juices burst out and it melted softly. The galbi-sal that followed was chewy and wonderfully savory, and the thick pork belly balanced the chewy skin side with moist lean meat inside. Thanks to the expert grilling, we really got the deep, savory flavor of Gogikkun's refrigerator-aged meat.

What is Gogikkun's kkakttukbap (₩8,000 for two) like?

Kkakttukbap (깍뚝밥, kimchi fried rice with diced radish kimchi) is said to be Gogikkun's signature side, so partway through the meal we ordered a portion for two (₩8,000). It's a spicy stir-fried rice in a cast-iron pan, topped with savory seaweed flakes, with kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) in bite-size pieces.

I scooped up a big spoonful, and the crunch of the kkakdugi and the sweet-spicy seasoning cut right through the richness of the meat. Letting it crisp up gently on the grill like scorched rice made it impossible to stop. My husband called it a real treat too, and kept the spoon going until it was empty.

Half-and-half naengmyeon (₩7,000): no need to choose between cold broth and spicy

The half-and-half naengmyeon (반반냉면, cold noodles) is ₩7,000 and puts water naengmyeon and bibim naengmyeon in a single bowl, so we ordered it to finish the meal. It came in a big bowl divided in two, like a jjamjjamyeon bowl, with icy water naengmyeon on one side and bibim naengmyeon topped with tangy, spicy sauce on the other.

The first sip of the cold water naengmyeon broth felt so refreshing, like it cleared out my chest. Then I rolled a piece of the pork belly I'd saved around the spicy bibim naengmyeon, and it was a perfect finish. Getting two flavors at once for a friendly ₩7,000 made me very happy.

Tips for making the most of Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae

• Location and route: 3F, Seogyo-dong 369-44, in the center of the main Hongdae area, so it's easy to stop by after shopping or a stroll around Hongdae.
• Recommended combo: the Hanwoo/HanDon set for two (₩118,000), which lets you taste both beef and pork, with kkakttukbap and half-and-half naengmyeon alongside. Highly recommended.
• Private seating: the partitions are well done, so it's great for a date or a quiet get-together, and booking ahead makes it even more comfortable.

Verdict: a weekend Hongdae date with my husband, 200 out of 100

On a weekend outing to the main Hongdae area with my husband, our meal at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch earned a score of 200 out of 100. The skilled, friendly staff, with 10 years of know-how behind them, grilled all the meat to its best, so the meal was both easy and delicious.

From the refrigerator-aged Hanwoo/HanDon set for two, where every cut was excellent, to the spicy kkakttukbap and the refreshing half-and-half naengmyeon, every dish was beautifully balanced. I also loved that the partitioned seats gave us a private, cozy time together.

If you're looking for a main-street Hongdae BBQ near Seogyo-dong with excellent meat quality where the staff do all the grilling, please stop by Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch on the 3rd floor. Highly recommended!