Seoul Korean BBQ group party with 15% off in Gangnam: Bongu Hwarro

I had plans to meet a friend near Gangnam Station a while back, so I went on a search frenzy trying to figure out where to go. That's when I found this amazing BBQ place running a massive 20th anniversary event, and I rushed right over. It's Bongu Hwarro, a Gangnam Station favorite!

Where is Bongu Hwarro and what are its hours?

• 📍Location: 76 Bongeunsa-ro 18-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (Star Palace)
• ⏰Hours: Mon–Sat 11:00–23:30 / Sun 11:00–23:00
• 📢Other: Naver Reservation available, 150-seat capacity for group use, separate men's/women's restrooms, Wi-Fi, easy pay

Bongu Hwarro's alley entrance between Gangnam and Sinnonhyeon Stations

I typed in the address and made my way there, and even from between the alley buildings the big storefront caught my eye right away.

Bongu Hwarro sits roughly between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station, so it's super accessible by public transit too.

Half-price pork for Bongu Hwarro's 20th anniversary

Right by the entrance was a huge banner announcing the 20th anniversary half-price meat event. In this era of high prices, being able to eat pork belly and pork neck at half price right in the middle of Gangnam — the owner's generosity is really something, isn't it? Bongu Hwarro is honestly the best!!

Inside the 150-seat dining room, built for group gatherings

The moment I walked in, my jaw dropped at the sheer size of the place! Being a massive 150-seat restaurant, the tables were spaced generously with no cramped feeling at all. It felt like the perfect, comfortable spot for a company dinner or a wedding invite gathering.

Banchan at Bongu Hwarro: dongchimi and soy-marinated crab

Once we sat down, staff quickly set out the basic banchan (side dishes).

From radish salad, which pairs perfectly with meat, to crisp scallion salad and cool dongchimi (watery radish kimchi), the spread was generous. Every side dish was fresh and perfectly seasoned, so my chopsticks kept going even before the meat hit the grill.

They even brought out soy-marinated crab!!!

The signature charcoal grill that slides into your table

Then the real star of this place — an actual charcoal brazier — was set right into the center of our table! Seeing it packed with glowing charcoal, I was instantly convinced the meat grilled on it couldn't possibly taste bad. 😝

Grade-1 domestic pork belly and Iberico pork neck

Finally, our order of grade-1 domestic pork belly and Iberico pork neck arrived! I'd been a little worried the meat quality might dip during the half-price event, but that worry turned out to be completely unfounded.

Seeing the thick cuts with vivid pink marbling, I couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration.

Grilling the pork belly first

I carefully laid the pork belly on the heated grate to start cooking! Thanks to the brazier's strong heat, the surface browned quickly, sealing in the juices.

Flipped back and forth until golden brown, the pork belly came in perfectly bite-sized pieces, so there was no need to cut it at all!!

The charcoal aroma had soaked deep into the meat, giving it a subtle smoky note that was amazing.

The fat rendered out beautifully, leaving it crispy outside and juicy inside — the textbook definition of crispy-yet-tender.

After finishing off the pork belly, I dug into the pork neck too, no leftovers!

One free ramyeon per person on the Hangang ramyeon machine

As we were happily eating our way through the meat and starting to crave something brothy, I went to check out Bongu Hwarro's other great perk — the free ramyeon (Korean instant noodles) station, one bowl per person! They even had Shin Ramyun ready to go. With a dedicated ramyeon cooking machine set up, anyone can easily cook up a perfectly chewy bowl of noodles.

You just put the noodles and soup base into the container and press a button, and the machine automatically measures the water and cook time — so convenient.

The smell of the bubbling ramyeon was every bit as good as the meat! There was even barley shrimp powder on the side, and adding it gave the broth a refreshing shrimp-soup flavor 😝

15% extra discount for wedding invite party bookings

They said that if you book as a wedding invite (cheongcheopjang) gathering, they'll give you an extra 15% discount coupon, so if you're trying to figure out where to host your group, definitely book through Naver Reservation and check it out!

Free ice cream to finish the meal

It had genuinely been a while since I found such a great value BBQ spot near Gangnam Station, and I finished the meal completely satisfied. Between the 20th anniversary half-price event and the free ramyeon service, I actually worried whether the owner was making any money at all — it was that generous of a place 😝 Everyone, go visit Bongu Hwarro near Gangnam Station!