Hongik University Station Korean BBQ for group dinners: Gogi Salon

The weather's getting cooler these days, and on the way home from work you just start craving good meat, haha. So when my friends and I finally got together after a while, we went for Korean BBQ — juicy Hanwoo pork with hearty side dishes! I completely fell for this place, so here's my review of Gogi Salon near Hongik University Station!

Where is Gogi Salon near Hongik University Station, and when is it open?

Gogi Salon's Hongik University Station branch is at 60 World Cup buk-ro 6-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's open Mon–Fri 11:30–23:00 and Sat 17:00–23:00, last order at 22:00, closed on Sundays.

The restaurant is easy to find — just a short walk from Hongik University Station toward Yeonnam-dong! Haha.

What is the inside of Gogi Salon like?

Walking inside Gogi Salon, it didn't have that greasy feel typical of Korean BBQ places — it was clean and comfortable. The tables had generous spacing, and the ventilation and air conditioning were great, so the whole meal was really pleasant! There's plenty of group seating in the back too, making it perfect for gatherings or work dinners, haha.

What impressed me most was the thoughtful touch of disposable mouthwash in the restroom. (My friend even complimented how well-maintained it was, saying there wasn't a drop of water on the bathroom floor!)

Gogi Salon menu and what we ordered

After some deliberation, we ordered two servings of pork neck and one of pork belly!! (Pork neck kimchi stew and doenjang stew were must-haves too ^^) They also run an affordable set lunch menu for office workers, so it's worth stopping by for lunch too!

Free side dishes, including marinated crab

As soon as you sit down at Gogi Salon, neat side dishes are quickly set out. Salad, dressed lettuce, and pickled peppers all come out — but the real surprise was that marinated crab, a total rice thief, was part of the standard side dishes!

It's sweet and spicy, perfect for whetting your appetite before the meat arrives!!! The sauces were also neatly prepared — salt, fresh wasabi, and whole grain mustard — so you could mix and match to your taste, haha.

Pork belly and pork neck grilled by the staff

We ordered two servings of pork neck and one of pork belly~ Since Gogi Salon is a certified Dodram Hanwoo pork restaurant, you could tell the meat was fresh just from looking at the raw cuts!

And the really great part — the staff grills the meat themselves, adjusting to the pan's temperature!! There's nothing better than a place where they grill the meat for you ^^

They flip it at just the right time so it doesn't overcook, and cut it into neat, bite-sized pieces, so all we had to do was chat and wait! Hehe.

The moment you bite into the perfectly browned meat, juicy flavor bursts out. Dip it lightly in wasabi and salt, and it's packed with savory flavor.

Pork neck kimchi stew and doenjang stew

The doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) bubbling in a stone pot, savory and spicy, and the pork neck kimchi stew were both special enough to make you polish off a whole bowl of rice. (The pork neck kimchi stew was seriously loaded with meat..!!)

Don't miss the Naver receipt review freebie

At Gogi Salon near Hongik University Station, if you leave a Naver receipt review, you can get a free canned drink at lunch or delicious bibim guksu (spicy mixed noodles) at dinner, so be sure to take advantage of it, haha. If you're ever in Hongdae, I recommend Gogi Salon, a pork belly restaurant that's a real find near Hongik University Station!