Hongdae Seoul restaurant for fat-skimmed gomtang and naengmyeon: Anok
In short
Anok is a Korean restaurant set in a hanok up a flight of alley stairs near Hongik University Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles in chilled broth), clear gomtang (beef bone soup) and spicy-sweet braised pork tail: even as a first-time naengmyeon eater, the mild broth carried a gentle meaty depth, and the gomtang — described on the table ordering screen as skimmed of fat for 48 hours — tasted clean rather than greasy. For two people, one main dish plus the braised pork tail and a bowl of rice is the combination that works.
Good to know
- Main dishes
- Clear gomtang, Pyongyang naengmyeon (in broth), Pyongyang naengmyeon (mixed), yukhoe bibimbap, braised pork tail, yukhoe (beef tartare), pork bokjaeng platter, Korean beef bulgogi hot pot
- Drinks
- A range of traditional and distilled liquors (including Andong Soju Hahoetal)
- Seating
- Tables for two and four; the window-side tables have the best view
- Side dishes
- Kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), pickled gungchae stems, kimchi, seasoning sauce; salt and pepper on every table
- Recommended order for two
- One main dish + braised pork tail + a bowl of rice
as written by the visitor on Sep 16, 2026
What kind of restaurant is Anok?
Today I'm introducing a Korean restaurant in Hongdae, Mapo-gu, called "Anok (안옥)."
- Cozy, clean, and calm hanok (traditional Korean house) atmosphere
- A Hongdae go-to for clean naengmyeon and gomtang
- A pork tail jjim spot with maximum spicy umami
How to find Anok in Hongdae, Seoul
The way there is a little confusing. Heading toward Hongik University, go up the alley stairs — about half a floor to a full floor — and you'll see the hanok gate of Anok right there.
I was surprised there's such a stately, old-fashioned Korean restaurant in Hongdae.
The overall vibe is clean and tidy, so it was a comfortable place to eat.
There were various tables, two-seaters and four-seaters. Other diners were eating so I didn't take a photo, but the window-side tables had a really great view.
Anok's menu and traditional liquors
Meal menu: clear gomtang / Pyongyang naengmyeon (water) / Pyongyang naengmyeon (mixed) / yukhoe bibimbap / pork tail jjim / yukhoe / pork bokjaeng platter / Korean beef bulgogi hot pot
Drinks: a wide variety of traditional liquors and distilled spirits. Andong Soju Hahoetal was tempting me so hard haha.
We ordered these three dishes:
- Pyongyang naengmyeon (water)
- Clear gomtang
- Pork tail jjim
A first Pyongyang naengmyeon: how mild is the broth?
The dish I was most curious about — Pyongyang naengmyeon!
This was actually my first-ever naengmyeon. I knew it's a love-it-or-hate-it dish so I'd somehow never gotten around to trying it, but it was better than I expected! Not sharp or intense at all — the broth was mild with a subtle, gentle meaty flavor.
Both the naengmyeon and the gomtang had that alive umami while still tasting deep and clean! There was a real pork flavor, but no gamy smell at all, and it was strange how refreshing and fat-free the broth was. I happened to glance at the table order screen and it said they skim off the fat for 48 hours. So that was the secret. Incredible effort.
If you order one dish at Anok, make it the clear gomtang
The clear gomtang is a dish anyone would enjoy, no exceptions! It comes with rice right in the warm broth, making it a hearty full meal. It went especially well with the kimchi and kkakdugi side dishes. It's loaded with meat too, so if I had to pick just one dish at Anok, it would be the clear gomtang.
Spicy-sweet braised pork tail at Anok
And for anyone who loves spicy-sweet seasoning, I recommend the pork tail jjim.
Unlike the mild naengmyeon and gomtang, this one is intensely concentrated, bold, spicy, and sweet — total rice thief seasoning (you know the type if you're Korean, right?). The tender pork tail meat and collagen were soaked through with sauce, and it was so good.
It's perfect to eat a piece at a time between bites of naengmyeon. The mild-plus-spicy combo is the best. Both the sauce and the meat were so concentrated and rich that it filled us up fast — but it was too good to leave behind, so we packed the rest to go haha. Highly recommended when eating with a group! For two adult women, I'd say order just one meal menu item plus pork tail jjim and a bowl of rice — that's the perfect amount.
Side dishes, plus salt and pepper on the table
The side dishes were varied: kkakdugi, gungchae (aster stem) pickles, kimchi, and seasoning sauce. I really love that gungchae pickle — it went so well as an accompaniment. Salt and pepper are placed on every table so you can season to your own taste, which was nice for getting even richer flavor out of a single dish.
Who should visit Anok?
If you're in Hongdae, near Hongik University in Mapo-gu, and want a well-set-up Korean meal in a good-atmosphere hanok restaurant, or you're craving naengmyeon, gomtang, or pork tail jjim, or just want a clean, healthy lunch or dinner, I think this Hongdae Korean restaurant, Anok, is worth stopping by.
