Five-cut gopchang platter for two in Geomdan, Incheon: Hwang Gop

Whenever I want gopchang in Geomdan, I end up wondering where I can get rich, savory gopchang with no funky smell. This time I went to Hwang Gop (황곱), known as a go-to gopchang spot in Geomdan New Town. The mixed platter gives you gopchang, makchang, daechang, beef heart and brisket all at once, and it even comes with tasting yukhoe and muksabal as basic side dishes, so I was happy from the very start. If you're hunting for a good gopchang place in Geomdan, or you want to try lots of different cuts, here's my review.

Hwang Gop Geomdan New Town Branch: location and visit tips

Hwang Gop Geomdan New Town Branch is at 420 Ieum 1-ro, Geomdan-gu, Incheon, South Korea (shopping building, 1st floor, Unit 9). It's a convenient spot when you're craving gopchang in Geomdan New Town.

It wasn't hard to find in the main commercial area of Geomdan New Town, and it's a decent location for wandering around afterward or heading to a second round. Evenings can get packed with gopchang fans, so if you want to eat in peace, booking ahead is a good idea. Plenty of gopchang places come up when you search Geomdan New Town, but what caught my eye at Hwang Gop was the generous spread, from the basic side dishes to the mixed platter.

Interior and menu

The inside had that comfortable, lively gopchang-restaurant feel. It isn't stiff or formal, so it suits family, friends or coworkers, and it's a great vibe for a group sharing a mixed platter.

You can order just the cut you want, like gopchang, makchang or daechang, or pick the mixed platter to taste several cuts at once. If it's your first visit or you can't decide, the mixed platter plus fried rice set is the easiest choice. We were two people and ordered the 3-serving mixed platter with the fried rice set. Some people worry about portions at a gopchang place in Geomdan, but with several cuts plus the basic side dishes, the meal flowed nicely.

Tasting yukhoe and muksabal as basic side dishes

The first thing that caught my eye at Hwang Gop was the basic side dishes. Instead of just sauce and vegetables like at a typical gopchang place, we got tasting yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) and a cool muksabal (acorn jelly cold soup).

🥩 The tasting yukhoe was a great appetite starter before the main dishes arrived. The portion isn't huge, but just getting yukhoe as a free side felt special. It's perfect while you wait for the gopchang to cook, and being treated like that from the start was satisfying.

The muksabal was tangy and refreshing, and it paired really well with the rich, fatty gopchang. Keep eating gopchang and it can start to feel heavy, but a few bites of muksabal in between cleaned up my palate. When choosing a place in Geomdan, the main dish matters, but side dishes like these really boost how satisfying the meal is. With yukhoe and muksabal in front of us, we started the meal in a good mood before the platter even arrived.

The basic sides of green onion kimchi, myeongyi namul (pickled wild greens) and onions also go nicely with the menu.

For extra side dishes, just use the self-bar.

The 3-serving mixed platter, cut by cut

The Hwang Gop mixed platter we ordered came with gopchang, makchang, daechang, beef heart and brisket. It was far more fun than eating just one cut, since we could compare the different textures and flavors.

Overall I could barely detect any gamey smell, and the signature savory flavor of gopchang was easy to enjoy. My favorite cut was the gopchang itself. It was filled with rich, savory fat, and tender rather than chewy, so my chopsticks kept going back for more. Badly prepped gopchang can smell or turn tough, but Hwang Gop's had no smell at all, so I could eat it without any worry. Personally, when looking for a good gopchang place in Geomdan New Town, richness and tenderness are what matter most, and I was very satisfied on both counts.

The daechang (large intestine) was plump, with a properly savory, fatty flavor in every bite. It was golden outside and juicy inside, and alternating it with the gopchang let me enjoy two different charms. The makchang (abomasum) had a bit more chew than the gopchang or daechang. Cutting it into smaller, bite-size pieces from the start made it less tough and much easier to eat.

The beef heart can turn tough if overcooked, so it's best to eat it as soon as it's just done. It was clean-tasting and chewy, and balanced the fattier daechang well.

The brisket is thin and cooks fast, so it was perfect to eat while waiting for the gopchang. With so many cuts on one grill, it works even if one person loves gopchang and another prefers daechang. 🔥 And definitely order the fried rice at the end.

Finishing with fried rice

The grill where the gopchang and daechang cooked is left with savory fat and seasoning, and fried rice stir-fried on top of that is almost impossible to get wrong. We were already full from the platter, but when the fried rice came out, I picked up my spoon again. The savory and salty flavors blended well, and scraping up the slightly crispy bits stuck to the bottom was half the fun. Eating gopchang without the fried rice honestly feels like the meal never properly ended.

Overall verdict on Hwang Gop Geomdan New Town Branch

Hwang Gop is a gopchang restaurant in Geomdan where one mixed platter gets you gopchang, makchang, daechang, beef heart and brisket. Almost no cut had any gamey smell, and everything tasted savory and clean.

The gopchang was the most tender and savory and stayed with me most, but the plump daechang and chewy makchang each had their own charm. I also liked that tasting yukhoe and muksabal come as basic side dishes, and finishing with fried rice made it feel like a properly complete meal. If you want smell-free, savory gopchang in Geomdan New Town, or a place where you can enjoy many cuts at once, Hwang Gop is worth a visit.