Kid-friendly Hongdae restaurant in Seoul with lukewarm gomtang: Anok
In short
Anok is a hanok Korean restaurant in Hongdae, Seoul, a 7-minute walk from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station. On a Friday evening, two adults and a 5-year-old took a window seat and shared three dishes — clear pork gomtang (bone broth soup with rice) at 13,000 won, Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) at 14,000 won and braised pork tail at 29,000 won — and the gomtang, served with the rice already stirred in and only lukewarm, was mild enough that the child finished it. Anok works for a family meal with kids as well as a date or a small gathering.
Good to know
- Location
- 13-4 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (7-minute walk from Hongik University Station Exit 9)
- Hours
- Tue–Sun 11:00–22:00 (last order 21:00)
- Closed
- Mondays
- Clear pork gomtang
- 13,000 won
- Pyongyang naengmyeon
- 14,000 won
- Braised pork tail
- 29,000 won
- Ordering
- Tablet on each table, with photos of every dish
- Side dish included
- Kimchi
as written by the visitor on Sep 21, 2026
There's something about Friday evenings that makes me crave a nice atmosphere and good food even more. The night air had gotten noticeably cooler, so I took my kid out to Hongdae for a walk and dinner.
The place we visited just opened, and both the vibe and the taste were so good I have to recommend it — Anok. It was great for a family meal, but I think it would also be perfect for a date or a gathering. Here's my review of Anok, a gomtang (bone broth soup) restaurant in Hongdae.
Where is Anok, and when is it open?
Anok is located at 13-4 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, a 7-minute walk from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station, so it's easy to reach by public transit. It's open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 22:00, with last order at 21:00, and closed on Mondays.
Inside the hanok: the window seats at Anok
Anok has a hanok (traditional Korean house) feel to it, and the warmth of the space really stood out. The lighting itself was soft, which made it feel even cozier.
Sitting at the window seat, a cool breeze drifted in and kept me in a good mood throughout the meal. The seats further inside looked great for dining with elders or for a quiet gathering.
Tablet ordering and the kimchi side dish
Ordering at Anok is done through a tablet at each table, which conveniently comes with photos of the menu items. The basic side dish is kimchi, and it wasn't the usual restaurant kimchi — it had a deep flavor that tasted homemade.
The three dishes two adults and a 5-year-old ordered
- Clear pork gomtang ₩13,000
- Pyongyang naengmyeon ₩14,000
- Braised pork tail ₩29,000
We picked one gomtang that would be good for a kid to eat, then added a couple more dishes that looked delicious, for three items total. Two adults and one 5-year-old ate, and the portions were generous enough to fill us up.
Braised pork tail, 29,000 won
Anok's braised pork tail looks mouthwatering just to look at, and one bite in, the seasoning tastes amazing.
It was plenty for two adults, and the seasoning wasn't harsh — it had a rich, savory flavor. It wasn't spicy at all, so we could eat it without any worry.
The braise was chewy yet thoroughly cooked, so the meat was tender and soft. The seasoning had soaked in well without sitting on the surface, which made it even more enjoyable.
Clear pork gomtang, 13,000 won: lukewarm rice already stirred in
Anok's clear pork gomtang has a clean, deep broth that's simmered in-house, and the rice comes pre-mixed into the bowl. It arrives not piping hot but slightly lukewarm, which made it easy to dig into right away, and the clean-tasting broth went down smoothly.
There's salt and pepper on the table. For my taste, the seasoning was already just right so I didn't add any, but it's easy to adjust to your liking.
There was no gamy smell from the meat at all. Eating a big spoonful of rice and broth together, you get a rich, full flavor.
Even my picky 5-year-old ate this well. It wasn't salty or harsh, just mild, so it was an easy dish to share with a kid along for the visit.
Pyongyang naengmyeon, 14,000 won
Anok's Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) is a light, mild dish made with a broth simmered in-house and served cold. I've never really thought Pyongyang naengmyeon was delicious before, but this one changed my mind about what it can taste like. It paired especially well with the braised pork tail.
The noodles themselves had a springy chew, and combined with the subtly savory, understated broth that's characteristic of Pyongyang naengmyeon, there was a gentle depth of flavor.
It comes with a generous amount of meat on top, and eating it together made the texture and flavor combination even better — definitely try it that way.
Especially with the provided sauce spooned on top, the meat's flavor really came through, almost like eating a delicious pyeonyuk (boiled and sliced meat).
Is Anok worth it? Good with a kid, good with a drink
Anok, a hanok Korean restaurant tucked into a quiet alley, was a comfortable place to eat with my kid, but with its varied menu and atmosphere, it also seemed like a great spot to pair with a drink.
From the light, clean gomtang to the delicious braised pork tail and Pyongyang naengmyeon, every dish was good. It seems like it would suit a rainy day or winter especially well, and if you're looking for a date spot in Hongdae, I'd recommend Anok, a gomtang restaurant in Hongdae.
