Gopchang restaurant in Geomdan, Incheon with whelk noodles: Hwang Gop

Hi, I'm Matchul, and the moment summer ended I quit working out. No more diet, no more discipline. Nobody can stop me now.

Today, to welcome the chilly autumn air, I went out for some gopchang (grilled beef intestine) to grease up my stomach. Gopchang is one of those foods that's delicious no matter when you eat it, which somehow makes it feel that much guiltier. Let's see just how big a sin today's gopchang turns out to be.

Where is Hwang Gop Geomdan New Town Branch, and when is it open?

Hwang Gop Geomdan New Town Branch is located at 420 Ieum 1-ro, Geomdan-gu, Incheon. It's open Monday through Sunday from 15:00 to 24:00, with last order at 23:00, and parking is available.

What does the Hwang Gop dining room look like?

The exterior is pretty clean-looking. The sign is neat with a cute cow drawn on it. Right at the entrance, a banner promoting the new mukeunji (aged kimchi) gopchang menu catches your eye.

The inside was tidy too. Gopchang places tend to splatter a lot of oil around, so I appreciated that they'd gone with marble tables, which are easy to keep clean — a thoughtful detail.

You can sit and actually watch the food being prepped inside, which made me trust the place even more while eating.

Hwang Gop menu and what to order

Before choosing anything, there's a sign explaining the proper way to enjoy gopchang.

I was curious about the new mukeunji gopchang, but since today was going to be an all-out oil party, I ordered the mixed platter instead.

There were so many side dishes to choose from, including yukhoe, that I had a hard time deciding. And I loved that they offer a gopchang hot pot in a stone bowl so you can taste the stew version too. When you're just grilling, sometimes you crave a hot, savory broth, but gopchang stew is usually pricey elsewhere. Living up to its reputation as a gopchang spot near Ara Station, this place lets you enjoy both the grill and the hot pot.

There's also a simple menu board on the wall, which I snapped a photo of.

Self-serve bar and the free mukbap and yukhoe

A self-serve bar is so important. These days I almost feel let down at places without one — glad this spot has it stocked up. Food prices are high enough as it is, so let's help ourselves to the side dishes without hesitation!

Here's the standard table setting. And no, we didn't order this separately — this all came as the default spread. That thing next to it that looks like yukhoe? It is, in fact, yukhoe.

Mukbap (acorn jelly noodles) and yukhoe, which are usually sold as small side dishes elsewhere, are given here for free right from the start — honestly touching.

Mixed gopchang platter for two and the gopchang hot pot

Now the main event arrives. The mixed gopchang platter for two is seriously generous.

You start with the beef heart, then work through the other pieces in order of how quickly they cook. Since everything comes pre-grilled, you don't need to cook it for long. The heart was plump, chewy, and delicious.

Can't forget the gopchang stew. It comes in a stone pot with a solid amount of intestine inside too. Can you see how hearty this is? When you're deep into greasy grilled gopchang, you start craving a hot, refreshing broth, and a spoonful of this hits the spot perfectly.

There was also precious myeongi namul (mountain garlic leaves), which I used to wrap up bites here and there. Myeongi namul is basically the cure for greasy food.

Best sides at Hwang Gop: whelk bibim noodles and fried rice

This is the golbaengi (whelk) bibim noodles, and I strongly, strongly recommend it. It's loaded with whelk, and the noodles pair perfectly with the tangy sauce — such a great side dish order! It's also cheap, so you can add it without a second thought.

And of course, fried rice to finish — a Korean virtue, really. The fried rice even had egg mixed in, which made it clear that not a single side dish here is an afterthought.

Is Hwang Gop Geomdan New Town Branch worth a visit?

This gopchang restaurant near Ara Station that I'm writing about today served clean, odor-free intestines that were delicious, and the affordable, varied side dishes were all excellent without a single disappointment. If you're looking for a gopchang restaurant near Ara Station, be sure to stop by Hwang Gop Geomdan New Town Branch!