Hongdae Korean restaurant for a private inner-table lunch: Anok
In short
Anok is a Korean restaurant in a hanok tucked in a quiet alley, 7 minutes on foot from Exit 9 of Hongdae Station in Mapo, Seoul. Seated at the private two-table corner in back, the writer tried clear gomtang (beef bone soup) for ₩13,000, Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) for ₩14,000, and braised pork tail for ₩29,000, and even a naengmyeon beginner found it easy to enjoy. It's a great spot for a quiet meal or for introducing Korean food to a foreign friend.
Good to know
- Address
- 13-4 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Hours
- 11:00–22:00 (closed Mondays)
- Getting there
- 7-minute walk from Exit 9, Hongdae Station; take the stairs to the left of Egg Drop
- Clear gomtang
- ₩13,000
- Pyongyang naengmyeon (water-based)
- ₩14,000
- Braised pork tail
- ₩29,000
- Reservations
- Available for groups of 12 or fewer
- Side dishes
- Kimchi, kkakdugi, gungsimchae, seasoning sauce / salt and perilla seeds on the table
as written by the visitor on Sep 9, 2026
I was hunting for a lunch spot in Hongdae today when I came across this place — it recently opened, and since it looked like a Korean restaurant with a great atmosphere, I went straight over. Turns out both the food and the interior were exactly my style 🙋🏻♀️
Anok Address: 13-4 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul Hours: 11:00–22:00 <closed Mondays>
Getting to Anok from Hongdae Station
Anok, a Hongdae favorite, is a 7-minute walk from Exit 9 of Hongdae Station. Take the stairs to the left of Egg Drop and you'll find a pretty hanok housing this Korean restaurant, tucked in a quiet alley.
Anok seems like a perfect fit for anyone wanting a quiet meal in Hongdae, or for introducing a foreign friend to Korean food 💕
Inside the restaurant — a private two-table corner in back
There were more tables inside than I expected! Groups of 12 or fewer can reserve, and the menu ranges from dishes perfect for solo dining to ones made for sharing haha
I sat all the way in the back, where there's a private-feeling two-table corner!! The sunlight coming through the lattice windows was so warm haha
Anok's menu
Anok's broth is a clear stock made by simmering Korean pork for 48 hours — this is where both the gomtang and the Pyongyang naengmyeon broths start!
From single-portion meals to dishes made for putting in the middle of the table — if you love Korean food, you absolutely have to visit‼️‼️ I ordered the clear gomtang, Pyongyang naengmyeon, and braised pork tail~~
There was salt and perilla seeds on the table, but I didn't add any extra seasoning! The side dishes were kimchi, kkakdugi, gungsimchae, and a seasoning sauce that's great spooned over the meat.
Food review
Clear gomtang, ₩13,000
I'm used to gomtang piled with meat coming out in a stone pot, so seeing it served in a bowl instead felt more refined and elegant haha. The ceramic bowl looked really nice too.
At this Hongdae gomtang favorite, the rice comes already mixed into the soup, and the clear, deep, house-made broth is the real highlight of the dish.
There was so much meat that it outlasted the rice haha!! A clean, filling bowl of gomtang.
Pyongyang naengmyeon (water-based), ₩14,000
I'm still a beginner with Pyongyang naengmyeon, but I was curious how Anok's version would taste, so I ordered it alongside the gomtang. Bottom line: it was totally manageable even for a total naengmyeon newbie!! It wasn't as bland as I expected, honestly.
This dish is also flavored with Anok's own house-made broth, and even though it's the same broth as the gomtang, it comes across with a completely different charm!
The buckwheat noodles weren't stiff at all — just the right amount of softness. They went so well with the broth that I slurped them right up.
The meat topping on top was cold-style jepyuk (boiled and chilled pork) — big chunky pieces, exactly my style. Topped with the seasoning sauce that came alongside, the spicy kick paired perfectly. This naengmyeon let me enjoy two different flavor profiles at once, and it feels like it could become a go-to Pyongyang naengmyeon spot in Hongdae.
Since there's so much meat, I didn't feel awkward reaching for more and more. Wrapping the noodles up with the meat doubled the happiness in every bite.
Braised pork tail, ₩29,000
There were a lot of side dishes to choose from, but the one that caught my eye was the braised pork tail! This Hongdae favorite gives you a generous portion, which made the whole experience very satisfying.
Coated in a bright red sauce, the pork tail was spicy-sweet — this was today's MVP. It was braised until fully tender, with no chewy parts and a smooth texture throughout! Pork tail has a lot of fatty parts that can turn greasy if not cooked right, but the sauce cut right through it and balanced everything out.
There was plenty of lean meat too, so it ate almost like spicy braised pig's feet (bulljokbal) — so good. After the mild naengmyeon and gomtang, the pork tail brought a completely different flavor, and it made me curious about the rest of the menu~
Why it's a great place to bring a foreign friend
There was even floss at the register, which showed off the owner's thoughtful touch. The overall atmosphere was really nice, and the staff were kind, so bringing a foreign friend here would leave them with a great impression of Korea.
With that clear broth as its signature, Anok is a Korean restaurant I'd recommend to anyone looking for a good gomtang or Pyongyang naengmyeon spot in Hongdae with a great atmosphere~~
