Bangi-dong izakaya with a 7-vegetable broth gopchang hot pot

Back at Horanggul Bangi Branch after a year: a Songridan-gil date-night izakaya

Horanggul Bangi Branch is a Songridan-gil date-night izakaya tucked inside the Bangi-dong dining alley. This was the place I first visited with my boyfriend on a date around this time last year. That memory was so good that I came back a year later to Horanggul Bangi Branch in Bangi-dong, a spot known for Songridan-gil dates.

It's known for Korea's first red motsunabe (Japanese offal hot pot) and has even been selected for the Blue Ribbon Survey two years running. Once you taste it, you'll understand why it keeps popping into your head.

Inside Horanggul: light wood interior and a hanging tiger scroll

True to its reputation as a Songridan-gil date-night izakaya tucked inside the Bangi-dong dining alley, Horanggul Bangi Branch has a cozy interior. Light wood-toned decor and a hanging scroll painting of a tiger set the mood.

With the tiger scroll and framed art on the walls, it felt like stepping into an actual izakaya in Japan.

Since it's a bar and izakaya inside the Bangi-dong dining alley, it's a perfect spot for a casual drink on a date.

Beef gopchang hot pot for two: half Korean daechang, half Australian gopchang

This time at Horanggul Bangi Branch, I ordered three things total: 2 servings of beef gopchang hot pot, crispy chicken skin gyoza, and fresh Japanese udon noodles. Last time I had the motsunabe.

The earthenware pot comes out as soon as you order, and after 9 minutes of bubbling away, the hot pot is ready.

<How to enjoy Horanggul> Dip the tofu, fried tofu, and vegetables in yuzu soy sauce first. Wait 2–3 minutes for the meat, gopchang, and daechang to fully cook before eating. If you're adding noodles or risotto, order once the broth is down to about a third.

It's loaded with tofu, fried tofu, fish balls, vegetables, meat, and gopchang. Made with 7 kinds of vegetables, the broth was deep and rich. (Note: broth refills aren't available.)

The broth wasn't spicy or overpowering — clean and mild — so I kept spooning it up. The gopchang had no unpleasant smell and was cooked chewy with great texture.

With bean sprouts in the mix, it even had a bit of that spicy fish stew feel.

Crispy chicken skin gyoza and the fresh Japanese udon add-on

I also ordered the chicken skin gyoza — chopped chicken and vegetables stuffed inside chicken skin and fried crispy.

Crispy outside, juicy inside — dipped in yuzu soy sauce, it paired really well with the hot pot. Side dishes like this were a nice pick-me-up between spoonfuls of hot pot.

When the broth was down to about half, I added the fresh Japanese udon noodles. The noodles were nice and springy, and went well with the broth.

They're running an event where you get a free serving of meat for a receipt review and a free dessert Tico for a Kakao Map review (you can write multiple reviews) — don't miss it!

Hours, parking and how to find Horanggul Bangi Branch in Bangi-dong

• Location: 16 Ogeum-ro 15-gil, 1F, Songpa-gu, Seoul (Bangi-dong dining alley)
• Hours: Daily 11:30–24:00 (break time 15:00–17:00, last order 23:00)
• Parking: Paid parking available (Seobong Building, 1 min walk, or Songpa-gu Office, 8 min walk; ₩4,000 for the first 60 minutes, ₩4,000 per additional 60 minutes)

Who should eat at Horanggul Bangi Branch?

• Anyone looking for a date spot in Bangi-dong with a distinct izakaya vibe
• Anyone wanting a hearty, clean-broth drinking snack like gopchang hot pot
• Anyone who wants a relaxed drink near Songridan-gil