Seocho gimbap restaurant dakgangjeong takeout, crispy when cold: Halls

If you're looking for a solid solo-dining spot near Gyodae Station, I really want to tell you about this place.

I tried it once before and loved it, so this time I went back — Halls Gimbap Main Branch.

What kind of place is Halls Gimbap Main Branch near Gyodae Station?

Halls Gimbap Main Branch is a gimbap (seaweed rice roll) restaurant near Gyodae Station in Seocho, and it's actually quite a well-known spot around here. If you walk by, you'll often see office workers stopping in to grab gimbap to go or eat a quick meal.

It especially feels popular with office workers looking for a simple lunch. Gimbap is easy to eat alone, and a lot of people take it to go or order delivery, so it seems like a familiar spot for people working nearby. At first I just thought of it as a regular gimbap shop, but after trying it once, my opinion completely changed.

From Oto Gimbap Seocho to Halls Gimbap: same kitchen, same taste

I remembered the name being slightly different from my first visit, so I looked it up — turns out this used to be Oto Gimbap Seocho, and it's now Halls Gimbap Main Branch. You know it was already famous under that name, right? Apparently only the shop's name changed.

The owner is the same, the ladies making the gimbap are the same, the counter staff are the same. Even the person in charge of the dakgangjeong (Korean fried chicken bites) is the same — basically only the name changed. So if you used to love Oto Gimbap Seocho, you don't need to worry that the taste or vibe has changed. From what I tasted, it was exactly the same as before.

The location is near Exit 1 of Gyodae Station, so it's not hard to find. There are a lot of offices around Gyodae Station, so plenty of office workers are looking for lunch spots nearby, which makes this location really convenient. You can eat a quick meal without going far, and the vibe is totally comfortable for solo dining, so I really recommend this to anyone looking for a solo-dining spot near Gyodae Station.

Seating and menu at Halls Gimbap for solo diners

There are tables plus a lot of bar-style seating, so it's really good for eating alone, right?

The menu is pretty varied — you can just have a single roll of gimbap, or pair it with other bunsik (Korean street food) dishes.

Gimbap really calls for ramyeon, right? And they sell cup noodles too, which I loved.

You can also help yourself to as much bonito broth as you want. Beyond eating in the store, they do a lot of takeout and delivery too, so it looked great for nearby office workers ordering lunch.

Why go back to Halls Gimbap? The dakgangjeong

The real reason I came back to Halls Gimbap is actually the dakgangjeong. Last time I had gimbap and dakgangjeong together, and the gimbap was genuinely delicious. As a gimbap shop, I sort of expected the gimbap to be good — but what I didn't expect was the dakgangjeong.

After one bite, it was so much better than I expected!! So this time I didn't even think twice about the menu... The whole point of this visit was purely the dakgangjeong... That's how good it is, seriously, ㅠㅠ

I didn't eat in the store this time — I took the dakgangjeong home instead.

I opened it as soon as I got home.

One reason Halls Gimbap's dakgangjeong is even better: they add cheongyang chili. It's kind of an unexpected treat.

Is the dakgangjeong still crispy once it cools at home?

It had cooled down a bit by the time I got to it, but it was still delicious! If anything, dakgangjeong might even taste better once it's cooled a little.

What I loved most while eating this dakgangjeong was the batter. Honestly, the frying here is insane. The sauce flavor matters, of course, but if the batter turns soggy, the whole thing is ruined.

But here, it's genuinely so crispy. Not soggy at all, even after cooling.

Also, the chicken in Halls Gimbap's dakgangjeong is really tender. It's boneless, and I think it's all thigh meat.

Every bite is tender... and the batter is so crispy it's amazing. It's honestly surprising how crispy it stays even with the sauce coated all over it.

How spicy is the dakgangjeong with cheongyang chili?

It's a little spicy but not too much. If you want it spicier, pairing it with the cheongyang chili is really refreshing and delicious. Halls Gimbap's dakgangjeong is honestly one of the best I've had — a gimbap shop making dakgangjeong this good is wild.. It's genuinely better than some specialty fried chicken places!!!

Why Halls Gimbap works for solo dining and takeout near Gyodae Station

Halls Gimbap is easy to reach near Exit 1 of Gyodae Station, and the menu style makes it easy to visit alone. So it should suit office workers especially well who are looking for a quick solo lunch. You can go light with a single roll of gimbap, or go all in on dakgangjeong like I did!!

You can also take it to eat at the office or bring it home, and since they do a lot of delivery too, it's convenient to use however fits your situation.

And since this used to be Oto Gimbap Seocho, it should be a good visit for anyone who liked Oto Gimbap before. From the owner to the gimbap ladies, the counter staff, the dakgangjeong staff — everyone's the same, and the taste is genuinely the same, so it's seriously delicious. I'll be back next time just for the dakgangjeong..

The gimbap is delicious too, but the dakgangjeong was surprisingly amazing at Halls Gimbap! Highly recommended as a solo-dining spot near Gyodae Station.