Izakaya lunch in Lotte Dongtan: grilled daechang & gyudong, Horangigul

Horangigul (호랑이굴) Lotte Department Store Dongtan: location and hours

Horangigul, Lotte Department Store Dongtan is on the B1 floor of Lotte Department Store Dongtan, 160 Dongtanyeok-ro, Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do. It is open daily 10:30-20:00, and you can park in the Lotte Department Store underground parking lot.

The lunchtime line: was it worth the wait?

I went shopping at Lotte Department Store Dongtan, and as lunchtime got close I agonized over where to eat for ages..😋 While wandering around, one place stood out because of the line of people waiting, and that was Horangigul. The wait was pretty long, but I'd heard so many times that "you have to eat here" that I decided to wait.

An interior like a Japanese alley restaurant

When my turn came and I stepped inside, the mood was different right away. The soft lighting and the interior, which reminds you of a restaurant in a Japanese alley, made me feel like I was traveling abroad :) If you're looking for a Japanese restaurant near Dongtan Station where you can enjoy both the meal and the atmosphere, I could kind of see why so many people recommend this place.

The restaurant is bigger than I expected, so it doesn't feel stuffy at all~~ There were lots of families who had finished shopping, plus couples on dates. I also saw coworkers eating together, so I thought it would be fine for a company dinner too!

The three dishes we ordered

This time I ordered the grilled daechang and gopchang set, the original gyudong (beef rice bowl) set and egg okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake)💛

Grilled daechang and gopchang set

The one I was looking forward to most was of course the grilled daechang (beef large intestine) and gopchang (small intestine) set🤗 A savory aroma, as if it had just come off the grill, hit first, and the daechang spread a rich flavor the more I chewed.

The gopchang wasn't tough either, with a springy texture, and eating it with rice made me keep reaching for more! It felt like it brought out the natural charm of the ingredients rather than being heavily seasoned, which made it even more satisfying.

Original gyudong set

In the original gyudong set, tender beef and a mildly sweet sauce soak naturally into the rice☺️

Every bite tasted comforting, so I thought this is a dish everyone, young and old, would like💕 If you want an easy, no-fuss meal, it seems like a good choice.

Egg okonomiyaki

I highly recommend the egg okonomiyaki as a side dish❣️

The sauce goes together with the fluffy cooked egg, so it was soft but still full of savory depth, and eating it between bites of the mains made everything in my mouth feel even richer >_<

Service and the evening izakaya mood

The staff were friendly while we ate^__^ They helped right away whenever we needed something, so we could eat comfortably, and the food came out neat and tidy, so I was very satisfied.

The mood looks great for a drink in the evening too, so I think it would suit anyone looking for an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) near Dongtan Station,, The menu has lots of variety, so it also looked good for a group sharing a bit of everything😍

If I go back: the gopchang hot pot

Next time I definitely want to try the gopchang jeongol (offal hot pot) that so many people recommend in Dongtan! The meal was better than I expected, so naturally I got curious about the other dishes too🫶 Both the atmosphere and the food were satisfying, so this is a Japanese restaurant near Dongtan Station I'll remember for a long time.

Even with a long wait, the food and the atmosphere were satisfying enough to make it worthwhile✨✨ It's great for a hearty meal after shopping, and I thought it suits all kinds of gatherings: dates, family meals and company dinners.

If you want to enjoy a tasty meal with a Japanese vibe close by, I'd recommend Horangigul at Lotte Department Store Dongtan. Next time I plan to try the new dishes one by one. If you're looking for a Japanese restaurant near Dongtan Station, it's worth a visit at least once :D