Gangnam charcoal-grill BBQ with crab-leg side dishes: Bongu Hwarro

Today I've got a review of Bongu Hwarro, a Korean BBQ restaurant near Gangnam Station that I stumbled into while out having fun in the area.

Where is Bongu Hwarro? 5 minutes on foot from Gangnam Station Exit 11

It's about a 5-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 11, and if you head up between the CGV Gangnam building, it's right there, so it wasn't hard to find at all.

What does the Bongu Hwarro 20th-anniversary event include?

Bongu Hwarro just so happened to be celebrating its 20th anniversary, running

• 50% off special on meat refills
• 1 free Hangang ramyeon per person
• Free soft-serve ice cream

— definitely worth keeping in mind!

Inside the 150-seat restaurant

The interior was pretty spacious with 150 seats, and the clean decor made it feel well-suited for company dinners or group gatherings.

While I was looking around the place, staff kept passing by and taking care of whatever we needed right away, which made the meal really comfortable.

The setup involves grilling meat directly over a charcoal brazier in the traditional hwarro style, which gave the place a distinct atmosphere.

Bongu Hwarro menu and prices

Once we sat down, we could see the menu right away on the tablet ordering screen.

The first meat order had to match the number of guests, and refills came with 50% off. It was priced at ₩14,000 for 150g of beef brisket (woosamgyeop), ₩15,000 for 150g of domestic pork belly, and ₩15,000 for 150g of Iberico pork neck, among other options.

Side dishes, right down to crab legs

The side dishes that came with the meal were also generous and varied.

Alongside scallion strips, radish strips, garlic, and green onion kimchi, there was also a less common side dish — crab legs.

The sweet and tangy scallion strips and pungent garlic especially cut through the richness of the meat, so I kept reaching for them.

Marinated beef brisket in the house sauce

First up, the beef brisket was thinly sliced along the grain and moist with marinade.

Sesame seeds were dotted throughout, so a nutty aroma came through even before it hit the grill. With the king oyster mushrooms placed alongside it, the whole thing looked like it would hold onto all that juice once grilled.

One bite and it went down soft and smooth, so I think even people who aren't used to eating meat would find this easy to enjoy.

Iberico pork neck on the charcoal grill

The thickly sliced pork neck showed off dense marbling running along the grain. The two king oyster mushrooms placed next to it made for a great pairing.

As soon as it hit the grill, you could hear it sizzling away. Clear grill marks formed on the surface as it turned a golden brown.

As the fat rendered and bubbled up, a subtle aroma spread across the grill. Every time I flipped it with the tongs, I could feel a little bit of the juices seeping out.

Thanks to the thickness, the juiciness held up well, and being grilled over the high heat of the charcoal seemed to let the fat drain off naturally while a subtle smoky flavor soaked in.

I also ate it wrapped in lettuce with rice, meat, and sauce — a very filling meal on its own.

Don't skip the Hangang ramyeon from the 20th-anniversary service, definitely have some too haha. They also give you soft-serve ice cream, so you can finish the meal off nice and cool.

What to check before visiting Bongu Hwarro

There can be a wait on weekday evenings or weekends, so I'd recommend visiting with some extra time to spare. The 50% off meat refill deal only applies if your first order matches your number of guests, so it's worth confirming before you order. The 20th-anniversary event may have a set time period, so it might be a good idea to check with the restaurant before you go!!

Bongu Hwarro address and hours

• Name: Bongu Hwarro
• Address: 76 Bongeunsa-ro 18-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (스타팰리스)
• Hours: Daily 11:00–23:30 (Sunday 11:00–23:00)