Hongdae Station bar for udon in hanwoo tripe hot pot: Doonjeong

Hi everyone, it's Geumi 💙 Now that the weather's suddenly turned cool, don't you crave something hot and spicy in broth? A few days ago a close friend and I decided "today is definitely gopchang jeongol day" and went on a search frenzy for good spots near Hongik University Station.

Among the many restaurants, we found a broth master that's been selected for the Blue Ribbon Survey two years in a row, 2025 and 2026, and rushed over. I completely fell for the clean broth and the chewy tripe with zero gamey smell — here's my honest review of the hanwoo gopchang jeongol at Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch ✨

Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch: hanwoo aroma from the moment you walk in

Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch is a Korean restaurant on Donggyo-ro near Hongik University Station specializing in hanwoo (Korean beef) broth. The moment I stepped inside, a subtle, savory hanwoo broth smell wafted over — I immediately thought, "okay, this is the real deal."

True to its status as a Ministry of Food and Drug Safety-designated clean restaurant, the inside was really spotless,

and instead of plain bottled water, they served us nutty barley tea, which put me in a good mood even before the food arrived. The neatly plated kimchi and kkakdugi (diced radish kimchi) had that refreshing taste that pairs perfectly with soup dishes.

What's on the Doonjeong menu, and how many drinks they pour

Here's Doonjeong's menu! I loved that they have so many kinds of alcohol haha.

Hanwoo gopchang jeongol: no gamey smell, clear broth with a spicy finish

What we ordered at Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch was the hanwoo gopchang jeongol. It looked so good the second it arrived that I had to snap a photo first!

The pot was packed full — not just hanwoo tripe, but tender brisket, chewy beef tendon, and mushrooms with an appealingly springy texture, all generously portioned.

What touched me most was that the owner kept adding more broth and personally simmered it right up to its most delicious point.

When I took a sip of the long-simmered broth,

it wasn't heavy or murky at all — clear and clean, with a spiciness that kicks in pleasantly on the finish.

The tripe was packed with rich fat inside and had zero gamey smell, so even my picky-eater friend kept exclaiming as she ate.

Why adding udon noodles to the hot pot was the right call

You know you're basically guilty if you don't add extra noodles to gopchang jeongol, right? We didn't hesitate to add the 'udon sari' (udon noodle add-on), and it really was a genius move!

The clean, spicy dadegi (Korean chili paste) broth soaked perfectly into the plump, chewy udon noodles — nothing floated apart, it was all in perfect harmony.

Scooping up a big bite of tender brisket and udon noodles together doubled the heartiness and tripled the savory flavor.

If you're looking for a Hongdae bar for drinks and a side dish in the evening, there's no better combo than this 👍

Tips before visiting Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch

• Check the Chuseok holiday calendar: the restaurant will be closed during the upcoming Chuseok holiday (September 24–27), so make sure to plan your visit before or after the holiday to avoid a wasted trip!
• For lunch, try the gomtang and yukhoe bibimbap: besides the hot pot, the clear, spicy hanwoo gomtang and hanwoo yukhoe bibimbap are also hugely popular menu items. The atmosphere is comfortable enough for solo dining too, so I'd highly recommend it for office workers' lunch.

Is Doonjeong worth it for drinks in Hongdae?

If you're looking for a proper deep-broth restaurant near Hongik University Station, or a high-quality spot to grab drinks with a close friend, I genuinely, strongly recommend Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch 💙