Gwanghwamun Korean restaurant: bulgogi and squid sets at Eom Yongbaek

Where is Eom Yongbaek Pork Grill Gwanghwamun Branch, and what are the hours?

Eom Yongbaek Pork Grill Gwanghwamun Branch is at 51 Yulgok-ro 4-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 440m from Exit 6 of Anguk Station. It's open daily from 11:00 to 22:30, with a break time from 14:30 to 16:30.

I was craving grilled pork in Gwanghwamun today, so I headed over to Eom Yongbaek Pork Grill Gwanghwamun Branch 🐷

Right from the entrance I got that mix of old-school beloved spot vibes and a polished atmosphere. Even the sign already had that legit good-restaurant energy 😎

There was a separate waitlist machine set up outside the restaurant. Popular places really do things differently from the moment you walk in, haha 😂 If there's a wait, I'd recommend registering first and taking a little stroll around the area 🚶‍♂️

There's a menu board posted on the wall next to the entrance 👀 It was nice being able to check the menu before going in. Scanning through everything from meat cuts to meal sets, my stomach was already demanding entry 😂🐷 The house specials are also listed separately, which is handy when deciding what to order.

What is the restaurant like inside?

The interior of Eom Yongbaek Pork Grill Gwanghwamun Branch is bigger than I expected and has a pretty great vibe 👍 The exposed ceiling paired with wood-toned tables gives it a slightly retro yet clean feel.

Plenty of tables were filled with customers too — there's clearly a reason this place is well known in Gwanghwamun 😎 The moment we sat down, all I could think about was meat 😂🔥

Ordering the bulgogi set and the squid set together

After looking over the specialty set menu, we ordered the bulgogi set and the squid set at Eom Yongbaek Pork Grill Gwanghwamun Branch 😆 Honestly, the moment I looked at the menu I felt like choosing just one wasn't the answer — ordering both was.

Hesitating in a moment like this is a loss 😂 Meat and squid together? Game already over 🐷🦑

What side dishes come with the set meals?

After a short wait, the side dishes were laid out first 🥬 Bean sprouts, seasoned greens, wrap vegetables, peppers, garlic, and chives all came out.

A solid lineup of dishes that go well with meat. Anyone who loves wraps will probably be satisfied just from this point 😆 I was already running mental simulations of which combination to wrap first 😂

The full table: pot rice and doenjang soup

Finally the full spread came together along with the main dishes 🤩 The bulgogi and squid sets arrived together with salted anchovy stew and gang-doenjang, and the table was completely packed. At this point isn't this basically a feast rather than a set meal 😂

Trying to get a full shot for photos, I had the happy problem of not knowing where to start. With rice and soup added, it looked hearty just to look at 🍚🔥

First, the pot rice was portioned out into individual bowls 🍚 Freshly cooked rice with a nice glossy sheen — perfect alongside the meat.

Right after the rice, the doenjang soup was ladled into individual bowls too 😆 One savory spoonful and the meal was officially ready to begin. Koreans really do feel at ease once rice and soup are on the table 😂

How did the bulgogi set taste?

Time to start with the bulgogi I'd been waiting for 🐷🔥 The meat was stacked layer upon layer on the plate, and it looked tender just to look at. Taking a bite, it was thin and truly soft 😆

I barely even chewed before it was gone 😂 One bite of meat, one bite of rice, and I got it — this is why people come to Eom Yongbaek Pork Grill 👍

The squid set: watch out for the spicy peppers

Next up is the squid set 🦑🔥 With that red sauce, the visual is intense right away 😆 The squid pieces were generously sized and well coated in sauce, so rice naturally followed along.

But the peppers turned out to be quite a bit spicier than expected 🌶️😂 Bite into one without knowing and you might just see your whole life flash before your eyes. Spice lovers will enjoy it, but if you're spice-sensitive, watch out for the peppers 😆

Braised salted anchovies and gang-doenjang

I also tried the salted anchovy stew 😋 Served bubbling hot, it gives off a deep, savory smell that might be a bit of a love-it-or-hate-it thing.

But paired with the meat, it's a completely different story 😆 The salty umami works surprisingly well with the meat, and I kept reaching for it.

The gang-doenjang was a real rice thief too 🍚 Great mixed lightly into rice, and just as good paired with the meat.

Finishing the meal with a lettuce wrap

Finally, I put rice on lettuce and perilla leaves, added a piece of bulgogi, and topped it with a bit of gang-doenjang for a proper wrap 🥬🐷 Honestly, it's a combination that's hard to mess up 😂

Taking a big bite all at once, the tenderness of the meat, the aroma of perilla leaf, and the savory gang-doenjang all hit at the same time. I started out tasting things one by one but ended up combining everything by the end 😆

Having tried both the bulgogi set and the squid set at Eom Yongbaek Pork Grill Gwanghwamun Branch, the generous full spread with a variety of side dishes made for a really satisfying meal 🐷🔥 The bulgogi was especially soft and easy to eat, and with the spicy squid and gang-doenjang alongside, a whole bowl of rice disappeared in no time 😂 If you're looking for a hearty Korean meal in Gwanghwamun, this place is worth a visit 😆