Hongdae BBQ restaurant with pre-grilled makchang: Mapo Gui Madang

You know those days when you get off work and just want to eat meat? This time I headed to the Hongdae area for frozen pork belly at Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch.

The menu ranged from frozen pork belly to whole pork belly to makchang (grilled beef intestine), and that day I ordered frozen pork belly for two, whole makchang for one, and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew). If you're looking for a place to eat meat in Hongdae, this might be worth checking out :)

Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch: hours and parking

The posted closing time is currently 10:30 PM, and from what I found, there's no separate last-order time listed, so if you're planning a late visit, it's worth calling ahead to confirm!!

The parking lot is behind the restaurant, and since there's a gate barrier, you get a remote control from the staff inside to use it.

※ The restaurant is listed as closed September 24–26 for Chuseok, so keep that in mind if you're planning a visit over the holiday.

Where it is in Seogyo-dong and what the restaurant feels like

Mapo Gui Madang is in Seogyo-dong, just a bit off Hongdae's main street. It feels less hectic than the heart of Hongdae, which actually made it a nicer spot for chatting over food.

The inside had more space than I expected! There were tables big enough for groups, so this could be a solid candidate for anyone scouting Hongdae spots for a group dinner. It's actually listed as a group-friendly restaurant.

Frozen pork belly for two, 200g for 9,900 won

First up, frozen pork belly for two! At Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch it's ₩9,900 for 200g, which felt noticeably easier on the wallet compared to typical Hongdae prices. They lay the thinly sliced frozen pork belly across the grill and cook it up golden brown.

With frozen pork belly, I usually get sick of it after a few bites if it's too fatty, but the lean-to-fat ratio here was good, and since the slices are thin and cook fast, I just kept eating without the flow breaking haha.

And you can't skip the minari (water dropwort) and gosari (bracken fern) here!!! After eating just pork belly, piling on some scallion kimchi made a huge difference in the combo. It cuts through the greasiness of the meat, and it's also great grilled together with the meat haha.

If you're looking for a good pork belly spot in Hongdae and you like frozen pork belly, this combo is worth trying. The price was right and 200g was a decent portion too.

Pre-grilled whole makchang for one, 200g for 13,900 won

Right after the pork belly, I added makchang! The whole makchang is 200g for ₩13,900, and since it comes pre-grilled, you just need to finish it off a bit more on the grill until golden.

I wondered if eating makchang right after pork belly would be too greasy, but the texture is so different that it felt like switching to a whole new dish. Once the outside is cooked through enough, it's chewy and savory, and I just kept reaching for more. It's the perfect add-on for when frozen pork belly alone isn't quite enough.

Finishing the meal with doenjang jjigae

After eating meat, doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) is the obvious finish. After all that greasy meat, a hot spoonful of broth really hits the spot haha. With rice too, it made for a proper ending to the meal.

Does Mapo Gui Madang work for a Hongdae group dinner?

Overall, Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch had reasonably priced frozen pork belly and other menu items like makchang to add on, which made it a good option for a group wanting to try a bit of everything. The tables are roomy too, so it's worth keeping in mind when scouting Hongdae group dinner spots.

The combo of scallion kimchi with frozen pork belly is what stuck with me most. If you're looking for good pork belly in Hongdae or want a casual meat meal in Seogyo-dong, check out Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch :)