Korean BBQ near Hongdae with jjagyechi and scallion kimchi: Mapo Gui
Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant a short walk from Hongik University Station in Mapo, Seoul, specializing in Jeolla-style scallion kimchi and old-fashioned pork belly. On a rainy weekday evening, the writer ordered two servings of thick-cut pork belly, pork neck, two servings of frozen pork belly, and jjagyechi (cheesy egg jjajang ramyeon), all grilled on a natural stone plate after a charcoal pre-sear. The scallion kimchi paired with jjagyechi stood out as the highlight, and parking requires picking up a remote for the gate barrier from the restaurant.