Songpa Korean BBQ, timer-grilled daechang: Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang

A beef gopchang (small intestine) spot every Songpa resident knows—I've been a regular at Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang for 2n years.

If you live in Songpa, Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang is probably a name you've heard at least once.

The original branch is near Garak Market, and there is always a wait at dinner, weekday or weekend.

As a 2n-year regular, I hadn't been able to go often after moving, but then I found out a directly operated branch had opened right in Bangi Food Alley!!

Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Bangi Direct Branch (진성한우곱창 방이직영점) is a 10-minute walk from Jamsil Station, close to Seokchon Lake, Songridan-gil, and Lotte World Mall, so it is perfect for a date course or a gathering.

Walking to the Bangi Direct Branch from Jamsil Station

I took the subway. I came out of Exit 11 at Jamsil Station and it took 10 minutes on foot. You see Lotte World Mall, Sofitel, and Seokchon Lake on the way, so I thought, we'll eat and then take a walk. Course complete.

It is on a main road, so the restaurant was easy to find.

When I went in, all the windows by the window seats were open, giving it a nice outdoor-stall feel. (They had closed them by the time I left, so I couldn't take a photo..)

How does the weekday evening wait work?

I visited at 6:30 p.m. on a weekday and there was a wait. (??) It is not a system like Tabling or Catchtable; just write your name and the number of people waiting on the chalkboard at the entrance.

If you are not there when your name is called, your turn is skipped. Make sure to stay nearby.

Gopchang and daechang menu, plus a tip for two

You know how truly good restaurants tend to have simple menus?! Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang is exactly like that.

• Hanwoo gopchang — ₩19,000
• Hanwoo daechang (large intestine) — ₩19,000
• Hanwoo makchang — ₩20,000
• Kkakdugi yangbap (fried rice with cubed radish kimchi) — ₩9,000
• Anchovy noodle soup — ₩6,000

I ordered one portion of gopchang and one of daechang, then added another portion of gopchang because it was so good... Since it was grilled separately, it was a shame that the meal got interrupted in the middle... (For two people, I recommend three portions.)

Gopchang and daechang grilled for you

First come steamed egg, sauces, and Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang's three signature house-made kimchis. But they are seriously delicious. The green onion kimchi especially is so good that some people buy it separately.

Can you see how plump the daechang is?! It is not easy to get it like this. Go to the wrong place and you can end up with sad, skimpy daechang. Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang's real biggest strength is that the staff grill it for you, carefully using a timer after setting up the pot.

What more is there to say? Maybe because it is a direct branch, there was absolutely no gamey smell from the gopchang or daechang, and the plump look of the daechang passed first.

With that plump daechang plus professional grilling skills, the rich daechang fat felt like it was sliding down smoothly all the way to my stomach. The gopchang was packed full of filling too, so you get loads of nutty flavor.

Dip it generously in the soy sauce and you get the richness plus the freshness of chamnamul (crown daisy), so even though it is beef intestine, it does not feel heavy and I could keep eating endlessly. That is why I had no choice but to order one more portion.

A Bangi-dong course after your meal

Because it is in Bangi Food Alley, there are so many bars for a second, third, or nth stop, which is great. But that also means crowds, so if you are going somewhere for round two, move around 8 p.m. to get into the next bar without waiting.

Or, take a lap around Seokchon Lake, pat your very full belly, and walk it off. The weather has been pleasantly cool lately, so it is really nice for a stroll.