Anguk Korean pub for squid ink stir-fry & traditional liquor: Gippeun

Today I'm introducing Gippeun (깊픈), a fusion Korean restaurant near Anguk Station. At Gippeun you can have a meal at lunch, and traditional Korean liquor with side dishes in the evening.

Between Bukchon and Insa-dong, in a quiet alley, there's a restaurant that draws people in without even having a signboard. That's Gippeun, the Korean pub near Anguk Station.

Where is Gippeun, how do you get there, and what about parking?

Gippeun is a 2-minute walk from Anguk Station Exit 6. It sits in an alley slightly off the bustling restaurant streets of Anguk, so first-timers will probably think, "There's a restaurant in a place like this?" That thrill of discovery is the first charm of Gippeun.

Gippeun has no parking lot of its own, but you can use a nearby paid lot (TruParking). At peak lunch time you may have to wait if you come without a reservation, so I recommend booking on Naver beforehand. It's closed every Sunday and Monday, so be sure to check before you go. You can also join the waiting list on site via Catch Table.

Gippeun is within walking distance of sights around Anguk such as Insa-dong, Bukchon Hanok Village and Changdeokgung, so it fits nicely into an outing or a trip itinerary.

Gippeun interior and seating

The moment you step into Gippeun, the space speaks to you before the menu does. It reinterprets the structure of a traditional hanok (Korean house) in a modern way, and the wood textures and soft lighting create a calm, tranquil mood.

Unlike the usual bustle of Anguk restaurants, at Gippeun you can enjoy your meal at a slower pace, and that's a clear difference.

There's also a bar counter, and I liked that one wall has hangers and bag hooks for guests.

The Insa-dong alley you see through the window is so charming.

Gippeun signature dishes and prices

At lunch you can have a filling meal from a good-value lunch special, and in the evening the mood shifts naturally into one that's perfect for a drink. It's a restaurant where you can actually talk with your companion in a quiet space, which is getting harder to find in Seoul these days.

🌿 Ulleung thistle hangover soup ₩14,000

The Ulleung thistle hangover soup (haejangguk) is Gippeun's signature dish and the one that best captures the restaurant's philosophy. Even the name is out of the ordinary. Made with thistle brought directly from Ulleungdo island, the broth has a deep aroma and a bittersweet flavor, and it's said to be completely different from an ordinary hangover soup.

🦑 Squid ink stir-fry rice bowl ₩14,000

The squid ink stir-fry rice bowl is striking from the very look of it. Squid stir-fried in black ink sits on fluffy rice, topped with fish roe (eoran) and anchovy aioli sauce, so it's finished as a proper dish rather than a simple rice bowl.

What I ate at Gippeun in the evening

I went to Gippeun in the evening and ordered from the drinking-snack (anju) menu.

• Squid ink stir-fry ₩26,000
• Oriental chicken breast salad ₩14,000
• Draft beer, 1 glass ₩5,000

How is the Oriental chicken breast salad?

The Oriental chicken breast salad came out first. The chicken breast is shredded finely, so it isn't dry at all and blends well with the assorted vegetables. The sauce is sweet and tangy, and it felt like refined Korean and Italian flavors in harmony.

The salad comes sprinkled with cilantro, so if you can't eat it, you should probably say so in advance.

How was the squid ink stir-fry?

Next was the squid ink stir-fry, which looks different from the start.

In Gippeun's squid ink stir-fry, plump squid bodies and vegetables go together very well. Something like chili seeds is mixed in, so it's slightly spicy, and I liked that it cuts the richness.

It's perfect as a drinking snack. I ordered beer, but Gippeun had a very wide range of traditional Korean liquors.

The squid ink stir-fry also goes very well with rice.

Gippeun has an event where you get a free glass of draft beer if you leave a Naver receipt review, so give it a try.

An Insa-dong and Anguk route to pair with Gippeun

The Insa-dong and Anguk area around Gippeun is full of things to explore on foot. Bukchon Hanok Village, Changdeokgung, Gyeongbokgung, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul and Cafe Onion Anguk are all within walking distance. A route of visiting Changdeokgung or Bukchon Hanok Village in the morning and having lunch at Gippeun is considered one of the classic Bukchon day-trip courses. Finish by strolling slowly through the Insa-dong alleys after your meal, and you have a full day of exploring downtown Seoul.