Gimpo beef intestines grill with special sauces: Daebak Hwangso Gopchang

Now that the weather has turned cooler and my energy is starting to dip a little, there is one dish I find myself craving: beef intestines, with their rich, nutty flavor. So I visited Daebak Hwangso Gopchang (대박황소곱창), a spot in Janggidong, Gimpo that has been getting plenty of word-of-mouth praise. With truly fresh beef intestines and an amazing pairing of house special sauces, I instantly understood why people recommend it as a Gimpo gopchang spot. Let me tell you about the very satisfying meal I had, from the mixed grill platter through the finishing fried rice.

Near Janggi Station, with parking

It is on the entire first floor at 41-28 Gimpohangang 1-ro 78beon-gil, in Janggidong’s dining alley. It is conveniently located 398 m from Exit 5 of Janggi Station. Hangang Jungang Park is right across the street too, making it a great place for a post-meal walk to aid digestion.

You can park in front of the restaurant, or use the Janggi 3 Public Parking Lot directly opposite; it connects straight to the restaurant. You can see Daebak Hwangso Gopchang from the parking lot.

A clean interior that eased odor worries

The interior was kept very clean, with none of the greasy buildup often associated with intestines restaurants. Both the tables and chairs were spotless. The chairs have storage underneath for belongings and clothes, so I could eat without worrying about my coat picking up a smell.

The main menu includes the domestic Korean beef mixed platter, Korean pork belly and pork neck, beef gopchang, daechang (beef large intestine), makchang (beef fourth stomach), yanggitmeori, beoljipyang (honeycomb tripe), beef heart, beef brisket, sliced beef brisket, and gopchang hot pot. Side dishes include fried rice, steamed egg, cold noodles, brisket ramen, meat kimchi stew, rice bowls, and intestines soup, along with alcohol and drinks.

High chairs and disposable aprons are available in one corner of the restaurant.

Banchan and two special sauces

The generous basic spread included refreshing, lightly spicy bean sprout soup to cut through the richness, flavorful dressed chives, and fresh liver and cheonyeop (third stomach tripe). They will give you more liver and cheonyeop free of charge if you run out, so fans of them, go go!!

Daebak Hwangso Gopchang also has its own special sauces: a Cheongyang chili sauce and an onion sauce. Pairing the sauces and dressed chives with any of the intestines cuts takes away the heaviness and lets you enjoy their savory richness.

700 g domestic Korean beef mixed grill platter

Mixed grill platter (700 g domestic Korean beef)

I ordered the mixed grill platter, a generous 700 g selection of five domestic Korean beef cuts: gopchang, makchang, daechang, beoljipyang, and sliced beef brisket. It was piled high with kimchi, enoki mushrooms, chives, and potatoes too, making it feel even more abundant.

It arrived partially grilled from the kitchen, then needed only a little more cooking at the table. The sizzling sound on the pan, the sight of it cooking, and the nutty aroma stimulated my ears, eyes, and nose all at once.

Trying each cut with the special sauces

I started with the sliced beef brisket and makchang with the Cheongyang chili special sauce. Its soy-sauce base brought together sweet and salty flavors that really woke up my appetite. The properly cooked makchang was pleasantly chewy, while the brisket heightened the nuttiness.

Daebak Hwangso Gopchang truly shines with its gopchang. It was packed with creamy filling, and its savory richness burst out with every bite. There was no off smell or gaminess at all; the more I chewed, the more the rich flavor came through. The slightly spicy onion special sauce did an excellent job of cutting the gopchang’s richness.

Beoljipyang is the cow’s second stomach. It takes a lot of work to prepare for grilling, so many gopchang restaurants do not carry it, but Daebak Hwangso Gopchang thoroughly cleans it and simmers it with various vegetables. I had mostly seen it in hangover soup before, but grilled alongside the intestines, it was fun and delicious: softly cooked, it was tender; cooked longer, it became crisp. The beef heart, cooked just right, was also mild and nutty the more I chewed.

Gopchang fat draining beneath the grill

The gopchang fat that might make you feel a little guilty was draining very nicely into a paper cup below the grill. With the excess fat rendered out, everything turned even more golden and crisp.

The plump daechang was crisp outside and moist inside; the moment it entered my mouth, the soft sweetness of its fat melted away. It could have become rich quickly, but with the special sauce, I could keep eating without tiring of it.

I also had it with the sweet-and-tangy dressed chives, and even the well-grilled potatoes were soft and delicious. The grilled kimchi and mushrooms made the meal especially filling.

The K-dessert finale: fried rice

No matter how full you are, you cannot leave out fried rice after beef intestines! When you order one serving, the owner stir-fries bright red seasoned rice on the griddle. There was a lot of rice, too! Once it was allowed to crisp slightly against the grill, every spoonful brought together the sweet-spicy seasoning and the nutty flavor of gopchang fat perfectly.

Thoughtfully, fabric deodorizer for use on the way out and hair ties are also provided.

Daebak Hwangso Gopchang, a Gimpo gopchang favorite, starts with fresh ingredients and delivers a happy meal through its generous mixed grill platter and the harmony of its special sauces. If you want quality beef intestines followed by a generous fried-rice finale, and are looking for a proper Janggidong, Gimpo restaurant, give it a visit.

Hours

• Monday–Thursday 11:00–23:00
• Friday–Sunday 14:00–24:00