Hongdae forest-path Korean BBQ, potatoes and mushrooms: Gogikkun

Where is Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch?

Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch (고기꾼김춘배 홍대숲길점) is a Hongdae Korean BBQ restaurant right beside Gyeongui Line Forest Park, 9 minutes on foot from Exit 6 of Hongik Univ. Station and 5 minutes from Exit 2 of Seogangdae Station. I went with my friend ❤️ who loves open-air seating, and the outdoor-terrace vibe here was overflowing!

It has a different mood from the Hongdae main branch, and you can eat meat with a view of the forest path, so a lot of people recommend it as a date spot along Gyeongui Line Forest Park~ Super easy to get to, too!

What are the exterior and open-air atmosphere like?

The outside is a small, cute building that feels like a hanok or a mountain cabin! It doesn't stand out at first, but you run into it naturally as you walk along Gyeongui Line Forest Park ☺️

The window seats and outside seats especially look right onto the forest path and give off big open-air vibes, so they'd be great on a day like today, haha. With the yellow lighting and open windows, "atmospheric BBQ place" just comes out of your mouth 🤓

Indoor seating and atmosphere

The inside has warm, wood-based decor, and the highlight is the window seats that make the most of the forest-path view. There's decent spacing between tables, so it feels private!

Unlike the bustling Hongdae streets, it's relatively quiet and relaxed, so it's good for talking~ Since the staff grill the meat for you, it's just right for couples or friends to chat and eat slowly 😣

Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch menu and what we ordered

The mains are hanwoo (Korean beef) and domestic pork like fresh pork belly, special pork neck, fresh ribs and gabrisal (pork shoulder-loin), and there are set menus with various meat combinations, such as the pork set for two and the hanwoo/pork set for two! Sides include beef brisket doenjang stew (fermented soybean paste stew), mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles), half-and-half naengmyeon and kkakdugi fried rice (fried rice with diced radish kimchi)~

A set lets you try several cuts at once, which is great for the indecisive, and corkage is free except for alcohol they sell, which is so nice 😄 Here's what we ordered!

• Hanwoo/pork set for two (600g) ₩109,000
• Half-and-half naengmyeon ₩7,000
• Kkakdugi fried rice ₩8,000

What does the hanwoo/pork set for two (600g) look like?

The hanwoo/pork set for two (600g) is the signature menu here, letting you enjoy hanwoo and pork together at a reasonable price! It usually comes as hanwoo sirloin (or the hanwoo of the day) + pork neck + marinated rib meat, 600g in total, a good amount for two~

The staff grill it in order like a course, so you start with the hanwoo and then move on to the pork 😆

Grilling and tasting the hanwoo salchisal

The salchisal (chuck flap tail) is cooking up nicely first, haha. Now let's enjoy it~

The hanwoo salchisal has lovely marbling and is full of juice! Grilled only lightly, medium rare to medium, it melts in your mouth and the nutty juices burst out~

Even with just a little salt or wasabi, it was plenty delicious!

Pork neck and rib meat with minari and kimchi

Next, they grill the pork for you~

When the pork is almost done, they grill minari (water dropwort) and kimchi alongside, and that completes it~

The pork neck! It's especially tender with a faint charcoal aroma, a taste that sticks to the basics 🤩

The rib meat has a good chew, thick but not too greasy, so it tastes clean~

Grilled potatoes, mushrooms and minari

The potatoes, mushrooms and minari grilled alongside are a highlight: the potatoes and mushrooms, browned in the meat fat, get even nuttier, and the fragrant, crunchy minari cuts the greasiness, haha.

The staff tend the grill and cut the meat as you go, so couples can just focus on talking. It's really a great date-course pick!

Is the half-and-half naengmyeon worth ordering?

The half-and-half naengmyeon (₩7,000) is one of the sides you must order after the meat. It puts mul naengmyeon and bibim naengmyeon in one bowl, so there's no need to agonize, you get both! 😙 Mix the noodles well and dig in, haha.

The mul naengmyeon side has a cool, clean broth! Take a sip while the meat grease still lingers in your mouth and it feels refreshing right away! The noodles were nicely chewy and not too tough, so easy to eat!

The bibim side has a sweet-spicy sauce that goes well with the meat 🤭 It isn't too intense but wakes your appetite back up! Since it's half and half, one bowl gives you the coolness of mul naengmyeon and the heat of bibim at once, a really satisfying palate cleanser after meat!

Finishing with kkakdugi fried rice

Last up is the kkakdugi fried rice (₩8,000)! It's packed with finely chopped kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) and fried with the meat fat left on the grill, so the nuttiness really comes alive 😋

The tang of the kkakdugi cleanly cuts the greasy meat flavor, and every grain of rice is well seasoned, so it's addictive! The portion is just right for two people to share after meat and naengmyeon 👍

Verdict: is Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch worth visiting?

If you're looking for tasty meat with a view of Gyeongui Line Forest Park, Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch is a strong recommendation! The open-air atmosphere is so good that I especially recommend it for dates or anniversaries when you want wine with your meat! (Corkage is free here!)

• Address: 31-2 Seogang-ro 13-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: daily 12:00–23:00 (last order 22:00)
• 9 min on foot from Exit 6 of Hongik Univ. Station, 5 min from Exit 2 of Seogangdae Station
• No parking