Hongdae Korean BBQ, 1++ hanwoo sirloin with just salt: Gogikkun

Today I went to get my meat fix near Hongik Univ. Station with Mija ❤️, who's happiest when she's eating lots of good food, and we ended up at the Hongdae favorite Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch (고기꾼김춘배 홍대본점)! From the unique vibe at the entrance to the melt-in-your-mouth meat to the side dishes, it was just perfect, so let me introduce it right away! 😁

How to get to Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch

Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is a 6-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 9, on the 3rd floor of the building at 36 Hongik-ro 3-gil. Super convenient to reach!

The outside of the shop!.! It's a quick walk from Hongik Univ. Station, and it's on the 3rd floor of the building! 😄

The entrance already feels like a secret hideout, and when you open the rugged yet stylish wooden door, a surprisingly different space opens up!

Atmosphere and seating at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch

Inside, the tone is dark with soft yellow lighting, and every seat has a tall wooden partition. It feels less like a BBQ restaurant and more like a classy izakaya (Japanese-style pub) or a cozy tavern 😃

Since each seat is separated by tall wooden partitions, you can chat quietly with your group without worrying about other people's eyes! It seems like the best choice for a Hongdae date, a blind date, or when you just want to eat good meat in peace 😊 The retro yet warm wooden interior filling the place is perfect for having a drink too!

What did we order at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch?

The two of us ordered the hanwoo (Korean beef)/handon (Korean pork) set for 2 (₩118,000), kkakdugi bap (kkakdugi fried rice, 깍둑밥, ₩8,000) and half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles, ₩7,000). The main beef and pork are great quality here, but the sides are famous for being excellent too, haha

• Hanwoo/handon set for 2 ₩118,000
• Kkakdugi bap (kkakdugi fried rice) ₩8,000
• Half-and-half naengmyeon ₩7,000

Hanwoo/handon set for 2: how is the 1++ hanwoo sirloin?

With the hanwoo/handon set for 2, you don't have to agonize over beef or pork. You get the best cuts of both at once, which is amazing value and satisfaction, haha. The hanwoo sirloin we grilled first shows off gorgeous marbling, as befits 1++ grade 😆

Put it on the heated grill and sear it lightly on both sides!.!

Perfectly cooked hanwoo 😙

The moment it hits your mouth the juices burst and it just melts away 🤩 The beefy flavor and nuttiness are rich, so I strongly recommend dipping your first bite in just a little salt 😀

Pork belly and fresh galbi-sal

After the hanwoo, we grilled the pork cuts in the set: thick pork belly (samgyeopsal) and fresh galbi-sal (rib meat). Once we'd cleansed our palate with the beef, we grilled them up nicely, haha

Freshly cooked pork belly and galbi-sal, haha

Maybe because it's fresh, never-frozen meat, there was no gamey smell at all, and the chewy, bouncy texture with every bite was a work of art 😄 The charcoal smell soaked right into the meat, and the nutty flavor spread through my mouth the more I chewed!

What is kkakdugi bap?

The kkakdugi bap (₩8,000) at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) fried rice, fully cooked in the kitchen and served on a heated iron plate. After a great meat meal, fried rice, Korea's K-dessert, is a must, haha

The look alone is overwhelming 🎉 Finely chopped, well-fermented spicy-sour kkakdugi is mixed in and topped with nutty seaweed flakes, haha

The crunchy bits of kkakdugi throughout wipe away the greasiness of the meat! The savory depth is so good that even when I was full I couldn't put down my spoon. A seriously addictive dish ☺️

Half-and-half naengmyeon: what if you wrap pork in it?

The half-and-half naengmyeon (₩7,000) comes in a bowl divided down the middle like a jjamjjamyeon bowl, with mul naengmyeon (cold broth noodles) on one side and bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles) on the other. I ordered it as a refreshing palate cleanser between rounds, and it was a clever menu where you can enjoy both sides peacefully without fighting 🤭

The cool, clean broth that clears your chest goes fantastically with the fatty meat! It isn't harsh, just refreshing, so I kept slurping it!

The addictive sauce soaks into the chewy noodles, and if you set aside a thick piece of pork, lay it on top and roll it up, you get a truly perfect bite 😁 And just like that, Mija and I finished off the side dishes too, haha

Verdict: is Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch worth it?

If you're tired of loud, chaotic BBQ places around Hongdae, I absolutely recommend Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch, where you can enjoy top-grade hanwoo and handon in a cozy, moody space 😣 From the taste to the atmosphere to the clever sides, nothing fell short, so I'm planning to go back soon 🥳

Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch info

• Address: 36 Hongik-ro 3-gil, 3rd floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• 3rd floor hours: daily 12:00–23:00 (last order 22:00)
• 4th floor hours: daily 12:30–22:30 (last order 21:30)
• 6-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 9
• No parking