Anyang gopchang restaurant dinner with free beef belly: Ilmigop

An Anyang Bisan-dong gopchang spot for a spontaneous post-work dinner

Last weekday, I was under extreme stress at work, so my husband and I decided on a spontaneous dinner date! The place we chose was Ilmigop, known as a great gopchang spot in Anyang. It seemed like everyone looking for gopchang in Bisan-dong already knew about it.

I was so excited to be heading out for gopchang, one of my usual favorites, for the first time in ages. Even though it was the same day, we visited with a Naver reservation and received an extra service perk too +_+_.

It is on the first floor across from the Bisan 1-dong Community Welfare Center, so it was easy to find. There are bus stops in front and behind it too, making it perfect for dropping by after work. Interestingly, lots of families come here :) It is regularly closed every Monday, and on all other days it is open from 5 p.m. to midnight. Last orders are at 11 p.m.

This is Ilmigop from outside. I worried there might only be a few tables, but it was more spacious than I expected, with quite a lot of seating. The tables were nicely spaced apart too, so we did not have to eat in a crowd, which was great.

Because we had reserved, they had set out the side dishes and even prettily written our name at the reserved table :) There are lots of apartment complexes nearby, so there were many couples with children. It also felt like a really nice place to come on a date like us, or to stop by with friends before heading home.

Same-day sourced and prepped gopchang, plus the menu

The reason this place is so popular is its freshness! We arrived at 7 p.m., and before long every table was full. I heard their principle is to sell ingredients sourced and prepared on the same day. They have a set amount prepared each day, so if you go late, the menu item you want may be gone—or they may be closed—so hurry over early! Haha.

The side dishes, apron, wet wipes, small plates, and individual sauces were all neatly set out, which made having a reservation feel even nicer :)

You can order everything from assorted grills to individual items. On the way over, I saw that everyone also said the yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) was really good :) The side dishes—steamed egg, fried rice, and Korean beef yukhoe mulhoe noodle soup—looked so delicious too! Ughhh.

We applied for the free extra woosamgyeop because it comes with a Naver reservation. They also have a receipt review event and a Naver Place save-and-notification event, so you can receive a service item if you participate :)

Included sundubu jjigae and two servings of assorted gopchang

The included sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew)! It arrived bubbling away and seriously hot. The moment this stew comes out, it is instantly time for a bottle of soju, haha. The broth was so good that I kept reaching for it, and I could see why they offer extra orders of it. Haha.

Then, shortly after, the gopchang arrived. It was two servings of the assorted platter, but it honestly looked like so much. The potatoes and vegetables all came in easy-to-eat sizes, which was nice because there was no cutting needed. The gopchang (beef small intestine), daechang (beef large intestine), makchang (beef abomasum), and yeomtong (beef heart) all arrived about 70–80% cooked, so we just cooked them for around three more minutes and started with the beef heart!

The fat rendered out right away, so we could eat without it feeling greasy, which I loved. I was so happy to properly enjoy the gopchang, daechang, and makchang that I usually love. Fried rice after finishing it all would be seriously delicious too.

And here is the gopchang visual I captured on video too. It is not something I can eat every day, so when I do have it, I always make sure to go somewhere known for doing it well!

Reservation woosamgyeop and chewy beef heart

And this is the woosamgyeop that came as a service item. Is this really free?! Haha. It came out so generously. They gave us tons of scallions, potatoes, and mushrooms too, right? The owner’s generous hospitality is the best~!

We started with the beef heart that had cooked first. The pieces were quite large, with such a good, wonderfully chewy texture.

My husband and I shared drinks nicely, one for you and one for me, while enjoying the gopchang. It was our first visit, but we were completely satisfied and already want to come back next time.

The potatoes were easy to eat, the gopchang was not tough, and everything was so delicious! There was lots of gop inside too, so it was wonderfully rich and savory ><

We also made a samhap (three-part bite) with the woosamgyeop. We tucked gopchang in the middle, chose our favorite vegetables, dipped it in sauce, and ate it—such an explosion of savory flavor, texture, and juices!! Haha.

Then, because we were not ready to leave, we ordered a draft beer. I was totally shocked when I saw them fill an ice-cold glass right to the top, haha. My husband and I had a bottle of soju, then a refreshing beer, and headed home :) Ilmigop is a great Anyang gopchang restaurant for a family meal or a friends’ gathering too! You really have to visit!