Hongdae Korean BBQ: pork belly in green onion kimchi: Gogikkun

I went out to Hongdae with a friend for the first time in a while. We wanted to wander around and eat something good, and on this sweltering day I wondered where to go... and decided on a proper stamina-boosting meal! That place is Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch (고기꾼김춘배 홍대본점).

Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch: location and hours

Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is at 36 Hongik-ro 3-gil, 3rd floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and is open daily 12:00–23:00 (last order 22:00). It's an easy walk from Hongik Univ. Station, so access was good.

Where's the entrance? A sliding door like a secret passage

The restaurant runs a main hall on the 3rd floor and an annex on the 4th floor.

I wandered around for a bit at first because I couldn't find the entrance. The door slides open sideways, so it felt like a secret door. It's lower than you'd expect, so watch your head when you go in, haha.

The entrance is small, but the mood changes completely once you're inside. There are lots of tables and the interior is quite spacious, so it felt comfortable. We came right at opening and were the second customers, but not long after we started eating the place was packed. There must be a reason it's a popular Hongdae spot!

Restrooms and the 4th-floor annex

The restrooms are at the back of the annex upstairs.

When I went up, the 4th-floor annex was quite large too, and looked fine for company dinners or group gatherings.

A review event is running too

They were also running a review event.

Joining isn't difficult and the perks are decent, so I recommend taking part if you visit.

Ordering the Hanwoo-Handon set for two, half-and-half naengmyeon and kkakttukbap

Here's what we ordered at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch.

• Hanwoo-Handon set for 2 (₩118,000)
• Half-and-half naengmyeon (₩7,000)
• Kkakttukbap (₩8,000)

First, the side dishes were neatly set out. Honestly, my favorites were the myeongi namul (pickled wild garlic-like leaves) and the pa-kimchi (green onion kimchi). They went so well with the meat that I got several refills!

Soon after, they brought in the charcoal, and the smoky aroma rising up made me even more excited.

And finally, today's star, the Hanwoo-Handon set, arrived~!

With hanwoo sirloin, hanDon galbi-sal (pork rib meat) and pork belly, you get three cuts in one go, and it was satisfying just to look at. The meat had a vivid color and a sheen that felt fresh.

Half-and-half naengmyeon: was the water or spicy version better?

The half-and-half naengmyeon (₩7,000) lets you have both mul-naengmyeon (cold broth noodles) and bibim-naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles), and it came out together with the meat.

Personally, I liked the bibim-naengmyeon a little more. The seasoning wasn't heavy, and it was just right with the meat. I also loved that the staff grilled the meat for us from start to finish, so we could eat in comfort.

Taste by cut: hanwoo sirloin, hanDon galbi-sal, pork belly

Hanwoo sirloin

From the set, I tried the hanwoo sirloin first.

The tender texture and rich juiciness stood out. Being beef, it had that lovely soft chew in the mouth.

HanDon galbi-sal

Next was the hanDon galbi-sal. Thanks to its thick cut, it had a real bite, and the springy chew and juices were very satisfying.

Pork belly

Last, the pork belly! The skin was moderately thick with a chewy texture, and the nutty flavor was strong. With the charcoal aroma on top, I enjoyed it to the very end.

Recommended combo: myeongi + green onion kimchi + meat

My top recommended combo at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is myeongi namul + pa-kimchi + meat. Wrapping the pork belly in myeongi and pa-kimchi brought out so much more savory depth. So good, haha.

What is kkakttukbap?

The kkakttukbap (₩8,000) is a fried-rice-style dish made with kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), and it was my first time trying it.

Mixing it with seaweed made it nutty with a slight kick of spice, and I kept going back for more. It was great alongside the meat, too!

Overall verdict on Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch

The restaurant says it keeps its meat fresh through chilled aging in-store, and after eating there I understood why they're so confident.

All three cuts were fresh with no off smell, and the staff grilled them so well that the meal was even more satisfying. If you want hanwoo and pork together, or you're looking for Hongdae pork belly or a good spot in Hongdae or Hapjeong, it's worth a visit.

It suits dates, friend meetups, family dinners, and company or group dinners in Hongdae. It was a day of properly filling, stamina-boosting food with a friend I hadn't seen in a while :)