Grilled garlic chicken and terrace seats in Hongdae: Goobne Red Road

I was hanging out in Hongdae and suddenly craved chicken, so I looked around for a spot — and found this Goobne Chicken with a really distinctive interior.

It had only opened recently, and the location looked great, so I decided to check it out.

What is the space like at Goobne Chicken Hongdae Red Road, from tent tables to the terrace?

Goobne Chicken Hongdae Red Road had everything from outdoor tent seating to a terrace.

There's only one terrace table on the first floor, so if you want to enjoy an open-air chicken-and-beer session, get there early!

There's also a bar seat on the first floor, which was pretty unique.

The bar area was decorated with little items that seemed to reflect the owner's personal taste, so it was fun just to look around.

Happy hour before 10pm: 3,900-won cocktails and the whisky list

This place seemed genuinely serious about alcohol — probably the widest drink selection I've seen at any Goobne Chicken branch. Before 10pm, it's happy hour, and cocktails are only 3,900 won, so if you like cocktails, definitely take advantage of it.

They also sold whisky, rivaling dedicated whisky bars.

There was a pretty wide variety, and the prices looked reasonable too. The draft beer, essential with chicken, also looked amazing.

The 2nd-floor hall, group tables and restrooms

On the second floor, the kitchen sits in the middle, with hall tables split to the left and right.

The space was quite spacious, and group seating was well set up. It felt very different from the first floor.

The restroom was also really clean. I care a lot about restroom cleanliness when I go to restaurants, and since it's rare to find one this tidy, I really appreciate it.

Goobne Chicken Hongdae Red Road uses red as its accent color, giving it a lively, energetic feel overall. Since it just opened, everything was spotless and the space felt comfortable — I think I'll be coming back often.

How do the Namhae Garlic Basasak and garlic butter cajun potatoes taste?

I ordered the Namhae Garlic Basasak (garlic crispy chicken) with a side of garlic butter cajun potatoes. The Namhae Basasak seems to be a menu item created through a regional collaboration project between Goobne and Namhae County. It's crispy grilled chicken loaded with Namhae garlic. It just so happened that both the chicken and the potatoes I ordered were garlic dishes, but the garlic flavor was so good that I really enjoyed it.

Because it's grilled rather than fried, the oil was drained well, making it light and tender. The coating was crisp just enough, and it kept me reaching for more. It also came with grilled whole garlic cloves, which were delicious eaten together. It was so clean-tasting and good that I thought, this place really knows what it's doing — turns out they actually have a dietitian and a professional cook on staff. Experts really do make a difference.

The chicken was tasty on its own, but dipping it in the sauce made it feel like a completely different chicken — like getting two flavors in one dish.

There was a 'dipping sauce sommelier' poster in the shop, so it seems the owner really knows their sauces.

Why this Hongdae chicken restaurant fits what customers actually want

Goobne Chicken Hongdae Red Road felt like a place that actively encourages customer participation and listens to feedback.

They seem to run a lot of events, so following them on Instagram looks like the fastest way to catch news about promotions.

Since Hongdae naturally draws a lot of foreign visitors, they had a separate English menu ready. They also apparently run Korean culture experience events, though details weren't posted, so you'd need to ask the store directly. If you have foreign friends or guests with you, definitely check it out!

Group dinners, venue rental and parking near Jandari-ro

They also labeled weight and country of origin in great detail, which gave me the impression of a transparent, honestly run business. Venue rental is available too, so if you need a space for events or group work dinners, feel free to ask. Bringing in your own cake is allowed, so it could even work for a birthday party. There's no dedicated parking, so you'll need to use a nearby paid lot or public parking.

I got a strong feeling that this place is genuinely going to do well. Goobne Chicken has always been a brand I trust for taste, but since most branches are delivery-only, there was never really a spot to become a regular dine-in customer.

Going forward, whenever I want Goobne Chicken, I think I'll be heading to the Hongdae Red Road location often.