Gangnam Korean BBQ with reserved window bench seats: Bongu Hwarro

I was on the hunt for a good Korean BBQ spot near Gangnam Station when the name Bongu Hwarro caught my eye. It's been featured on TV several times, so I had high expectations, and once I got there, both the vibe and the food lived up to it.

What really appealed to me was being able to enjoy Iberico pork neck and domestic pork belly at reasonable prices. Pairing the meat with naengmyeon (cold noodles) made for a complete meal.

Where is Bongu Hwarro, and what are its hours and parking?

Bongu Hwarro is located at 76 Bongeunsa-ro 18-gil, Star Palace, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and it's open daily from 11:00 to 23:30. From Exit 11 of Gangnam Station, head into the alley next to CGV Gangnam, walk up the hill on Gangnam-daero 100-gil, and you'll see it on your left — about a 6-minute walk.

• Address: 76 Bongeunsa-ro 18-gil, Star Palace, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
• Directions: Gangnam Station Exit 11 → alley next to CGV Gangnam → up the hill on Gangnam-daero 100-gil, about 6 minutes on foot
• Hours: Daily 11:00 - 23:30
• TV appearances: Saengsaeng Jeongbo episode 100, Good Morning Korea episode 577
• Reservations available, group seating, separate restrooms, Wi-Fi, mobile payment supported
• 20th-anniversary event: 50% off additional meat orders, 1 free Hangang ramyeon per person
• Parking: nearby paid lot, ₩3,000 for the first 60 minutes, ₩1,500 per 30 minutes after, max ₩6,000

Walking to Bongu Hwarro from Gangnam Station, and the storefront

The area around Gangnam Station is such a busy district that it's easy to find your way, but Bongu Hwarro is tucked into the alley next to CGV and up a bit of a hill, giving it a hidden-gem kind of feel. The exterior is clean and modern, giving off a slightly more polished impression than your typical BBQ joint.

The reserved window bench seat and the room at Bongu Hwarro

When you reserve at Bongu Hwarro, they set up your table in advance, and the window seat we sat at felt special — more like sitting on a bench than a regular chair. The interior was tidy and well kept, and the tables were spaced generously, making it suitable for group gatherings too.

The ventilation system worked well, so grilling meat didn't come with much smoke to worry about, and the staff guided us kindly, making for a comfortable meal. True to a place that's been on TV, everything felt well managed overall.

Bongu Hwarro menu and prices, plus half-price meat refills

Bongu Hwarro's signature dishes are beef short rib belly, domestic pork belly, and Iberico pork neck. The draw is being able to enjoy a variety of cuts at reasonable prices — and on top of that, once you place your first order matched to your group size, any additional orders come at 50% off!

• Beef short rib belly 150g: ₩14,000
• Domestic pork belly 150g: ₩15,000
• Iberico pork neck 150g: ₩15,000
• Galbisal (rib meat) 150g: ₩18,000
• 1mm flower pork belly 150g: ₩16,000
• Hanwoo beef tartare (limited) 130g: ₩20,000
• Hanwoo beef tongue (limited) 100g: ₩30,000
• Chadol doenjang jjigae (rice separate): ₩5,000
• Sushi (6 pcs): ₩3,000
• Woobap (beef short rib + flying fish roe + radish bibimbap): ₩5,000
• Chadol doenjang jjigae + radish bibimbap: ₩7,000
• Woobap set (woobap + chadol doenjang jjigae): ₩7,000
• Spicy jar scissor-cut naengmyeon: ₩11,000
• Mul naengmyeon / bibim naengmyeon: ₩11,000
• Lunch (11:30-15:00) radish bibimbap + chadol doenjang jjigae: ₩8,000
• Lunch (11:30-15:00) dolsot bibimbap: ₩9,000
• Bongu handmade king mandu: ₩4,000
• Beef radish soup (Mon-Fri): ₩7,000

That day, we ordered 2 servings of Iberico pork neck, 1 serving of domestic pork belly, and bibim naengmyeon.

How did the Iberico pork neck, Korean pork belly and bibim naengmyeon taste?

Iberico pork neck at Bongu Hwarro

The Iberico pork neck was thick-cut and juicy. Once grilled, the outside was crispy while the inside stayed moist, and the nutty flavor spread out the more you chewed. You could really taste the rich character that's distinct to Spanish Iberico pork — very satisfying.

Korean pork belly at Bongu Hwarro

Pork belly is the classic, of course. The fat rendered out just the right amount, giving it a nutty yet light flavor. Wrapped in perilla leaves and lettuce, it tasted even better alongside the fresh vegetables.

Side dishes: scallion salad, scallion kimchi and soy-marinated crab

The scallion salad looked plain at first glance, but once you mixed in the seasoning underneath, it turned out light and clean while really bringing out the flavor of the meat. The scallion kimchi was seriously delicious too. They even gave us soy-marinated crab as a side dish, which was a nice surprise ^^

Bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles)

Bibim naengmyeon is usually meant to cleanse the palate after eating meat, but we ordered it to eat alongside the meat instead. The spicy-sweet sauce and chewy noodles paired wonderfully with the meat.

Free Hangang ramyeon and soft-serve ice cream

Thanks to the current 20th-anniversary event, additional meat orders were 50% off, which put us in an even better mood, and even though we were too full to eat it, I was amazed to learn we could each get a free Hangang ramyeon per person. I'd love to go back just to boil up that ramyeon next time.

They also serve a refreshing soft-serve ice cream after the meal, which is impossible to pass up. It ended up tasting way better than I expected.

Verdict: Bongu Hwarro for a meat dinner near Gangnam Station

Bongu Hwarro was a great spot to properly enjoy Korean BBQ near Gangnam Station. Both the Iberico pork neck and the domestic pork belly were tastier than expected, and pairing it with bibim naengmyeon made for the perfect combination.

Between the clean interior, friendly service, and varied menu, it was a satisfying meal overall. If you're looking for a great Korean BBQ spot near Gangnam Station, I'd definitely recommend Bongu Hwarro.