Hongdae Korean restaurant: fire-grilled galbi set for two at Ok Galbi

Today I wanted a hearty Korean meal, so I headed to Ok Galbi (옥갈비) in Hapjeong. You can get all kinds of galbi (beef rib) dishes here, from galbitang (rib soup) to galbijjim (braised ribs) and gomtang (beef bone soup). We ordered the Ok Galbi set, which lets you try grilled galbi, braised galbi, salad and gomtang all at once. The portions were generous and the taste was great, so we left happy! For anyone looking for a lunch spot in Hongdae or Hapjeong, here's a detailed look~

Ok Galbi hours and parking

Ok Galbi is at 50 Eoulmadang-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and it's open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00–22:00. It's closed every Monday, and the break time is 15:00–17:00.

• Location: 50 Eoulmadang-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• Hours: Tue–Sun 11:00–22:00 (closed every Monday)
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Parking: not available (nearby paid parking recommended)

How to get to Ok Galbi from Hapjeong Station

Ok Galbi is a 5-minute walk from Hapjeong Station. It's close to the station so it's easy to get to, and the big sign made it simple to spot. It's a handy place to stop by when you're craving a hearty Korean meal somewhere between Hongdae and Hapjeong.

Ok Galbi atmosphere, seating, reservations and ordering

The restaurant felt clean and pleasant overall. There are tables of various sizes from 2 to 4 seats, so it looked good for a meal with friends or a partner.

There's also a tablet by the entrance for joining the waiting list. We had reserved ahead, so a staff member showed us straight to our reserved table.

Ordering was simple: just scan the QR code on the table and order from your phone. They were also running a gift event where everyone who joins wins something (100% win rate!). Worth a look if you visit~

Ok Galbi menu and the Ok Galbi set

Ok Galbi sells a range of Korean dishes centered on galbitang and galbijjim. There's ok galbitang, hangover galbitang and ok gomtang, all good for a filling lunch, plus galbi kalguksu (galbi noodle soup) and naengmyeon (cold noodles).

We wanted to taste a bit of everything, so we ordered the Ok Galbi set for two. It comes with braised galbi, grilled galbi, galbi salad and a meal dish too, so you can try lots of things without agonizing over the menu.

How did the Ok Galbi set taste?

The table was neatly set with spoons, chopsticks and side dishes. A bin for bones, tongs and scissors were already prepared too, which made eating easy.

Grilled galbi: a subtle fire flavor and chewy texture

The grilled galbi came out first in the set. It was prettily plated and looked appetizing. I could taste a subtle fire-grilled flavor, and the chewy texture got better the more I chewed. It was good with the seasoned greens (namul) that came alongside, and dipping it in the dressing sauce went well with the meat.

Galbi salad: a refreshing palate cleanser

Next up was the galbi salad! It came with noodles, vegetables and galbi cut into bite-size pieces. Eating the fragrant vegetables together with the meat was a great combination. It was also nice as a light, fresh palate cleanser between the galbi dishes.

Braised galbi: tender enough to pull apart with tongs and scissors

And the braised galbi was my favorite of this set! It looked really appetizing from the start. The ribs were big, so there was fun in picking up a bone and tearing into it, and above all the meat was so tender. Even if you don't like eating with your hands, it's tender enough to strip off easily with tongs and scissors.

The braised galbi also had egg garnish (jidan) and rice cakes (tteok) in it, and they were delicious with the galbi sauce. The tender meat and the savory sauce went so well together that I kept reaching for more, haha. It was one of the most satisfying dishes in this set.

Gomtang: clear and mild, yet rich broth

Finally, the steaming hot gomtang arrived. With the galbi dishes, salad and gomtang all laid out together, it looked really hearty. Considering the price of the set, you get to taste so many dishes that the value felt pretty good.

The gomtang came in a earthenware pot (ttukbaegi), so it stayed hot while we ate. The broth was clear and mild, but I could taste a deep savoriness coming from the meat. It wasn't greasy or too heavy, just clean and rich, and it left me feeling pleasantly full!

Even after eating the other galbi dishes, it was so good that I couldn't put my spoon down. In the end I finished the whole bowl, haha.

Is the Ok Galbi set in Hongdae and Hapjeong worth a visit?

Ok Galbi, a Hapjeong Station favorite, gave us a hearty Korean meal! I especially liked the set's lineup, with grilled galbi, galbi salad, braised galbi and gomtang all in one. The meat was tender and the seasoning was tasty, and with the mild but rich gomtang at the end, it was a satisfying meal overall.

It's close to Hapjeong Station and the restaurant is clean, so it seems fine for a meal with friends or family too. If you're looking for Korean food in Hongdae or a place to eat in Hapjeong, especially if you're craving a hearty Korean spread, give Ok Galbi a visit~