Staff-grilled Korean BBQ in Hongdae, Seoul: Gogikkun Gimchunbae

Today, we visited Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch, a place my husband and I occasionally go when we're craving meat. It is close to home, so it is easy to drop by without any fuss, and I really love that we can eat while looking out at Gyeongui Line Forest Park. Watching the greenery outside the window while eating somehow makes the meal feel a little more leisurely.

Location and visitor information for Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch

• Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch, 31-2 Seogang-ro 13-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: daily 12:00–23:00
• Last order: 22:00
• Group seating, reservations, separate men's and women's restrooms, Wi-Fi, high chairs, and easy payment available

Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch sits along Gyeongui Line Forest Park. It is within walking distance of Hongik University Station, so it is easy to visit by public transport, and you can find it without much trouble as you stroll slowly along the park.

When we stepped inside, the overall atmosphere felt comfortable.

Best of all, Gyeongui Line Forest Park is right in front of the restaurant, so the window seats let you eat meat while taking in the park view. Seeing trees and greenery outside made the whole meal feel even more relaxed.

Ordering the Korean beef and pork set for two

Here is the menu at the Hongdae favorite Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch :) There are a variety of meat options, from pork to Korean beef, along with set menus where you can try several cuts. We ordered the Korean beef/pork set for two.

The set came with pork neck, beef rib meat, and the Korean beef of the day. On the day we visited, the beef of the day was salchisal, a tender beef chuck flap cut.

First, they set out side dishes to eat with the meat, including myeongi namul (pickled wild garlic leaves) and shredded scallions.

Salchisal and pork grilled by the staff

Then a staff member put the Korean beef on the grill first and cooked it for us. Having the meat grilled for us meant we could comfortably chat and enjoy our meal.

The perfectly grilled salchisal had such a tender texture from the very first bite.

The more I chewed, the more its savory flavor and gentle juiciness came through, so I really enjoyed it. While we ate the beef, they continued grilling the pork too.

When the pork was nearly cooked, they added minari (water dropwort) and kimchi to the grill as well.

The well-grilled beef rib meat was so good with the minari. The fragrant flavor of the minari worked beautifully with the savory, juicy beef rib meat. The pork neck was grilled lean yet moist, and it also paired well with kimchi.

Finishing with half-and-half naengmyeon and kkakdugi fried rice

As we ate the meat, we started craving naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles), so we ordered the half-and-half naengmyeon. It lets you try both mul naengmyeon, served in chilled broth, and bibim naengmyeon, mixed with spicy sauce, making it a great choice when it is hard to pick just one.

Eating the meat with cool naengmyeon refreshed our palates, and they went so well together. We finished with kkakdugi fried rice.

Because the fried rice included kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) and meat, it had the savory flavor from the meat plus the rich, savory taste of kkakdugi. We were full, but once the fried rice came out, we kept reaching for it anyway. In the end, we said we were full while finishing every last bite. Haha.

It is a place we visit occasionally because it is near home, and once again we had a comfortable, delicious meat meal. In particular, I think being able to dine while looking out at Gyeongui Line Forest Park is one of its biggest charms. If you are looking for somewhere to eat meat in Hongdae, it is a nice choice not only for the meat but also because you can enjoy the park before or after your meal; it would also suit anyone looking for a Hongdae Korean BBQ place where the staff grill the meat for you. If you enjoy a light walk after eating like I do, you will probably like it even more. It was perfect for slowly walking along Gyeongui Line Forest Park and digesting after our meal.