Hongdae date-night restaurant in Seoul: clear gomtang at Doonjeong
In short
Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch is a hanwoo beef gomtang (beef bone soup) restaurant in an alley 2-3 minutes on foot from Exit 1 of Hongik University Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a date dinner at Doonjeong, clear gomtang cost 12,000 won, yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef with rice) 15,000 won, a half plate of seasoned beef 11,000 won and the owner-recommended shrimp minari jeon (pancake with water dropwort) 19,000 won, and the clean broth with no off smell and the plump shrimp stood out. Doonjeong is a Hongdae restaurant worth a return visit for hanwoo gopchang jeongol (tripe hot pot) over drinks.
Good to know
- Address
- 1st floor, 183-12 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- Hours
- Daily 11:00-21:00
- Break time
- 15:30-17:00
- Last order
- Lunch 15:00 / Dinner 20:30
- Regular closing days
- 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month
- Location
- 214m from Exit 1 of Hongik University Station, a 2-3 minute walk
- What we ordered
- Yukhoe bibimbap 15,000 won / Clear gomtang 12,000 won / Shrimp minari jeon 19,000 won / Half plate of seasoned beef 11,000 won / Zero-sugar cola 3,000 won
- Award
- Blue Ribbon selection two years running, 2025 and 2026
- Groups
- Group dining available
- Event
- Book gopchang jeongol for dinner through Naver Reservation and get a free bottle of Donghae premium distilled spirit
as written by the visitor on Aug 30, 2026
I really love gomtang (Korean beef bone soup). At Doonjeong, a Hongdae restaurant, I got to taste the essence of clear hanwoo (Korean beef) gomtang. I tried the other dishes too and they were all delicious. Let me walk you through it in detail.
Where is Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch, and what are the hours?
Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch is at 183-12 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 1st floor, about 214m — a 2-3 minute walk — from Exit 1 of Hongik University Station. It's open daily 11:00-21:00 with a break time of 15:30-17:00, last order is 15:00 for lunch and 20:30 for dinner, and it's closed on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. Group dining is available too.
It sits on a fairly quiet side street, so the walk there was pleasant.
It's been named a Blue Ribbon Survey pick for two years running, 2025 and 2026.
Doonjeong's open kitchen and dining room
Right as you walk into Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch, a wide, spotless open kitchen faces you. Watching the chefs at work made me even more excited for the food.
The dining room was completely clean and tidy. The understated but neat interior and soft lighting were appealing. There were people eating solo, families having a meal together, and couples like us on dates — quite a mix of diners.
The owner and staff greeted us warmly too, which made this Hongdae restaurant feel even better.
Doonjeong's menu prices and the gopchang jeongol reservation event
Doonjeong apparently means "a bowl that delivers warmth," and true to the name, the menu at this Hongdae Korean restaurant centers on hearty, filling bowls. Their signature gomtang is simmered for a long time from hanwoo cow. Beyond the spicy and clear versions, there are variations using tendon, beef brisket, and more, so you can pick to suit your taste.
In the evening, hanwoo gopchang jeongol (beef tripe hot pot) is a great pairing with drinks. Right now, if you book the dinner gopchang jeongol via Naver Reservations, you get a bottle of the premium spirit Donghae for free. If you're planning to drink in Hongdae, booking Doonjeong's gopchang jeongol and picking up the spirit sounds like a great move. Highly recommend it as a Hongdae bar-food option for gopchang jeongol!
What we ordered at Doonjeong
- Yukhoe bibimbap 15,000 won
- Clear gomtang 12,000 won
- Shrimp minari jeon 19,000 won
- Zero-sugar cola 3,000 won
- Seasoned beef (half plate) 11,000 won
Clear gomtang and yukhoe bibimbap at Doonjeong: how they tasted
At Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch, the regular-size clear gomtang is 12,000 won and the yukhoe bibimbap is 15,000 won. Two kinds of kimchi came out first — and since you're eating gomtang, the kimchi matters too. Both were clean-tasting and refreshing.
Nice touch — the cola came in a glass full of ice!
First up, the yukhoe bibimbap. The yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) sits like a flower right in the center. It's piled with minari (water dropwort), and the aroma is genuinely great.
The yukhoe was fresh and chewy, and combined with the texture and fragrance of the minari, it made for a truly delicious bibimbap.
Next, the gomtang. This is the clear version, regular size, with rice already in the bowl.
The broth is clean with absolutely no off flavors. Rich, deep flavor plus the refreshing kick of scallions... so, so good!
I dipped the meat into soy sauce. It's clean and mild overall, so even people sensitive to strong smells should be able to enjoy it without worry.
Top it with kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) and it just slides right down!
Half plate of seasoned beef, 11,000 won
This is the seasoned beef dish — hanwoo beef tossed with minari and onion in a salty doenjang (soybean paste) sauce. The beef seemed to be from the shank area, chewy with good texture, and the slightly spicy seasoning cuts through any heaviness.
The cheongyang chili was the kicker.
The owner's pick: shrimp minari jeon, 19,000 won
Lastly, the shrimp minari jeon (pancake)! This one was the owner's recommendation. There's barely any flour — it's packed full with shrimp and minari.
Crispy outside, tender inside — exactly that. The minari fragrance is amazing, and on top of that the shrimp meat is super plump and nutty, so my chopsticks kept going back for more.
It's even better with a bit of onion on top, dipped in the seasoned soy sauce.
Is Doonjeong worth it for dinner and drinks in Hongdae?
That was my visit to Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch today! I came away with a completely satisfying meal. Next time I want to come back for a drink alongside the gopchang jeongol. I recommend Doonjeong as a Hongdae restaurant!
Where it is
183-12 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 1st floor서울특별시 마포구 동교로 183-12 1층
