Sunday dinner, 3 orders of beef gopchang and noodles: Jinseong

I bookmarked Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang ages ago after hearing the beef intestines were amazing, and I finally made it out there. If you're hunting for a beef gopchang spot in Seoul, this post is exactly what you came for.

1. Location and parking

Address: 243-1 Dasan-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, 26m from Exit 7 of Sindang Station, 1st floor. Last order is 10pm (11pm on Fridays and Saturdays).

Coming out of Exit 7 of Sindang Station, it's right there, so it was really easy to get to by public transit. Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang has three locations in Seoul total — Sindang Direct Branch, Garak Main Branch, and Bangi Direct Branch!

2. Waiting

For waiting, you write your name and party size on the whiteboard out front and wait. If you're not there when they call you, you get skipped, so I'd recommend waiting nearby. I went a little before 7pm on a Sunday and there were 5 parties ahead of me, but I got lucky — only about a 10-minute wait.

3. Interior

The weather was cool enough that they kept the folding doors wide open while we ate, and the breeze drifting in was lovely. The tables weren't packed too close together either, so it felt comfortable.

4. Menu and prices

• Hanwoo gopchang (beef small intestine) ₩19,000
• Hanwoo daechang (beef large intestine) ₩19,000
• Hanwoo makchang (beef abomasum) ₩20,000
• Kkakdugi yangbap (radish kimchi fried rice) ₩9,000
• Myeolchi guksu (anchovy noodle soup) ₩6,000

One thing I love about a genuinely good restaurant is a short menu, you know? Even before I ate, this place already smelled like the real deal.

I ordered 3 servings of hanwoo gopchang with kkakdugi yangbap and myeolchi guksu. It's wild that beef intestines here are under ₩20,000. I recently paid almost ₩30,000 for one serving near Gyeongbokgung Station... this place is genuinely cheap, and the taste is guaranteed too.

5. Taste review

A staff member grills the intestines for you, and they were so nutty and savory, not chewy at all. I'm officially naming this my lifetime favorite beef gopchang spot.

Three kinds of house-made kimchi

This place also takes serious pride in its kimchi. They serve three kinds made in-house, and the gat-kimchi (mustard leaf kimchi) and scallion kimchi especially won me over. Some places serve limp scallions in their kimchi, but here they were properly crunchy.

The beef intestines weren't greasy at all, just nutty and delicious, so I didn't even ask for kimchi refills like I usually would.

The minari (water dropwort) garlic sauce that comes alongside is also a treat — dipping the intestines in it makes for a perfect combo.

The complimentary steamed egg came with plenty of broth, just like the kind I make at home. Such a treat!

The vegetables and how it's grilled

The grill includes bean sprouts, cabbage, chives, kimchi, potato, and rice cake — the bean sprouts and cabbage were the real kick, so good that they gave us a free refill. They set a timer for about 5 minutes, and when it goes off, staff flip and cut everything for you.

I've been to the beef gopchang place made famous by Sung Si-kyung's show, and plenty of others too, but in my book, this one's number one.

Kkakdugi yangbap and janchi noodles

The kkakdugi yangbap comes with radish salad, garlic, fried egg, and dried seaweed flakes for a spicy yet deeply savory flavor. They also transfer the leftover beef intestines into the rice, which crisps up the outside and makes it even tastier.

The janchi guksu (banquet noodles) had a refreshing broth that felt like it washed away all the richness from the intestines. Next time I'd probably go with the noodles as my side dish.

This place has great value and reliably good food — a genuine hidden gem. If you want great beef gopchang in Seoul, head to Sindang Station. I really don't think this quality at this price is common in Seoul. Totally recommend it!