# Hongdae Seoul lunch restaurant with buckwheat-scented naengmyeon: Anok - By Jaein (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-market-list/) - Written Sep 19, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written based on a sponsored store visit. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-market-list/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-market-list/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/index.md) ## In short Anok is a hanok-style Korean restaurant at 13-4 Hongik-ro in Mapo, Seoul, a short walk from Hongik University Station. The meal at Anok covered Pyongyang naengmyeon (buckwheat cold noodles), clear pork gomtang and the limited-run braised pork tail, and the clean, odor-free broth and fall-off-the-bone pork tail were the highlights. Waits can build on weekends and at lunch peak, so arriving a little early is the safest plan. ## Good to know - **Address**: 13-4 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul - **Dishes ordered**: Pyongyang naengmyeon (buckwheat cold noodles), clear pork gomtang, braised pork tail (limited special) - **Waiting**: Waits possible on weekends and at lunch peak, so an early visit is recommended *as written by the visitor on Sep 19, 2026* Amid the youthful, flashy streets of Hongdae, I stumbled on a surprisingly calm and elegant Korean restaurant. This is Anok, known both as a Hongdae Pyongyang naengmyeon spot and for its deep, clear broths. It's the kind of place where you get proper, well-made Korean food, so it's already popular as a Hongdae lunch spot among nearby office workers and visitors. ![The calm interior atmosphere of Anok, a Korean restaurant in Hongdae](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-01-1rtvo-900.webp) ## Inside Anok: a quiet hanok room of wood and warm lighting I couldn't help but gasp the moment I stepped in. The interior reinterprets the beauty of a traditional hanok in a modern way, and it's the kind of calm, refined space that settles your mind right away. Thanks to the soft, warm lighting and the generous use of wood throughout the tidy layout, it was a Korean restaurant where every angle made for a great photo. With such a composed atmosphere, it also seemed like a wonderful place to bring your parents or treat someone special. That day, we ordered with high expectations: the restaurant's signature Pyongyang naengmyeon and clear gomtang (beef bone soup), along with the limited-special pork tail jjim (braised dish). From the side dishes served neatly in clean bowls to the look of the menu itself, I immediately felt, 'I've come to a real Korean restaurant.' ![Anok's table setting with neatly arranged side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-02-1qkzn-900.webp) ## How is the clear gomtang at Anok? The clear gomtang came out first, and true to Anok's reputation as a Hongdae guk-bap (soup and rice) favorite, the clear, deep broth flavor was outstanding. ![A bowl of Anok's clear gomtang with clean broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-03-11hlz-900.webp) The long-simmered meat broth was clean with no heaviness at all, and the meat inside was also very soft and moist. Spooning rice into the hot, rich broth and topping it with a piece of neatly prepared kimchi warmed me right up and had me smiling without even trying. I'd highly recommend this to anyone looking for a proper, filling lunch near Hongdae. ![A lunch spread with gomtang and kimchi](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-04-1h4p9-900.webp) ## Braised pork tail, the limited special only Anok serves Next up, the pork tail jjim was a unique and special dish that you can only find at Anok. ![Anok's special dish, pork tail jjim](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-05-1xqlg-900.webp) The chewy, springy pork tail was seasoned with a deep sweet-and-salty sauce that soaked all the way through, really waking up my appetite. ![Close-up of well-seasoned pork tail jjim](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-06-1g1rs-900.webp) It was cooked so gently that the bone and meat separated with ease, making it easy to eat, and it paired wonderfully as a side dish alongside the gomtang or naengmyeon. ![A table set with pork tail jjim and gomtang together](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-07-p2cp7-900.webp) Anok's neatness came through even in the menu itself. ![Anok's menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-08-o7um5-900.webp) ![A sign listing Anok's menu offerings](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-09-byhr4-900.webp) ## Pyongyang naengmyeon at Anok: how deep is the broth? And then the Pyongyang naengmyeon we tried had a broth with a depth all its own. ![Anok's Pyongyang naengmyeon in clear broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-10-108h5-900.webp) Between the elegant, calm interior and the carefully prepared, high-quality Korean food, Anok left me very satisfied. Each dish was so well made that I felt genuinely well taken care of. The clear, transparent broth, free of any off flavors, came together with a subtle, nutty buckwheat aroma that was more than enough to win over any naengmyeon fan. ## When to go to Anok in Hongdae to avoid the wait Waits can happen on weekends or during lunch peak hours, so I'd recommend arriving a little early. If you want a comforting, refined meal in Hongdae, be sure to visit Anok and experience the deep flavors of thoughtfully made Korean food for yourself. ![Lifting a portion of naengmyeon noodles](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-11-1dagl-900.webp) ![Buckwheat noodles and broth in the naengmyeon bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-12-1u4yq-900.webp) It's not overly strong in flavor, but the more you chew, the more the plain, clean flavor of the buckwheat noodles fills your mouth — and the more you sip, the more the clean, savory depth comes through, so you end up drinking every last drop of the broth. If you're looking for a good-looking, photo-worthy Korean restaurant in Hongdae, or want a great lunch with a proper bowl of naengmyeon, gomtang, or guk-bap, I highly recommend a visit to Anok. ![Square shot of Anok's Korean meal spread](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-13-wxfy5-900.webp) ![A table set with Anok's menu and side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-14-3v3mt-900.webp) ![Close-up shot of Anok's food](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-15-tm543-900.webp) ![Anok's naengmyeon and gomtang placed side by side](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-16-kisut-900.webp) ![Square photo of Anok's Korean menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-17-1i8kz-900.webp) ![Signature shot of Anok's naengmyeon and clear gomtang in Hongdae](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-18-1l7cd-1200.webp) Beyond the main dishes, the neatly arranged side dishes and the main courses came together in perfect harmony, keeping my palate clean and happy throughout the meal. The clean presentation made the whole experience feel like being treated well, and it's an oasis for anyone tired of overly strong, MSG-heavy food. ![Anok's food with a neat, tidy presentation](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-19-1wl08-900.webp) ![Anok's side dishes paired with the main dish](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-20-pj8ax-900.webp) ![A closing shot from an Anok meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-21-544j8-900.webp) ![Square shot of Anok's interior atmosphere](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-22-1ig2n-900.webp) ![Anok's space with wood and warm lighting](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-23-1u5sf-900.webp) ![Vertical shot of Anok's tidy Korean restaurant space in Hongdae](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit-24-1g694-900.webp) ## Where it is - Anok (안옥) - 13-4 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 마포구 홍익로 13-4 - 37.5536729, 126.9229752 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%95%88%EC%98%A5/@37.5536729,126.9229752,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-market-list/hongdae-anok-naengmyeon-lunch-visit/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt