Hongdae solo lunch with mini yukhoe and tteokgalbi sides: Baengni

Hey, it's Bongsam, here to taste some proper hanwoo (Korean beef) in style. I visited Baengni Gomtang, a clean and tidy Korean restaurant that's become a Hongdae favorite.

• Address: 40-18 Wausan-ro 29-gil, 1F Unit 1, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00–23:00 (break time 15:00–17:00)
• Parking: Not available ❌

Walking there from Hongik University Station, and parking

This spot sits near the Daea Apartments in Seogyo-dong. Coming out of Exit 7 of Hongik University Station (Gyeongui-Jungang Line), you can get here within a 3-minute walk, so accessibility is great. For parking, I'd recommend leaving your car at a nearby public parking lot before you come.

An atmosphere that's great for eating alone

The inside of Baengni Gomtang, a Hongdae Korean restaurant favorite, is small but clean and well put together. Since it's on the second floor of the building, natural light pours in, making it bright, and the small tables are arranged efficiently. I came alone and sat at a two-person table — no awkward stares, just perfect.

A genuinely clean restroom, fitting for a new-generation Korean restaurant. How great is it that even a small place has an indoor bathroom? The mother-of-pearl cabinet detail beside it looked stylish while still feeling properly Korean — I loved it.

Menu lineup and what I ordered

The menu at this Hongdae favorite centers on Korean dishes made with hanwoo. Gomtang, yukhoe bibimbap, tteokgalbi, dumpling hot pot — it's full of hearty, easy-on-the-stomach options. The sides were especially cheap, so I ended up ordering three things: mini yukhoe and tteokgalbi on top of my main.

After a short wait, today's lunch came out fast. Wow, it really looked pretty and delicious, and the portion was just right for eating alone — I was so satisfied I could barely stand it.

The nice touch: squid jeotgal (salted squid) kkakdugi (radish kimchi) that pairs perfectly with a soup-and-rice dish, plus a salad that works as a light appetizer, all served neatly.

Hanwoo gomtang: even the basic bowl came loaded with boiled beef

Even though I didn't order the premium version, the hanwoo gomtang was generous and even pretty to look at. A really clean, tidy bowl topped with one cute ginseng root. Just looking at that slightly bitter, fragrant root made me feel healthier already.

The rice comes already mixed into the soup, so the broth soaks in properly — great. I usually love a ton of green onion in soup dishes, and somehow they knew, because they piled it on generously. The clean-style broth is easy to slurp down, and it has that crowd-pleasing flavor even kids would enjoy.

Even without ordering the premium bowl, there was this much thick boiled beef inside. They also sell cold jeyuk (boiled pork) and muchim (seasoned dish) here, and I almost ordered that too, but I'm glad I held back — the basic gomtang at this Hongdae favorite already had so much meat that I felt completely satisfied.

Scooping up a big spoonful, tossing a side dish on top, and slurping it down — that flavor. It's great as a filling meal, but it's also excellent as a hangover cure. They sell alcohol here too, and I saw people day-drinking while nursing their hangovers — honestly, I was jealous.

How were the tteokgalbi and mini yukhoe sides?

Now for the sides I added because they were so cheap — I love that they give you a reasonable amount at a low price. Sometimes places make ordering feel intimidating with high prices and huge portions, which makes you hesitate, but the owner here really gets it.

This Hongdae favorite doesn't use pre-made products for the sides either. It's genuinely handmade tteokgalbi, made from meat that's been minced and worked by hand — the real deal. It had a proper meaty chew and felt upscale, so I devoured both pieces on my own in no time.

I wondered if the price was even right for yukhoe (raw beef), and there's another ginseng root on top! If it's sliced too thin you lose the texture, which I don't love, but this had a bit of thickness so it had that chewy, satisfying bite. The black sesame sauce especially — salty, sweet, and tangy — was the real kicker. If you like yukhoe, definitely add this side.

Lastly, there's a way to get a free item at the restaurant, so make sure to join in and try the delicious tteokgalbi for yourself. And if you're full, finish it off with a drink — ahhh!

Final thoughts

So after visiting Baengni Gomtang, this Hongdae favorite, what I felt was that this is a clean, tidy Korean restaurant. The owner is cheerful and kind, serving properly made Korean food. It's a great place for a filling meal, a hangover cure, or a glass of makgeolli — go check it out in style!