Grilled pork skin and minari at a Seogyo-dong BBQ: Mapo Gui Madang

Hi, this is Mino, keeping records. I was looking for good Korean BBQ near Hongdae and ended up at Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch in Seogyo-dong. That day I ordered quick-frozen pork belly, minari (water dropwort), butter soy sauce bibimbap, and pork skin.

The first thing I liked was the price. The menu listed frozen pork belly 200g at ₩9,900 and minari at ₩3,000. Even adding side dishes to go with the meat didn't feel like a big expense.

Where is Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch?

Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch is located at 49 World Cup buk-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It sits in an alley between Hongik Univ. Station and Gajwa Station, so it's easy to find if you're searching for Korean BBQ near Hongdae. The exterior wall had big signs reading 'One of Korea's Top 3 Scallion Kimchi Spots' and 'Frozen and Whole Pork Belly Specialty Restaurant,' so it wasn't hard to spot.

Name: Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch / Address: 49 World Cup buk-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea / Hours: 4:00 PM–10:30 PM

The hours are based on platform info, so it's best to double-check on Naver Map or Diningcode before visiting.

Menu and prices at Mapo Gui Madang

According to the menu I checked that day at Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch, frozen pork belly 200g was ₩9,900, minari was ₩3,000, and butter soy sauce bibimbap was ₩5,000. Here are the listed prices.

There were plenty of side dish options too.

The menu noted that all the kimchi and food are made in-house by the owner using domestic ingredients.

Side dishes and how the table is set

Once seated, you get ripened napa cabbage kimchi, scallion kimchi, and seasoned bracken fern on stainless steel plates. Lettuce and perilla leaves were also set out.

The minari I added came in a generous basket. It included both leaves and stems, a good amount for grilling on the tabletop.

A sign on the wall explained 'How to eat old-style pork belly deliciously.' It said to put the meat on once the grill is hot enough, and flip it once enough moisture has come out of the frozen pork belly.

It also suggested that once the surface turns golden, dip it in sesame oil salt or seasoned gochujang and wrap it in lettuce or perilla leaf with radish salad.

Frozen pork belly with minari and grilled kimchi

The frozen pork belly came piled high in a stainless steel bowl. The thinly sliced pork belly was stacked in layers, which made the ₩9,900 for 200g feel like even better value. Compared to typical Korean BBQ prices near Hongdae, it's definitely on the affordable side.

We put the frozen pork belly on the wide grill along with the minari. The meat is grilled with pepper sprinkled on top — the thin pork belly cooked quickly and was easy to pick up piece by piece, and the minari, lightly coated in pork fat, had a nice aroma.

At Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch, I'd really recommend grilling the kimchi too. Both the ripened kimchi and scallion kimchi are served, and grilling both went great with the frozen pork belly. I especially loved the grilled scallion kimchi.

After topping a piece of meat with minari, I tried adding scallion kimchi the next time — it let me enjoy the same frozen pork belly in slightly different ways each time.

Wrapping the grilled meat with minari, garlic, and cheongyang chili in lettuce made for a satisfying bite. The minari and kimchi cut through the richness nicely.

Pre-grilled pork skin, straight to the grill

The pork skin came already pre-grilled, and we finished cooking it further on the tabletop grill. It arrived trimmed into individual pieces on a stainless steel plate.

Browning the edges a bit more added a grilled note on top of the chewy texture, which I liked. It's served with a side of soybean powder, which made the usual texture of pork skin more approachable even for those who find it off-putting.

Unlike the thin frozen pork belly, thicker items here — whole pork belly, whole pork neck, pork skin — are pre-grilled first, which I appreciated since it meant less pressure while cooking. Taken at the pre-grilling station near the front of the restaurant.

Finishing with butter soy sauce bibimbap

At the end, we ordered the butter soy sauce bibimbap. It came in a stainless steel bowl topped with rice, seaweed flakes, flying fish roe, and sesame oil.

Mixing the rice thoroughly with the seaweed flakes and eating a spoonful between bites of meat made for a filling finish. At ₩5,000, it was also a great way to cleanse the palate after the meat. If I were to reorder from that day's menu, I'd pair the frozen pork belly with minari and grilled scallion kimchi, and add the bibimbap at the end.

Good to know before you go

• Frozen pork belly is thin and cooks quickly, so flip it as soon as moisture appears.
• I'd recommend grilling the kimchi and scallion kimchi before eating.
• Whole pork belly, whole pork neck, and pork skin come pre-grilled, so there's less pressure cooking them yourself.
• Side dish prices aren't a burden — minari is ₩3,000, butter soy rice is ₩5,000.
• Online listings show opening at 4:00 PM, so be sure to check before a lunchtime visit.

Who Mapo Gui Madang suits

This place suits anyone looking for affordable Korean BBQ near Hongdae, fans of frozen pork belly, people who enjoy pairing meat with grilled kimchi or minari, and groups needing space to sit around a grill together.

Does it work for a group dinner?

The back area of Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch had plenty of seating. With round tables built around grills, it works well for a casual meal for two, but it's also worth keeping in mind when you need a spot for a bigger group to gather around a grill.

Overall verdict on Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo

Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch stood out for its prices, spacious seating, and the pre-grilled pork skin. Above all, the best combination of the day was the frozen pork belly with minari and grilled kimchi. At ₩9,900 for 200g of frozen pork belly, adding minari and butter soy rice still didn't feel like much, and the pre-grilled pork skin rounded out a satisfying meal.

If you're looking for Korean BBQ near Hongdae beyond your usual spot, Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch in Seogyo-dong is worth adding to your list.

Visit info: address and hours

• Name: Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch
• Address: 49 World Cup buk-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: 4:00 PM–10:30 PM (check before visiting)
• Order: Frozen pork belly 200g, minari, butter soy sauce bibimbap, pork skin

※ Hours, menu, and prices may change, so please check Naver Map for the latest info before visiting. Prices reflect the menu at the time of the visit.