Hongdae Korean BBQ, 600g hanwoo and pork set by hydrangeas: Gogikkun

I wanted to find a great open-air BBQ place in Hongdae to share with you, so I dashed over! Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch nails both atmosphere and flavor, so you can look forward to it. Let's go!

Where is Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch?

Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch (고기꾼김춘배 홍대숲길점) is on the Gyeongui Line Forest Park path, about a 7-minute walk from Exit 6 of Hongik Univ. Station. Just follow the path and you'll find it easily.

Hongdae has tons of BBQ places, but it's harder than you'd think to find one with a real open-air vibe. On an evening with a breeze like these days, I found a spot where you can eat meat while looking at a forest path with hydrangeas in bloom. It's Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch!!!

What are the hours, and do you need a reservation?

Gogikkun Gimchunbae is open daily 12:00–23:00, with last order at 22:00. It runs from lunch to late evening, so it's easy to plan around, and it seems perfect for weekend day drinking too, haha.

We went at 7 PM on a weekday! Naver Reservation is available, so definitely reserve before you go!! Next time I'm going to try day drinking... ~~

Reserved-seat atmosphere and table spacing

Maybe because we had reserved, we were guided to a reserved seat, and the moment we sat down we both said "wow, this is so nice" — it was that spacious and comfortable. The tables are nicely spaced too, so we didn't have to worry about the next table. Loved it! Even aprons, such a thoughtful touch!

What's in the 600g hanwoo/handon set for two, and is it a lot?

That day at Gogikkun Gimchunbae we ordered the hanwoo/handon set for two (600g) plus half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles) and kkakdugi rice (radish kimchi fried rice). The set is pork neck + ribs + the hanwoo (Korean beef) of the day, and the amount was seriously bigger than I expected, which surprised me.

Today's hanwoo, grilled by the staff

Not long after ordering, the hanwoo of the day came out first, and at Gogikkun Gimchunbae the staff grill the meat for you 🔥 This is a. real. key point! Since the staff do the grilling, we could just chat while we waited. The best.. it was so relaxing!! Look at that marbling, the quality of the meat is amazing...

The staff cut it into bite-size pieces, so we could eat it at just the right timing. My reaction right after the first bite: insane;;... The first bite is always with salt, you know? It lets you taste the meat itself the most, so it's the best. My mouth is still watering thinking about it, haha.

What side dishes and sauces come out?

The basic side dishes at Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch are bean sprouts, kimchi, scallion salad, soy-pickled onions and myeongi namul (pickled wild garlic leaves). Have you ever seen a BBQ place with a full set of sides like this... The sauces are ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), salt, saeujeot (salted shrimp) and meljeot (salted anchovy sauce). Such a thoughtful lineup, right?

How were the handon pork neck and ribs?

We enjoyed the rich savoriness of the beef, so now we had to move on to the pork neck and ribs, right!? You know eating should never be interrupted. At Gogikkun Gimchunbae they grill the pork neck and ribs together with minari (water dropwort), potatoes, kimchi and mushrooms, and honestly from here on we ate like crazy, haha.

This isn't cheap-tasting meat, it's clearly different. Really different. Fat and lean are nicely mixed, and the juices flow as you chew, yet it isn't greasy but clean-tasting, the kind you keep reaching for... Can you see how perfectly it's grilled? I loved the pork dipped in meljeot and wrapped in lettuce! (By the way, the wraps come if you ask!!)

What about the half-and-half naengmyeon and kkakdugi rice?

Half-and-half naengmyeon makes its en.trance!!! Gogikkun Gimchunbae's version lets you enjoy both spicy (bibim) and broth (mul) at once, with no need to choose. Cold noodles with meat on a hot summer day, you know it can't go wrong,, The naengmyeon is milder than I expected, but it feels like an intentional flavor meant to be eaten with the meat! It's moderate, so I think nobody would dislike it.

For the finish, the Korean "K-dessert" arrived: kkakdugi rice. Skipping carbs after meat is practically a crime, right? It feels unfinished otherwise, haha. The crunch of the kkakdugi and the salty-nutty flavor go so well together that we were totally full to the very end~~~

Is Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch corkage-free?

Yes, it's corkage-free except for the alcohol they sell!! Meaning you can bring wine or whiskey and enjoy it with your meal! Oh, that's another great point about this place.

Is it good for group dinners in Hongdae?

If you're looking for an open-air BBQ place with a great mood in Hongdae, it's Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch, hands down!! You get handon and hanwoo together, and corkage is free too~~ I think it works for dates, gatherings and company dinners alike. On a cool evening like these days, how about some delicious meat with good people~~?!