Garak Market gopchang with plum sauce and crab: Midang Hanwoo Gopchang

A while back, after finishing work, I went looking for good food near Garak Market and ended up at a place called Midang Hanwoo Gopchang. It's set right in the middle of the Garak Market food alley, so there's a lot of foot traffic and it's really easy to get to.

Where is Midang Hanwoo Gopchang, and what are the hours and parking?

• Name: Midang Hanwoo Gopchang
• Location: 47 Yangjaedae-ro 62-gil, 1st floor, unit 103, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Monday–Saturday 09:00–23:00 (closed every Sunday)
• 4–5 minute walk from Exit 1 of Police Hospital Station, Line 3.
• There's dedicated parking near the restaurant, so you can park comfortably.

As a well-known Garak Market restaurant, the exterior struck a nice balance between familiar and clean-looking.

They sell a range of menu items, including mungtigi (raw beef), grilled hanwoo gopchang, and gopchang hot pot.

Inside, it's a wide, comfortable space with round tables placed throughout.

It has a familiar but clean vibe, so anyone looking for gopchang in Garak Market should feel comfortable dropping in.

What we ordered and the signature Hadong plum syrup sauce

We sat down and ordered right away. We went with hanwoo gopchang for one (₩25,000) plus hanwoo daechang for one (₩24,000)!

After ordering, a set of chopsticks and spoon came out in a little paper pouch. Even that small touch showed Midang Hanwoo Gopchang's attention to detail.

Next came the vivid green Hadong plum sauce. They said it's the restaurant's signature sauce, made from Hadong green plum syrup aged over six months with cheongyang chili peppers added.

Then fresh raw liver and beef tripe (cheonyeop) arrived.

Chewy texture and a savory flavor made these great for working up an appetite before the main dishes came out.

Spicy, tangy green onion kimchi and sour, fragrant chive salad also took their place on the table.

Good side dishes call for soju, haha.

Hanwoo gopchang (25,000 won) and hanwoo daechang (24,000 won) for one each

Hanwoo gopchang for one (₩25,000) + hanwoo daechang for one (₩24,000)

Our order — gopchang for one (₩25,000) plus daechang for one (₩24,000) — arrived! The generously packed, no-gaps visual really caught the eye.

Carefully selected fresh hanwoo gopchang went onto the grill alongside plump hanwoo daechang, savory and tender heart, and beef honeycomb tripe with an amazing chewy texture. Watercress, kimchi, potato, onion, and garaetteok (rice cake sticks) were all piled on too, which made it fun just to look at.

The owner grilled the gopchang for us directly, so there was no worry about oil splattering or smell sticking to our clothes. A savory aroma rose up as it slowly cooked.

We started with the heart and honeycomb tripe first. The savory, tender heart and the chewy, springy honeycomb tripe made a great textural contrast that practically demanded soju.

Had a bite of the fragrant chive salad too,

and now it was time to try the hanwoo gopchang.

A bite of the plump, fully-packed gopchang was crispy with a savory pop — genuinely excellent!

Dipping the gopchang in the Hadong plum sauce cut through the richness and reset the palate.

Time for the plump hanwoo daechang. Slice it right there, sear the sides until crisp, and then—

—the outside turns crispy while the inside stays soft as a marshmallow, oozing oil with every bite. Couldn't resist the soju, haha.

Onion, watercress, and kimchi grilled in the gopchang and daechang fat kept their own flavor while picking up a savory richness.

The potato and garaetteok were especially outstanding — the crispy, browned-on-the-grill texture really stood out.

What does the marinated crab side taste like?

Can't skip mentioning the spicy-sweet marinated crab, tossed in Midang Hanwoo Gopchang's own special sauce.

Meaty blue crab coated in a spicy-sweet marinade paired beautifully with the savory, rich gopchang.

Dipping the daechang in the leftover marinade gave a spicy-sweet reset to the oily palate.

Finishing with kkakdugi fried rice (4,000 won)

Kkakdugi fried rice (₩4,000)

Finally, we ordered kkakdugi fried rice (₩4,000). Rice tossed in kkakdugi seasoning got fried in the leftover gopchang fat.

It sizzled away and cooked up quickly.

Waiting until it crisped up against the grill and then taking a spoonful — spicy and tangy, coated in gopchang fat — was absolutely amazing.

Couldn't give up even the last spoonful. Sitting right in the middle of the Garak Market food alley, Midang Hanwoo Gopchang is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for good food in Garak Market or Garak-dong. With fresh hanwoo gopchang, hanwoo daechang, and that signature Hadong plum sauce, it's the kind of place I'd want to come back to whenever a craving for Garak Market gopchang strikes.

Frequently asked questions about Midang Hanwoo Gopchang

Is parking available?

There's dedicated parking near the restaurant, so you can park comfortably.

Can you visit without a reservation?

The restaurant is fairly spacious, so walk-ins are fine, but mungtigi is sold same-day only and requires a reservation.

How much does a meal cost?

Hanwoo gopchang and hanwoo daechang each run around ₩24,000–25,000 per serving, so expect around ₩30,000+ per person for two.

Is it good for group dinners?

The interior is wide and comfortable with round tables spread throughout, so it works well for group get-togethers too.

How easy is it to get to?

It's a 4–5 minute walk from Exit 1 of Police Hospital Station, Line 3.