Hongdae Korean BBQ with flower pork neck: Gogi Salon

While looking for a good Korean BBQ restaurant near Hongdae Entrance Station, I visited Gogi Salon (고기살롱) this time. It was close to the station, so it was easy to find, and it was also in a nice location for moving on to a café or somewhere else nearby after our meal. I had been looking for pork belly in Hongdae, and I wanted an easy, relaxed meal close by, so off to Gogi Salon I went.

The atmosphere at Gogi Salon near Hongdae Entrance Station

Gogi Salon had a long, narrow layout. The tables ran in a line, which made the space feel wider than I expected, and it had an overall relaxed atmosphere for a meal. If you are looking for a Korean BBQ restaurant near Hongdae Entrance Station, it is conveniently located for a gathering or dinner plans. Gogi Salon also felt like a comfortable place to chat while eating meat.

Wasabi, salt, and whole-grain sauce were set out on the table. Rather than simply leaving bottles of sauce there, they had it arranged so you could serve yourself as much as you needed, which felt thoughtful. The flavor of grilled meat can change quite a bit depending on the sauce, so I liked being able to choose anything from clean, simple wasabi or salt to whole-grain sauce.

Ordering flower pork neck, fresh pork belly, and bibim guksu

There were many menu options, but that day we ordered two servings of flower pork neck, fresh pork belly, and a bibim guksu set. I thought eating only meat might leave something missing, so I chose the bibim guksu (spicy mixed noodles) too. Ordering both flower pork neck and fresh pork belly was nice because we could compare the two cuts, and since I had come for pork belly in Hongdae, I was looking forward to the fresh pork belly as well. If you want meat and noodles together from the Gogi Salon menu, this would be a good combination.

Geotjeori and seasoned raw crab banchan

Soon after ordering, the banchan (Korean side dishes) arrived first. Several sides came out along with geotjeori, freshly seasoned kimchi, and I personally really liked the geotjeori. I tried a bite before the meat arrived, and its seasoning was not overpowering while it stayed crisp, so I thought it would go well with the meat. At Gogi Salon, the banchan were just as nice to enjoy alongside the meat.

Seasoned raw crab also came out. It is quietly exciting when a Korean BBQ restaurant serves seasoned raw crab as a basic side dish, right? The seasoning had soaked in nicely, and I enjoyed this too. As I picked at the side dishes one by one before the meat came, my appetite naturally grew. If you are looking for a good Korean BBQ restaurant near Hongdae Entrance Station, it is worth taking a look at the banchan as well as the meat.

Generous portions of flower pork neck and fresh pork belly

After a short wait, our ordered meat arrived. The generous portion was the first thing that caught my eye. We ordered two servings of flower pork neck, and it looked so plentiful that I wondered if this really was only two servings. I thought I would not need to worry about feeling disappointed by the quantity when ordering meat at Gogi Salon. With the fresh pork belly alongside it, the table felt completely full.

A comfortable meal with staff grilling the meat

They gave us potatoes along with the meat. And they grilled the meat for us, which was really convenient. From the diner’s perspective, a Korean BBQ restaurant that grills the meat for you is quite comfortable, right? It was nice to wait and talk without having to keep an eye on the timing of the grilling. It would have been a little troublesome if I had needed to grill everything myself after coming for pork belly in Hongdae, but at Gogi Salon I could simply wait comfortably.

The meat was grilled until nicely golden on the grill. As it cooked, the color gradually became more appetizing, and I got hungry just watching it. Since the staff checked the condition of the meat as they grilled it, I did not need to worry about it burning or becoming overcooked. They cut and cooked it into easy-to-eat pieces, so it was convenient to pick up and eat right away.

Light pork paired with tangy bibim guksu

Finally, I tried it, and the meat was really good. It was clean-tasting without any of that distinctive meaty smell, and the savory flavor came through nicely when I chewed. The flower pork neck was delicious, and the fresh pork belly was not overwhelmingly rich either, so I kept reaching for more. The potatoes grilled with the meat were also really tasty. Having the nicely browned potatoes with the meat made them a special treat too. I liked that I could enjoy grilled potatoes along with the meat at Gogi Salon.

Lastly, I tried the bibim guksu too. Having tangy bibim guksu after the meat was such a good combination. The seasoning really woke up my appetite, so I found myself alternating it with the meat. It was also good for cutting through the richness after eating meat, and I personally enjoyed the bibim guksu so much. If you are looking for a Korean BBQ restaurant near Hongdae Entrance Station and wondering what to have with the meat, the bibim guksu set would be a good choice.

Overall, the meat portions were generous, and having the staff grill it made the meal easy and comfortable. Both the flower pork neck and fresh pork belly were light and delicious, and everything from the banchan to the bibim guksu paired well with them. If you are looking for pork belly in Hongdae, Gogi Salon could be worth a visit. I hope this helps anyone looking for a good Korean BBQ restaurant near Hongdae Entrance Station.