Red motsunabe restaurant in Lotte Dongtan: udon finish tip, Horangigul

For a few days I'd been craving a spicy, rich broth, and since I happened to be at Lotte Department Store Dongtan anyway, I finally went to a place I'd had my eye on for ages: Horangigul (호랑이굴) in the basement level (B1) of Lotte Department Store Dongtan.

It's already famous by word of mouth for its red motsunabe (Japanese-style offal hot pot), so I went in with high hopes. The combination of chewy beef gopchang (small intestine) and nutty daechang (large intestine) was a work of art. Here's my visit.

Where is Horangigul at Lotte Department Store Dongtan, and what are the hours?

Horangigul is at 160 Dongtanyeok-ro, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, South Korea, on B1 of Lotte Department Store Dongtan. Hours are 10:30–20:00 Monday to Thursday and Sunday (last order 19:00), and 10:30–20:30 on Friday and Saturday (last order 19:30).

• Address: 160 Dongtanyeok-ro, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, B1 of Lotte Department Store Dongtan
• Hours: Mon–Thu, Sun 10:30–20:00 (last order 19:00)
• Hours: Fri, Sat 10:30–20:30 (last order 19:30)

It's inside the department store, so it fits perfectly into a shopping day, before or after.

Is there a wait?

Horangigul is popular, so you may have to wait at peak times. We went on a weekday evening and got lucky: we walked right in with no wait.

What's the atmosphere like? Good for dates or family meals?

Because it's in the department store's food avenue, the place felt very clean and pleasant overall. The tidy, Japanese-style interior meant it felt less like a noisy food court and more like being properly looked after at a standalone restaurant.

The tables are spaced generously and neatly kept, so it works well for a cozy date. It's also a comfortable spot for a family meal with kids.

Horangigul menu and prices: what did we order?

The signature, I'm told, is the Horangigul gopchang/daechang hot pot, made with a special sauce learned directly in Fukuoka. We ordered the beef gopchang-daechang hot pot for two, the deepest-flavored best seller marked as the recommended first-visit dish on the menu, and added Japanese udon noodles.

• Beef gopchang-daechang hot pot (₩19,500 per person) x 2
• Extra Japanese udon noodles (₩5,000)

How many spice levels does the hot pot have?

There are 4 spice levels, from mild (about like regular instant ramyeon) to extra hot (similar to Buldak noodles). I loved that everyone from spice wimps to heat veterans can pick what suits them. The sauces served at the table are for dipping the gopchang, daechang and meat.

How did the beef gopchang-daechang hot pot taste?

Not long after ordering, the hot pot arrived bubbling away on the burner. That deep red, rich broth made my mouth water on sight...

I tried the broth first: spicy, but with a rich, nutty depth that came from the gopchang and daechang and spread across my whole mouth. The pot was packed with fresh hanwoo (Korean beef) daechang and Australian gopchang, plus pork neck, fish balls, fried tofu pouches, tofu and lots of vegetables, which I loved.

The hanwoo daechang melted in my mouth, and the Australian gopchang was nutty and chewy the more I chewed. Honestly amazing. I don't even like gopchang, but this one was chewy, full of rich fat and delicious.

How much broth should you leave for the udon?

Noodle and risotto add-ons at Horangigul can't be topped up with extra broth, so you need to generously leave about 1/3 of the hot pot broth. After eating a good amount of the ingredients, we dropped the much-anticipated Japanese udon into the pot.

The udon, soaked in Horangigul's umami-rich broth, had a lovely chewy texture. I was already full, but I couldn't put my chopsticks down. So good,,!

Verdict: when you crave gopchang hot pot at Lotte Dongtan

If you're shopping at Lotte Department Store Dongtan and want a filling, spicy hot pot, I recommend Horangigul!! It's not just an ordinary hot pot that's spicy for the sake of it; the deep, hearty umami from quality beef gopchang and daechang had me raving the whole meal.

Being inside the department store, parking and public transport access are both great, and the place is clean, so whenever I crave gopchang hot pot this will be my first choice. Next time I want to finish the hot pot with cheese risotto or Toowoomba cream risotto. If you're looking for a genuinely high-quality restaurant near Dongtan Station, I strongly recommend it!