Weekend lunch dakgalbi with udon noodles near Gangnam Station

I've eaten a ton of regular dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) before, but I heard there was a version you wrap in a pancake, so I decided to check it out this weekend 🥰 I'd never heard of this style before, so I was extra excited going into this Gangnam/Sinnonhyeon spot, Dakgalbijeon.

Dakgalbijeon

• ⏰ Hours | 11:00–22:00
• 📍 Location | 2F, Gangnam Diobil, 54 Seocho-daero 73-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul

Location and vibe, between Gangnam Station Exit 11 and Sinnonhyeon Station

If you're looking for a dakgalbi place near Gangnam Station that nails both taste and atmosphere, you have to check out Dakgalbijeon Gangnam Branch :) It's in a busy alley between Gangnam Station Exit 11 and Sinnonhyeon Station, so it's super accessible — great for group get-togethers, work dinners, or a date course too haha.

The tables are spaced out generously, so even when it's busy you can eat without feeling cramped. The ventilation system is also well set up overall, which is a big plus since your clothes don't end up smelling much!! That said, the place isn't huge, so I'd recommend booking ahead for weekday evenings or weekends :)

The Dakgalbijeon menu

• [Set menu] Dakgalbi wrapped in potato pancake — Gamssadak / Gamssachidak
• [Mains] Jjolim dakgalbi (braised) / Cheese dakgalbi
• [Pancakes/sides] Perilla leaf potato pancake / squid kimchi pancake / squid chive pancake / fish cake soup / flying fish roe steamed egg / bibim mak-guksu

You get pickled radish and radish kimchi as basic side dishes!

The signature gamssachidak, plus added udon noodles

We ordered Dakgalbijeon's signature dish, gamssachidak, haha. The look alone already passed the test.

It was great that the spicy-sweet seasoned dakgalbi came piled high with savory mozzarella cheese on top :) It's made mostly of tender chicken thigh with no gamey smell, so the texture is very soft. We also added udon noodles, which quickly soaked up the spicy dakgalbi sauce and got well seasoned — the noodles stayed springy instead of getting soggy, which made twirling them up on chopsticks fun.

The fun of wrapping it in a thin potato pancake

Unlike a regular potato pancake, this one is made really thin, perfect for wrapping. Crispy outside, soft inside, done right!! haha And there's even perilla leaf in it, which nicely cuts through the greasiness the pancake could otherwise have. The pancake itself was so good I wanted to order the other pancake dishes too. Maybe that's why, even in the daytime, I spotted people day-drinking lol!!

True to the menu name, when you put cheese-wrapped dakgalbi on top of the crispy, savory potato pancake and eat it in one bite, the spiciness and savoriness, the crispiness and softness, all come together for a perfect balance of flavor :)

It's generously loaded with gim (seaweed flakes), sesame oil, and flying fish roe, so every bite gives you that satisfying pop-pop texture from the roe.

Would I go back? Final verdict

I've had a lot of dakgalbi before, but wrapping it in a potato pancake was unique and delicious, so I think I'll come back whenever I'm in Gangnam! The staff were friendly and quick, which kept the whole meal feeling relaxed. If you want a clean, well-put-together dakgalbi restaurant in Gangnam with a creative twist, I highly recommend giving it a try!!! Since they also have pancakes alongside the dakgalbi, it seems like a great spot for drinks in the evening too. Recommended as a Sinnonhyeon bar option as well haha.