Chungjeongno bar by the train tracks with window seats: Gopeugopeu

Today I'm introducing a restaurant and bar near Chungjeongno Station, "Gopeugopeu." I only just found out there was a hidden gem like this right next to the train tracks, so let me jump straight into how great this meal was.

Gopeugopeu's hours and location

Gopeugopeu is open 11:00 - 22:00, with a break time from 14:00 - 17:30, and last order at 20:50. It's a 7-minute walk from Chungjeongno Station.

There's a slight difference between the lunch and dinner menus! It's a 7-minute walk from Chungjeongno Station, and I had no idea there was such a nice-vibe spot here in Seodaemun!

Window seat vibes and the outdoor seating

We booked ahead through Naver Reservations! They seated us at a window table, and the atmosphere was so good — totally recommend it for a date 🤍

We visited on a weekday evening, and there were people coming in to eat solo after work too! I guess it's because there are a lot of offices nearby.

The owner's personal touch shows up everywhere at this Chungjeongno restaurant and bar, Gopeugopeu. Since the weather was nice, they had outdoor seating set up too, complete with incense burning — the vibe was absolutely amazing!

The walls are filled with famous movie posters. Notting Hill, About Time — I need to rewatch those.

Gopeugopeu's lunch vs. dinner menu

Gopeugopeu's menu is split into lunch and dinner! Lunch menu runs from 11am to 2pm, dinner menu from 5:30pm to 10pm. Keep that in mind when you visit!

The difference is that in the evening, they add dishes that go well with drinks — like daechang nabe (beef intestine hot pot), steamed clams with sake, chicken neck and vegetable platter, buffalo wings, and more!

Daechang nabe ₩26,000, mentaiko oil spaghetti ₩14,000

Let's order the signature dishes at this Seodaemun restaurant and bar, Gopeugopeu. We got the daechang nabe (₩26,000), a clean, deep-flavored hot pot made with beef intestine and various vegetables, and the mentaiko oil spaghetti (₩14,000), stir-fried with plenty of mentaiko (seasoned pollock roe) for a savory kick!

There's currently a draft beer coupon available on Naver too. The daechang nabe was loaded with beef intestine, mushrooms, and tofu. It's a dish I always eat when I travel to Japan, so I was happy to have it again after a while.

The look of it made us order two draft beers right away... one sip of that cold, slushy beer and the day's fatigue just melts away, ugh!! We were planning to add udon noodles partway through, but they were sold out... a little disappointing, but we consoled ourselves with the pasta instead!

Simmer it gently on low heat and the daechang nabe is done! It's very hot, so make sure to portion it into a plate before eating. I thought the beef intestine would be greasy, but with all the vegetables packed in, the cool, clean vegetable broth flavor plus a hint of chili flakes cut through the richness perfectly!

Is the mentaiko oil spaghetti too salty?

The mentaiko oil pasta arrives right as the daechang nabe is nearly done cooking. It's packed with garlic, garlic scapes, and plenty of mentaiko. I thought it might be too salty since there's more mentaiko than noodles, but not at all! Even scooping the mentaiko straight with a spoon, it's seriously delicious.

The homemade radish pickle served as a side dish was refreshing and clean, almost like eating dongchimi (watery radish kimchi). Above all, the owner runs the place solo and was so kind that the food somehow tasted even better!

Oil pasta loaded with mentaiko. They also have other pasta types like ragu and tomato hot-pot pasta, so I'd love to try more next time. The food is so good that some people were coming in just to eat pasta solo.

Who would I recommend Gopeugopeu to?

Gopeugopeu, a restaurant and bar near Chungjeongno Station. With great vibes and great food, I'd recommend it as a date spot, a group hangout, or even a solo dining spot! Save this as a must-visit Seodaemun restaurant ✨