Hapjeong Korean BBQ for juicy aged pork neck: Gim Sukseong

I went to Gim Sukseong Hapjeong Branch because I was craving good meat in Hapjeong!

A retro-style Korean BBQ restaurant near Hapjeong Station

There are so many good restaurants around Hapjeong Station that it is always hard to choose, but that day I wanted proper aged meat, so I visited Gim Sukseong. Gim Sukseong Hapjeong Branch is within a three-minute walk of Hapjeong Station Exits 5 and 6, so it was easy to get to and find.

• Address: 38 Yanghwa-ro 8-gil, 1F, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 마포구 양화로8길 38 1층)
• Hours: Daily 11:30 AM–1:00 AM the following day

Rather than a sleek, trendy barbecue place, the restaurant had a slightly retro yet relaxed feel. It really felt like we had come out for meat.

Gim Sukseong specializes in aged Korean pork, so I thought it was a Hapjeong Korean BBQ restaurant meat lovers should visit at least once.

Two portions of special pork neck with a juicy texture

We ordered two portions of Gim Sukseong special pork neck that day! Their special pork neck comes in thick cuts, and since I had enjoyed it at another branch too, we ordered two portions.

There were only two of us, so we did not order a set menu, but for a larger group, I think a platter such as Gim Sukseong Special 1 or 2 would be better. Pork neck can sound like it might be dry, but perhaps because it was aged, I loved how the juices remained when it was grilled. The thick meat was browned nicely; the outside was cooked just right while the inside stayed moist, which was satisfying.

If you want to really taste the meat itself, I also recommend ordering the pork neck! At Gim Sukseong, pork neck is ordered in portions of two, and the special pork neck is sold in 160 g portions.

Staff grilling and plenty of sides

The staff grill everything for you, and the meat was so juicy that I honestly thought it was delicious even with just salt and wasabi. But there were also lots of sides, including aged kimchi grilled alongside the meat, minari (water parsley), and a house special sauce, so it was fun trying different combinations.

Premium Korean beef yukhoe alongside pork neck

And since I was meeting an older friend who likes alcohol that day, it felt a little disappointing to order only pork neck, so we ordered yukhoe (Korean seasoned raw beef) as well.

When you have been eating only pork at a barbecue restaurant, adding yukhoe midway makes the meal feel much more varied! Gim Sukseong also has premium Korean beef yukhoe, so it was a good choice to order with the meat. Its signature chewy yet tender texture and nutty flavor gave it a completely different charm from the pork neck. After warm, juicy pork neck, a bite of cold, soft yukhoe felt like resetting my palate. If you are visiting as a pair, the combination of two portions of pork neck plus yukhoe is quite nice too. Ordering yukhoe alongside the pork made the meal feel much more abundant than eating pork continuously.

If you like aged meat

Gim Sukseong sells a variety of aged pork cuts, centered on aged pork belly, special pork neck, gabrisal (pork neck-end cut), and kkodeulsal (firm-textured pork cut).

Its official website also introduces an aging method that combines wet aging and dry aging for Korean pork. Maybe that is why it felt a little different from pork at an ordinary barbecue restaurant. The pork neck we ate that day was thick, so it initially looked like a lot, but it was so good that it disappeared faster than expected. Delicious meat seems to vanish in an instant even when you eat it slowly, haha.

For a day when you want proper meat in Hapjeong

Hapjeong has so many good restaurants, but if you are looking for somewhere to go on a day when you want to eat meat properly, I would recommend Gim Sukseong Hapjeong Branch. Even the same cut of meat can taste completely different depending on how it is grilled, so I think it is perfect for anyone looking for a restaurant where they can enjoy properly cooked meat and chat comfortably.

It is conveniently located from Hapjeong Station, and with a range of meat dishes centered on thick aged pork neck, it seemed good for a meal with friends, a gathering, or a company dinner. We ordered two portions of pork neck and yukhoe that day, and personally, I was happy with that combination. If you especially like thick, juicy aged pork neck, I think you will be very satisfied. 🥩