Pre-dance solo sundubu set at a Hongdae Korean restaurant: Bap Jangin

Before a fun evening of dance practice in Hongdae, I was drawn in by a great slogan, "A meal isn't something you just get through, it's something you have," and went to Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch (밥장인 홍대점) for a proper, hearty, warm meal. Here's my real visit report!

Where is Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch?

Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch is a Korean restaurant at 16 Yanghwa-ro 18an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor, close to Exit 8 of Hongik Univ. Station (on the map it shows up as 'Bap Jangin Dwaeji Jjigae Hongdae Branch'). I wanted something filling before practice and picked a Korean spot that's easy to reach near Hongik Univ. Station. It really is right by the station, so getting there was very easy.

Come out of Exit 8 and turn into the alley behind Lotte Cinema. It's on the ground floor of the building in front of the famous 'Donsubaek', so it's really easy to find!

Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch opening hours

Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch is open every day, Monday to Sunday, 10:00-22:00, with last order at 21:20. The hours are generous enough to cover everything from a brunch-ish first meal to a late dinner.

It's open all year round, so whenever you're craving a tidy stew and Korean food, you can drop in easily.

Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch menu and 1-person set meal prices

Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch carefully prepares hearty Korean dishes that any Korean would love: jjageuli (thick, rich stew), kimchi stew, brisket stew, bulgogi, stir-fried squid and more. The set menus in particular are well put together so you can enjoy both stew and meat even on your own.

What I ordered: 1-person soft tofu brisket stew set, 20,500 won

I chose the 1-person set meal with soft tofu brisket stew (sundubu chadol jjigae), for ₩20,500. Even if you come alone, you get a deep, rich stew plus sweet-and-salty bulgogi all at once, which makes it a top-value set.

The owner has thoughtfully let you choose the spice level of the stew to your taste!

Inside Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch: atmosphere and self-serve bar

Even though it's a Korean restaurant, the interior is sparkling clean, like brand new, so the first impression was already tidy. On one wall, the initials 'ㅂㅈㅇ' (the consonants of Bap Jangin) are written as a cute accent, which was fun to look at.

When I sat down, every table had seaweed flakes neatly set out. Stew plus seaweed flakes can't possibly be bad, a winning combo, so my expectations shot up before I even ate!

There's also a well-stocked self-serve bar on one side of the restaurant, so you won't lack anything.

Here's the self-serve bar lineup. The sesame oil, the hidden menu item, is a must when you mix your rice later.

• Well-fermented kimchi
• Crunchy bean sprouts
• Spicy-tangy pickled chili peppers
• Hidden item: nutty sesame oil for bibimbap

How does the soft tofu brisket stew set taste?

The Bap Jangin 1-person set meal came neatly as one tray: rice in a wide bowl, bubbling soft tofu brisket stew, and bulgogi. With the bulgogi as the finishing touch, it looked perfect from the first glance.

The rice isn't plain white rice either. It's warm, chewy black glutinous rice made from good grains, so you can really feel the owner's care. I followed Bap Jangin's tips for eating it well and dug in!

1. Sprinkle on the seaweed flakes

Sprinkle a generous amount of the seaweed flakes from the table over the wide bowl of rice, ready for mixing.

2. Spoon in the stew and mix

Scoop a big spoonful of the rich, slightly brothy soft tofu brisket stew onto the rice and mix away. The soft tofu and nutty brisket slices are soaked into the broth, so mixed together it's truly a rice thief (a dish that makes you eat way too much rice).

3. Top the rice with bulgogi

Put a piece of bulgogi on the well-mixed rice and take it all in one mouthful, and the nuttiness and savory depth burst out, the true finishing touch.

4. Pair it with the side dishes

Add the crunchy bean sprouts and pickled chili peppers from the self-serve bar and the extra crunch means you can't put the spoon down.

Which spice level should you choose?

This time I chose the most basic spice level for the soft tofu brisket stew and ate comfortably, but if you're going to mix it with seaweed flakes, I think a slightly spicy level would pair much better. Take note if you're visiting!

Mixing it this way and that, I emptied the bowl in the blink of an eye. It was a pretty great, satisfying meal!

A meal isn't something you just get through, it's something you have. Have a hearty meal, even if it's just one.

Just like this Bap Jangin slogan, I got the perfect warm-up refuel before moving my body. If you're looking for a good-value solo stew set near Hongik Univ. Station, do stop by Bap Jangin Hongdae Branch. I certify it as a hearty, genuinely good restaurant!