Open-window Korean BBQ dinner in Hongdae with Asahi draft: Gogikkun

What is Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch like?

Just as the name suggests, Gogikkun Gimchunbae (고기꾼김춘배) Supgil Branch sits right next to Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Hongdae. You can eat with the windows wide open, looking out toward the park, so the mood is a little different from an ordinary BBQ place.

A lot of you like the combo of dinner in Hongdae and a walk along Gyeongui Line Forest Park, right? I had a dinner date in Hongdae, searched and searched for where to go~ and ended up at Gogikkun Gimchunbae. On a day with a soft breeze like lately, it's a great place to enjoy that outdoor-bar feeling 🌿

The location is pretty good too: you can walk from Hongik Univ. Station, and it's close to Sinchon and Sogang Univ. stations as well. The address is 31-2 Seogang-ro 13-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's open daily from 12:00 to 23:00, with last order at 22:00.

First impression of a Hongdae BBQ spot in Gyeongui Line Forest Park

In the evening, warm light spills out between the trees and alleys of the Forest Park. When I got near the place from far away I was like, no way, is this it..! Oh..oh..!! and I went running over like a total goofball, and yes, it was the right place. Yay!

Once evening came, the place looked even more atmospheric. When you think of Hongdae you tend to picture a crowded, noisy downtown, but this felt a bit different. Walking along the Forest Park, catching a whiff of grilling meat, and then running into a BBQ place with exactly this vibe made me like it even more.

Is it corkage-free?

There's a "corkage free" sign at the entrance of Gogikkun Gimchunbae. For people who like a drink, that's a pretty welcome point. It's a great place to have a drink with your meat, so it suits dinner plans, dates or get-togethers with friends.

Wooden exterior, lighting and the inner space

Even the path leading inside has a pretty unique mood. The wood-heavy exterior blends well with the lighting, so it's decent for photos too. Why do I love this old-timey wooden interior so much, lol. These warm, vintage materials really tug at my heart.. 🫣

If you go into the side area, there are seats with this kind of mood. It feels more relaxed than a stiff franchise BBQ place! And the real charm of Gogikkun Gimchunbae isn't only inside: you can eat while looking out at Gyeongui Line Forest Park. There aren't that many places in Hongdae where you can enjoy this much forest-path atmosphere with your meat, which made it feel extra special.

Is the interior spacious? What's the dinner mood?

The interior had more tables than I expected and was roomy. There were quite a few customers when I visited for dinner, and the whole place felt lively. It seemed especially loud, probably because of a group that looked like a company dinner.

Every table has a grill, and the meal centers on charcoal and meat, so the mood felt even livelier when visiting in the evening.

A meat fridge? When you see a dedicated fridge like this in a BBQ place, it somehow feels more trustworthy quality-wise~ I don't know why myself..

We sat by the window this day, but there's also a more secluded space further inside.

Basic side dishes and staff grilling

Before the meat came out, they set the table with the basic side dishes and draft beer, and there was quite a variety of vegetables and sides: kimchi, pa-chae (shredded scallion salad), mushrooms, vegetables and more. Best of all, the staff grill the meat for you, so you don't have to fuss over the grilling while you eat, which was nice.

What comes in the hanwoo/pork set for 2?

The hanwoo/pork set for 2 at Gogikkun Gimchunbae is 600g, a set where you get pork neck, galbi-sal (rib meat) and the hanwoo (Korean beef) of the day together. What we ordered this day was the hanwoo/pork set for 2 + half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles) + kkakdugi bokkeumbap (kkakdugi fried rice), and we had Asahi draft beer too 🍺

Since it's a set where you get hanwoo and pork at once, it's convenient for choosing a menu when two people both like both. That was a plus.

If you love meat, your mood lifts from the moment a whole platter of meat is laid out on the table like this.

The line printed on the napkin was memorable too.

We'll build a restaurant that one person visits 100 times, rather than one that 100 people visit once.

Hehehe

Now the real grilling: Asahi draft by the window

The staff started grilling the meat, and once it's on the grill it definitely looks appetizing. The meat is thick and a mix of good cuts, so just grilling it looks impressive. Beef is best when it's not overcooked but done just right, and it was convenient that the staff grilled it for us 🌝

And Asahi draft~~~~ 🍺 The windows were wide open this day, so with the outside air drifting in~ a cold draft beer in that seat is 👌👌👌

With two beers set down like this, it's totally an outdoor-bar feel, right? You're eating meat in the middle of Hongdae, with trees outside the window and a breeze coming in~~ I think it would be properly enjoyable in spring or early autumn when the weather is nice.

How did the hanwoo and pork taste?

The hanwoo kept its tender, nutty flavor, and the pork had good juiciness and that clean, mild meaty taste. No need to say it: the meat was satisfying!

I dipped it in salt and also ate it with ssam (lettuce wraps) and pa-chae, but personally I liked tasting the meat on its own first and then adding the extras. (Just my own taste.)

The staff kept looking after the meat, which was definitely convenient too. They cooked it just right haha. At a BBQ place, how and when the meat is grilled matters more than you'd think, so it was nice to be able to leave that to them.

Naengmyeon after the meat

The half-and-half naengmyeon is a truly revolutionary menu item for people who can't choose between mulnaengmyeon (cold broth noodles) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles)!! After eating meat your mouth feels a bit heavy, and a bite of cold noodles definitely refreshed it. Naengmyeon after meat is the golden rule, haha.

Finishing with kkakdugi fried rice (diced radish kimchi fried rice)

It's not over yet 😳 The finish at Gogikkun Gimchunbae is kkakdugi bokkeumbap, hehe. I'm already full, but somehow there's always room for fried rice, haha.

No more explanation needed for the looks, right? The flavor left from the meat is still on the grill, so it's definitely richer than just frying plain rice. Finishing cleanly with naengmyeon and then the fried rice, it really felt like a proper full meal 👍

How do you get to this Forest Park BBQ?

It's listed as about 8 minutes on foot from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 6, about 5 minutes from Sogang Univ. Station Exit 2, and 6–7 minutes on foot from Sinchon Station Exit 8. You can stroll over from Hongik Univ. Station, come across from Sinchon, or reach it from Sogang Univ. Station, so the location is really good.

Outside had gotten dark by then, and with the view of the forest path through the window the mood was much better than when we first walked in. The meat was good, but I think I'll remember this place more for its atmosphere that day. Hongdae has so many restaurants that finding a good one isn't easy, so a place right next to Gyeongui Line Forest Park where you can also eat meat properly is a pretty decent option, don't you think? haha

Overall verdict on Gogikkun Gimchunbae Supgil Branch

If you're looking for a BBQ place with a slightly different mood on a nice breezy day like lately, Gogikkun Gimchunbae by Gyeongui Line Forest Park is worth a visit.

• Address: 31-2 Seogang-ro 13-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• Hours: daily 12:00–23:00, last order 22:00
• Walking distance from Hongik Univ., Sinchon and Sogang Univ. stations
• Sells hanwoo/pork sets, naengmyeon, kkakdugi fried rice, draft beer and more