Mapo Korean restaurant with scallion-rich hot pot: Doonjeong

Doonjeong on a day I was craving hot pot in Hongdae

I was back in Hongdae for the first time in a while and wondering where to go. The weather had turned cooler, I was craving hot pot, and that is how I ended up here. (A meat hot pot is packed with protein, too.) Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch (도온정 홍대직영점) is near Exit 1 of Hongik University Station! To put it in one short line: this is absolutely not one of those spicy broths overloaded with MSG flavor. It is refreshing, spicy, and warming, yet somehow not heavy? These spicy broths can often feel greasy and weighty, right? Not this place. Absolutely NO!

Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch is on the first floor at 183-12 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

If you reserve gopchang jeongol for dinner, they give you one bottle of Donghae. They are also running a Naver receipt-review event, and the giveaway item changes depending on the number of reviews ;)

The refreshing, lightly spicy broth of hanwoo gopchang jeongol

The hanwoo gopchang jeongol, with its refreshing broth thanks to lots of scallions, is ₩54,000.

This gopchang jeongol looks insane..💞 Arranged in a circle around white wood ear mushrooms are beef tendon, gopchang (beef tripe), meat, mushrooms, scallions, and more.

You can really feel Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch's thoughtfulness in the burner! Eating in front of a flame can get hot and sweaty, but that round plate-like thing let us eat comfortably and coolly.

Once the hot pot arrives, the staff adjust the flame and keep an eye on it until everything is cooked. They add broth about twice and bring it to a vigorous boil. As the spicy seasoning paste dissolves, the broth turns red and the hot pot becomes more and more mouthwatering just to look at.

Ahh, the presentation was truly the best.. We were both hungry, so the wait felt hard. Luckily, it did not take long to boil because the meats come parboiled! We were told to cook the tendon and tripe a little longer, while the vegetables and meat could be eaten first, and then we got started.

The vegetables soaked up the seasoning, and the meat melted away in my mouth.. I wondered whether it might be tough, but it was so tender that I was surprised. The fresh tripe was savory and nice and plump. It was tender and delicious, so I just wanted to keep--eating it, hehe. Seriously, I finished a bowl of rice in no time.

It is known as a Hongdae bar for gopchang jeongol, and while it is perfect with drinks, it was also genuinely excellent as something to eat with rice. Everyone at the other tables was having a drink. This alcohol lightweight could only look on enviously ;-; Just so you know, steamed rice is separate! You can add udon noodles, too, so if I had been drinking, I think I would have gone for the udon.

A wholehearted thumbs-up is on its way. With so many scallions, the broth was refreshing, and the seasoning paste gave it a gentle kick. A collaboration of broth from the meat and vegetables! Meat hot pots like this can easily be greasy, but this one sat comfortably in my stomach and was really good. Maybe that is why I noticed quite a few older guests while we ate! They seem to come because it digests well and feels easy on the stomach. Lots of older guests = a good restaurant; lots of tipsy people = a good restaurant.

The side dishes were two kinds: kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) and napa cabbage kimchi. They went wonderfully with the gopchang jeongol broth. They were served neatly with lids on. It has been so long since I have seen this kind of detail!

Lunch dishes and an open-kitchen atmosphere

Beyond dishes for drinks, there were plenty of good meal options. In particular, the clear hanwoo gomtang with brisket was limited to 10 bowls a day. You can choose either a clear broth or a spicy broth according to your preference. Since the gopchang jeongol broth was so good, I am sure the gomtang broth must be delicious too. There were lots of varied dishes to have with drinks as well.

Inside, there are tables for two and four. Since the tables are all the same shape, I think groups could push them together. There was good space between the seats, too! Another bit of Doonjeong's consideration that I noticed 🤍: chairs for storing your belongings were provided, so we could eat comfortably haha.

On top of that, it has an open kitchen, so you can see the cleanliness for yourself. Really, so clean. My trust level went up, up again!

I think I kept thinking how pretty the plates were. Salt and pepper are set on the table for you to use whenever you need them.

There is a wide range of alcohol, and the thoughtfulness of having water set up near the entrance for a quick drink.. I was so, so impressed by this place!

Why it also worked well for a Hongdae gathering

If there is a wait, I think you just enter your number into the machine! It is about a five-minute walk from Exit 1 of Hongik University Station, so it is not far. It is tucked a little way in from the main road, which made it pleasantly quiet. It has received a Blue Ribbon for two consecutive years, and if you are looking for a good restaurant or bar near Hongik University Station, I really thought this was a great option.

A gopchang jeongol favorite that left my stomach comfortable both that day and the next! Rather than greasy and intensely flavored, the broth was refreshing and clean. It would work well for a company dinner or gathering, and it also looks like a nice place to come for a bowl of gomtang at lunch.

Good for eating alone, good for two, good for three, and good for groups—kind staff and great food. If you are looking for a good restaurant or bar near Hongik University Station, I absolutely recommend Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch.