Jongno Seoul Korean BBQ in a hanok: Tonguidong Gukbinkwan

An upscale Korean beef restaurant near Gyeongbokgung, Tonguidong Gukbinkwan Gyeongbokgung Station Branch (통의동 국빈관 경복궁역점).

Today, I had an important gathering with my family, so we visited Tonguidong Gukbinkwan near Gwanghwamun Station, where you can enjoy top-grade 1++ Korean beef at a reasonable price. It has received the Blue Ribbon for six consecutive years, and we enjoyed its charcoal-marinated beef ribs.

Tonguidong Gukbinkwan Gyeongbokgung Station Branch information

It is on the first floor at 17-4 Jahamun-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and is open daily from 11:30 to 22:00. Break time is 15:00–17:00, and last orders are at 20:30. Parking is not available, and it is a three-minute walk from Exit 3 of Gyeongbokgung Station.

A hanok interior with a courtyard and private rooms

We came to Tonguidong Gukbinkwan Gyeongbokgung Station Branch for an important family gathering today. I heard it had received the Blue Ribbon for six years running, was known as a place once visited by former U.S. president Bill Clinton, and is popular with celebrities too, so I was excited even before going in!!

The moment we stepped inside, the refined hanok atmosphere and pine-tree courtyard immediately caught my eye. It was such a neat, upscale setting that it would be a great Korean BBQ restaurant for gatherings, important meetings, or a formal meeting between families.

The tables were generously spaced and large, so even when ordering lots of dishes, it felt comfortable without anything getting in the way of our arms.

There were separate private rooms as well, which looked like a good option for company dinners or meetings when you want a more private atmosphere. We visited as a family, and since it was neither too noisy nor hectic, it was lovely to chat together over a meal for the first time in a while.

Tonguidong Gukbinkwan definitely had a different atmosphere from an ordinary barbecue restaurant. Once inside the handsome hanok building, you can see the courtyard with its pine tree in the middle, creating a relaxed feeling even while dining, so I recommend a window seat.

When you visit an important person in such an upscale setting, the restroom matters too, right? The restroom was clean and easy to use as well.

Charcoal-marinated beef ribs and a variety of sauces

Even the banchan (Korean side dishes) were so neatly presented and high quality. Nothing looked casually placed; everything was set out to complement the meal, which got me excited before we had even started eating.

Besides salt, there were several sauces to choose from according to your taste, including jang-based sauces and wasabi-style sauces. I liked that you could make different combinations even with the same meat.

There was one sauce with egg in it, and at first I thought it might be something like an egg soy marinade. Looking it up, I found that it was introduced as a rich poached-egg sauce.

The charcoal-marinated beef ribs were ₩35,000 for 280 g. The staff were also incredibly kind. From explaining the menu when we ordered to thoughtfully taking care of what we needed while we ate, they made our first visit feel very comfortable.

The meat came partially grilled over charcoal, so it had that distinctive subtle charcoal aroma, and it went so well with the marinated beef ribs. The marinade did not overpower the meat; it let the flavor of the beef ribs shine while adding that charcoal scent. The staff grilled it for us, so the meat turned out tender and delicious.

Since there were so many sauces, we could enjoy the same meat in different combinations. It made for a fun time with my family as we casually asked one another about our preferences.

Tonguidong Gukbinkwan Gyeongbokgung Station Branch also offers free corkage, so it seemed like a nice place to spend a special time with a good bottle of wine or other alcohol.

Outside, I could not tell exactly whether they were grilling meat or deodeok-gui (grilled deodeok root), but they were carefully grilling food. I liked how that care made us feel looked after.

Recommended for family gatherings and important occasions

If you are looking for a special Korean beef restaurant to visit with family over the upcoming Chuseok holiday, or a great Gyeongbokgung or Seochon restaurant for treating someone at an important meeting or gathering, I recommend Tonguidong Gukbinkwan for its upscale hanok atmosphere!