Hongdae Korean BBQ, spacious main hall & open group annex: Gogikkun

How were the prices for hanwoo at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch?

Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is a BBQ place in Hongdae where you can eat hanwoo without it feeling like a splurge. I heard there was a seriously amazing hanwoo spot in Hongdae, so I went! These days hanwoo prices make you hesitate, right? So I didn't expect much, but this was way better than I thought, haha.

What surprised me most was the price! Even though it's hanwoo, it wasn't overwhelming, and I was like, "Is this price right?" Considering prices these days, it's really kind, so I could order without worry! Instead of ordering a little at a time and feeling awkward, I picked the cuts I wanted and tried a good variety!

The look of the meat when it arrived was insane! The marbling was so pretty that I thought, "This can't possibly be bad." When I actually grilled and ate it, it was much softer and juicier than I expected, practically melting in my mouth! I exclaimed right after the first bite, haha!

There were lots of cuts too, so it was fun to try a bit of everything! Even though it's all hanwoo, the texture and taste differ by cut, so comparing them was fun and I never got tired of it! Personally, the slightly fattier cuts were especially good!

Overall I was happy with the price, taste and quality, and I immediately understood why people recommend it! For anyone who wants properly good hanwoo in Hongdae, it seems like a really solid choice! I'll likely come back whenever I crave it again, haha. It works with friends, and it felt comfortable enough for a special day too, which I liked even more!

Atmosphere and interior of Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch

Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is at 36 Hongik-ro 3-gil, 3rd floor, and it's open from 12:00 to 23:00. With wood interiors and soft lighting, the mood is warm yet upscale.

The wood interior caught my eye the moment I walked in, and the warm yet upscale feel made a great first impression! The texture of the wood and the soft lighting felt comfortable and a little formal at the same time, so I thought it suits a special occasion too! Also, the space is split into a main building and an annex, so it's quite large, and I really liked being able to eat at ease without feeling cramped!

Main building: 4-person tables, good for a date

The main building at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is mostly 4-person tables. I went into the main building first, and the tables were laid out sensibly for four, so the space was used well and moving around felt easy! The spacing between tables was just right, so you can focus on the conversation without disturbing each other, which I especially liked! It felt cozy and private overall, so I thought it's a really good spot for a date!

Annex: one floor up, group seating for company dinners and gatherings

The annex at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is one floor up, with open group seating and no partitions. I went up to the annex and the vibe was different again, which was fun to see, and the space felt much bigger! It's set up for groups, and the open layout without partitions felt perfect for company dinners or get-togethers! With that much room, a big group wouldn't be uncomfortable at all, and I think satisfaction would be high for group visits too!

What did we order?

• Hanwoo set for two ₩167,000
• Half-and-half naengmyeon ₩7,000
• Kkakttukbap (spicy cubed fried rice) ₩8,000

Basic setup: green onion salad, white kimchi, myeongi-namul, green onion kimchi

With the hanwoo set at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch, you get green onion salad, lettuce, white kimchi, myeongi-namul (pickled wild greens) and green onion kimchi as standard. I ordered the hanwoo set, and when the table was set I was surprised by how many side dishes there were, and I was impressed that you could feel the care in each one! It was a perfect lineup to go with the meat, and each side tasted good enough to feel like its own dish rather than a simple accompaniment, which raised my overall satisfaction with the meal!

What cuts come in the two-person hanwoo set (₩167,000)?

The two-person hanwoo set at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is ₩167,000 and comes with four cuts: hanwoo galbi-sal (rib meat), chuck flap, sirloin and saeu-sal (a cut known as "shrimp meat"). When the set arrived, the lineup was really generous, beyond my expectations, and being able to enjoy a variety of cuts made me very happy! They were nicely balanced, so comparing the different textures and flavors was fun! Tasting several cuts at once was especially nice, and the meat looked high quality, so my anticipation shot up before I even ate!

I also liked that you grill the meat to your own taste, and just watching it cook on the grill got my appetite going! The meat itself is so good that even lightly cooked it stayed juicy and tender, and the way it melted in my mouth was really impressive! It was plenty delicious without overcooking, so I could properly enjoy the meat's own flavor, and my satisfaction kept growing the more I ate!

What's the best way to eat the hanwoo?

The hanwoo at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch went well with lettuce wraps, white kimchi, salt or ssamjang (seasoned dipping paste) alike. Wrapped in lettuce, the crunch and the meat worked nicely together, and eating it with white kimchi had its own charm! A light dip in salt brings out the meat's natural flavor, and with ssamjang you get a deeper taste, so there were lots of ways to enjoy it! In the end it was good however I ate it, the meat itself was that well made, and I never got tired of it to the very end!

How is the kkakttukbap (₩8,000)?

The kkakttukbap (cubed radish kimchi fried rice) at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is ₩8,000 and comes out in a spicy fried rice style. I ordered it as a side, and it did a great job reviving my appetite after the meat! The portion was generous enough for two to share, and it paired really well with the meat! The mix of mild spiciness and nuttiness balanced the whole meal, so even the side dish left me satisfied!

Finishing with half-and-half naengmyeon (₩7,000)

The half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles) at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is ₩7,000 and gives you mul naengmyeon (in broth) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy-sweet, mixed) in one bowl. I thought the idea of the half-and-half naengmyeon I ordered last was really good! One side cleans your palate with a cool, crisp taste, and the other has a spicy-sweet charm, so it was fun to the end! It's perfect when you can't bear to choose just one, so I definitely want to order it again, and I felt it was a perfect meal right through the finish!