Gyodae Station lamb skewer restaurant: eat the loin first, Hanseong

I suddenly had a huge craving for lamb skewers, so I went to Hanseong Yang Kkochi, a well-known lamb skewer spot near Gyodae Station. There seem to be quite a lot of good restaurants around Gyodae :) Here's my review of Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2, which turned out even better than I expected 😘

Where is Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2, and what are the hours?

Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 is at 63 Seochodae-ro 50-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, and it's open daily from 12:00 to 24:00. It's just a 5-minute walk from Exit 14 of Gyodae Station, so it's super close.

They said group gatherings and parking are both possible ⭐️ Seems like a great spot for meetups or company dinners.

It seems to be famous as a lamb skewer restaurant near Gyodae, because it was almost fully booked the moment evening hit! Lots of tables too, so it's good for gatherings or dinners.

Ordering one portion each of lamb skewers and lamb loin skewers

Since I really wanted lamb skewers, we ordered one portion of lamb skewers and one portion of lamb loin skewers, which my husband wanted, at Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 📖 The premium lamb rack looked delicious too, but we started with skewers first. Now I'm curious what the lamb leg or whole rib taste like!

Besides the skewers, there was a wide variety of other dishes — great options to add on if you're still hungry after the skewers. I really want the spicy chicken wings and the fish-fragrant eggplant now.. 😋 I had such a great time eating lamb skewers at Hanseong Yang Kkochi. Next time I'll order some cooked dishes along with the skewers!

Side dishes and dipping sauce at Hanseong Yang Kkochi

The basic side dishes are peanuts, jjajangchae (pickled mustard greens), and soy-marinated onions. Before the food arrives, the peanuts work like an appetizer, and once the lamb skewers come out, pairing them with jjajangchae or onion is perfect. The tanginess is great for refreshing your palate between bites of meat 🙌

The dipping sauce and chili for the lamb skewers! I poured soy sauce into the section with the chili and dipped it in. If you run out, just ask staff and they'll give you more ☺️ They're so kind even when they're busy.

Lamb skewers vs lamb loin skewers: what's the difference?

As soon as the charcoal was set down, the skewers appeared. The ones on top are lamb loin skewers, and the ones below are lamb skewers. The lamb loin skewers are slightly more expensive, and there's a difference in size and appearance. The lamb loin skewers are a bit plumper, while the lamb skewers seem to have more fat on them! Honestly, both are delicious haha.

As the staff advised, we're going to eat the lamb loin skewers first, then move on to the lamb skewers.

They grilled the lamb loin skewers side by side for us 🫶 Lamb skewers really are easier when someone else grills them for you. Of course I'm not the one grilling, but still,, the charcoal condition looked great, so all we had to do was wait and eat!

Lamb loin skewers: juicy with a soft, pillowy bite

The lamb loin skewers were getting nicely browned •• 🤎 Taking a bite, they were bursting with juice, the lamb smell wasn't overpowering at all, and the plump texture was so good. You know that pillowy-soft texture, right 🥹

I'm now thinking it was a great call to also order the lamb loin skewers. The two have such different charms that I'd recommend ordering both lamb skewers and lamb loin skewers together ★

Lamb skewers: chewier texture and more lamb aroma

If the lamb loin skewers were all about juicy, pillowy texture, the lamb skewers had more chew and a slight lamb aroma! Personally I love that lamb smell, so this was totally my favorite 🔥

Lamb skewers are cheaper than the lamb loin skewers, but they don't lose out at all in taste or texture! I enjoyed a completely different kind of charm here.

They were beautifully browned and just so delicious! I think I understand now why they told us to eat the lamb loin skewers first, then the lamb skewers. Since the lamb loin has a softer texture, enjoying that first and then moving to the chewier lamb skewers meant we got to fully enjoy both ☺️

Adding cumin powder (zziran) to the sauce

I discovered the tzuran (cumin seasoning) a bit late and sprinkled a generous amount into the sauce. These days, eating lamb skewers without tzuran feels like something's missing ㅠㅠ For me, the lamb skewers taste even better with tzuran mixed in!

A second order of lamb loin skewers — lamb ribs next time

We were pretty full, but it was so delicious we couldn't resist and ordered another round of lamb loin skewers 👐 They were even better grilled over high heat, but still delicious either way,, 🤎 Both the lamb skewers and lamb loin skewers at Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 were so good that now I'm curious about the lamb rack too! I'll try that on my next visit.

The lamb loin skewers were so juicy and moist that they were incredible, and the lamb skewers had a lamb aroma that wasn't overwhelming, with a nutty, chewy bite 🤎 Beyond the food, the staff were kind and the restaurant was clean, which made the whole experience so satisfying! It was a delicious, happy dinner, and I'll definitely come back to Hanseong Yang Kkochi next time I'm craving lamb skewers.