Bukchang-dong Korean BBQ lunch set at 14,000 won: Geumseong Hoegwan

Today I'll tell you about a lunch trip with a friend — we stopped by Seoul Library near City Hall Station to finish up some research, then headed out for a happy lunch.

At Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch, right in the middle of the Bukchang-dong food alley near Seoul City Hall Station, we enjoyed the great-value lunch special, the emperor galbi set. This is an honest review of the whole experience — the upscale interior, the neat side dishes, the complimentary fried egg, the spicy sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew), and the chewy emperor galbi grilled for us right at the table.

• Location and flashy atmosphere of the restaurant
• Great-value emperor galbi set spread
• The taste of juicy grilled emperor galbi
• Practical info and overall review

Where is Geumseong Hoegwan near Seoul City Hall, and what is it like inside?

Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch sits right in the middle of the Bukchang-dong food alley, about 280 meters from Exit 7 of City Hall Station on Lines 1 and 2, so it's easy to find. There's a paid parking lot at Sogong-dong Post Office right next to the restaurant, so it's convenient for drivers too, and the transit access is excellent. Walking inside, the antique yet flashy chandeliers and golden interior caught my eye right away, and cheerful music playing inside lifted my mood even more. The golden crown logo on the wall in the middle of the hall was a popular photo spot, and there were also foreign tourists, including Chinese guests, enjoying their meals.

What comes with the 14,000-won emperor galbi lunch set?

Since we came right at lunchtime, we ordered two servings of the popular, well-put-together emperor galbi set. At the reasonable price of ₩14,000 per person, we got 100 grams of fresh beef rib meat, a bubbling sundubu jjigae with a raw egg, and a nicely toasted fried egg on the house.

True to a brand named after the old name for Naju in South Jeolla Province, the side dishes came out neat and clean, and the silbi kimchi tossed in a spicy house sauce was just right for cutting through the meat's fattiness.

Cracking the fresh raw egg from the table into the bubbling sundubu jjigae in the earthenware pot made the rich, spicy broth taste even better.

How does the staff-grilled beef rib meat taste?

On a newly upgraded special grill plate, a staff member carefully grilled the vivid red emperor galbi along with thick king oyster mushrooms for us. Watching the rib meat, sliced lengthwise into easy-to-eat pieces, cook up juicy and mouthwatering on the grill made my mouth water.

Dipping the first grilled piece lightly in salt and popping it in my mouth, rich juices and a chewy yet tender texture filled my mouth. For a reasonable ₩14,000, being able to enjoy high-quality grilled beef along with the stew made this a top pick even among the beef restaurants of Bukchang-dong.

The after-meal prize wheel and the verdict on Geumseong Hoegwan

After the meal, you can join the restaurant's ongoing spin-the-wheel event for a chance at prizes like raw beef for first place, a portion of pork for second place, or naengmyeon (cold noodles).

Thanks to the staff's kind grilling service, we finished the meal comfortably with no worry about the smell clinging to our clothes, making this a great spot for nearby office workers' lunches or company dinners too. It was a satisfying time to really taste the appeal of Naju-pear-aged galbi, with its excellent meat quality and deep flavor.

Emperor galbi: a very tender and savory premium cut of beef taken from between the cow's rib bones.

Frequently asked questions

What are Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch's opening hours?

It's open daily from 11 AM to 11 PM.

Do you grill the emperor galbi lunch set yourself?

Experienced staff carefully grill the meat and the thick mushrooms to just the right doneness, so you can eat comfortably.