Hongdae Korean restaurant for a generous pork-topped meal: Anok

Anok is at 13-4 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, just 365 m from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station.

A day when I wanted everything from Pyongyang naengmyeon to gomtang

The temperature swings between morning and night have been getting bigger lately, and the breeze is properly cool now, so it really feels like fall is on its way, haha. Then I suddenly felt like I needed to send summer off with a bowl of Pyongyang naengmyeon before it was completely gone, lol. So this time, I went to Anok, a great gomtang spot in Hongdae, and properly enjoyed everything from Pyongyang naengmyeon to gomtang.

I looked it up and found that this was a newly opened restaurant in Hongdae. First of all, the exterior immediately caught my eye.

Hanok atmosphere in the heart of Hongdae

A hanok-inspired atmosphere right in the middle of Hongdae! It had a tranquil yet polished feel, the kind of exterior that makes you look twice as you pass by. Since it is in Hongdae, where there are so many international visitors, it also seemed like a lovely place for travelers who want to experience Korean food in a distinctly Korean setting.

Inside Anok and its seating atmosphere

Stepping inside, my first impression was of a clean and neatly arranged space.

The restaurant has comfortable table seating. The whole place felt calm, so I thought it would work nicely for a meal with friends, a date, or a family gathering.

A full spread of Pyongyang naengmyeon, pork gomtang, and braised pork tail

Even before visiting, I had read plenty of reviews saying the food was presented so neatly, so I was excited. We went all in and ordered Pyongyang naengmyeon, pork gomtang, and braised pork tail, haha.

Even the banchan (Korean side dishes) that arrived first after we ordered were so cleanly and neatly presented!! Haha. Then the dishes came out one by one, and wowww, they passed the visual test from the start!

Chewy yet tender braised pork tail

First up, the braised pork tail was more generous than I expected. It looked so glossy that my chopsticks naturally headed here first, lol. One bite gave me that wonderfully chewy yet tender texture. The more I chewed, the more nutty richness came through, and the seasoning worked so well with it that it naturally made me think of a drink. Ahh… this is totally a “let's have a drink” kind of flavor, hahaha.

Pork gomtang with a subtle, lovely depth

And the dish I was especially happy with was the pork gomtang! Maybe because the clear broth is cooked in-house, it was incredibly clean, you know? Haha. It looked clear and mild at first glance, but a spoonful brought out a subtle depth of flavor, so I could keep eating it without feeling weighed down.

Pyongyang naengmyeon before saying goodbye to summer

And then, the Pyongyang naengmyeon I wanted to eat before sending summer away!! As for my taste test: the broth was soooo mild and clean. Loosening the noodles into it and taking a bite had a charm completely different from boldly seasoned food. Isn't this the taste of being a grown-up? It was great for slowly taking in the signature subtle flavor of Pyongyang naengmyeon while slurping up the noodles.

A menu combination generous with meat

More than anything, what I loved about Anok, this gomtang spot in Hongdae, was the amount of meat! They piled such generous portions of lean meat onto both the gomtang and Pyongyang naengmyeon that it felt like the meat never decreased no matter how much I ate, lol.

Loads of meat in the gomtang, loads of meat in the cold noodles! I really ate my fill, so why did it feel like the meat never went down? Hahaha.

From the mildness of Pyongyang naengmyeon to warm, filling pork gomtang and chewy braised pork tail that makes you want a drink!! Ordering this way made for such a great combination. Eating refined Korean food in a space in Hongdae that is full of hanok atmosphere made the meal feel different from my usual one, haha.

If you want to fill up with a warm bowl of broth as the weather cools down, I would recommend the pork gomtang at Anok. Before summer is completely over, order the Pyongyang naengmyeon too and give the season a proper send-off like I did, lol! From the atmosphere and neatly presented food to the generous meat, I left very satisfied. 🥰