Korean BBQ date in Hongdae after a hydrangea walk: Gogikkun

I went to Hongdae for meat and ordered the hanwoo/pork set for two at Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch (고기꾼김춘배 홍대숲길점). The spread was so hearty my belly nearly burst, I got totally food-assaulted, haha. The vibe is great and I recommend it as a date course, so please read from start to finish. Let's go, kkiriring~ 💗

• 📍 31-2 Seogang-ro 13-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• ⏰️ Daily 12:00–23:00 (last order 22:00)
• 🚗 Sinchon public parking lot recommended
• ✅️ Corkage-free, reservations, groups, baby chairs

Where is Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch?

This is the Supgil (forest path) branch, not the Hongdae Station branch. It sits on the Gyeongui Line Forest Park walking path, about halfway between Hongdae Station and Seogangdae Station. The tiled-roof exterior is unusual and pretty, so it's easy to spot.

I'd never walked this far into Hongdae, so it was my first time here too, and the path was lovely~ There are hydrangeas blooming right in front of the restaurant and the path is so tidy. I recommend strolling here on a date and dropping into Gogikkun 😉

What are the atmosphere and seating like at Gogikkun?

The inside is fairly spacious, with orange lights setting a slight mood! There's a coat rack, and every chair is the kind that lets you store your bag inside.

All the tables are round and can be pushed together, so groups fit easily. There are tables outside too, giving off outdoor-drinking-spot vibes. Wouldn't it look even prettier after sunset? haha If you're looking for Hongdae Korean BBQ, do come to Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch 😍

Which side dishes come with the Korean BBQ?

If you reserve ahead, they set up the side dishes before you arrive. Naver reservations are available, so keep that in mind.

The sides are scallion salad, pickled onions, seasoned bean sprouts and shredded kelp, and the condiments are ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), salt, salted shrimp and meljeot (salted anchovy sauce).

Menu and corkage rules at Gogikkun Gimchunbae

At Gogikkun you can enjoy both hanwoo (Korean beef) and Korean pork in good-quality premium lines, and there's a set with both, so no worries even if tastes differ. The quality is worthy of being called a top eatery, haha. And having the staff grill for you so you can relax at the table is a bonus!!

Another charm of Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch, with its perfect grilling, is corkage-free ✨️ Most places charge for it these days, so this is appealing~ Alcohol sold in the restaurant can't be brought in, so call and ask about that before bringing a bottle 🤗

I ordered these three things 💛😆

• Hanwoo/pork set for two
• Kkakdugi fried rice
• Half-and-half naengmyeon

Is the 600g hanwoo and pork set enough for two?

The hanwoo/pork set for two is 600g, with rib meat, pork neck and today's hanwoo piled onto one plate! The fresh, beautifully marbled set arrives☆★ It's a very hearty amount that two people can finish comfortably.

It's hot out, so gulp down a beer first🍻

How does the staff-grilled hanwoo taste?

At Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch, the staff start by grilling the tender hanwoo themselves. Mushrooms are roasting on one side, and they oil the grill properly before cooking the meat🔥

I'm really bad at grilling meat, so I absolutely love restaurants that grill for you👏 One bite of the perfectly grilled meat and it melts in your mouth, so tender. Ah, this is why people eat beef, I thought right away. A sip of beer and then a piece of meat is honestly the best👍🏻

What does the half-and-half naengmyeon taste like?

Gogikkun's half-and-half naengmyeon (cold noodles) puts spicy bibim naengmyeon and broth-style mul naengmyeon in one bowl, so you don't have to choose between spicy and broth and can hit your taste both ways. Vinegar and mustard come right away too.

Ice-cold naengmyeon on a hot summer day pairs so well with meat. It's neither too bland nor too sweet, just right, the kind of flavor nobody would dislike.

Grilled rib meat and pork neck with minari and kimchi

Eating loses its fun if it gets interrupted, so I asked them to put the pork neck and the big rib meat on right away. They trimmed the rib bones nicely and grilled minari (water dropwort) and kimchi too.

The smell of kimchi grilling in meat fat is beyond words, and the deep meaty aroma made it impossible to stop my hands.

Perfect grilling💛 The big pieces of pork were tasty too, dipped in meljeot and wrapped in lettuce. (Wraps are brought if you ask!) Fat and lean are nicely mixed, so the savory juices flow out as you chew. It's not greasy but clean-tasting, easy to keep eating, haha.

How big is the kkakdugi fried rice?

Gogikkun's kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) fried rice is about two bowls of rice!! 👍 The kkakdugi is chopped small and mixed in, with seaweed and sesame seeds sprinkled on top. It looked like a lot, and sure enough, it was.

Once the meat was all grilled, they pressed the fried rice down onto the iron plate. You know how rice crisps up from the heat while you're eating meat and naengmyeon, getting slightly hard and even tastier, right? lol 💗 The people running this place clearly know their food.

How full will two people be after the BBQ date?

After 600g of meat, half-and-half naengmyeon and fried rice (2 servings), I was genuinely out of breath. I got completely food-assaulted. If there hadn't been a walking path to the station, it would have been really tough.

It's a seriously filling meal, so I recommend Gogikkun Gimchunbae Hongdae Supgil Branch to anyone on a Hongdae date or looking for Hongdae pork belly or beef🔥