Hongdae Korean restaurant with a two-seat main-view table: Anok

Today I wanted Korean food in Hongdae, so I'm introducing Anok, a Hongdae restaurant I visited. If you're into clean, light dishes like Pyongyang naengmyeon or gomtang (bone broth soup), this place is worth a try.

Where is Anok, and what are its hours?

Anok is located at 13-4 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and it's open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 to 22:00, with last order at 21:00. It's closed every Monday. It's a good walk from Hongik University Station — about 8 minutes from Exit 9, based on reference material.

Anok's exterior has that hanok (traditional Korean house) feel rather than a typical restaurant vibe, which seemed appealing to anyone looking for a slightly different atmosphere for Korean food in Hongdae.

The hanok exterior really surprised me — I didn't expect a restaurant with this kind of atmosphere in Hongdae. The path to the entrance felt tidy too, which got me excited before the meal even started..! Also, a note for anyone driving: there's no parking on-site, so you'll need to use a nearby public parking lot.

Anok's two-seat table with the main hanok view

I loved the hanok-feel two-top seating at Anok, so I quickly sat down at the main view spot!

I ordered the clear gomtang, Pyongyang naengmyeon, and pork tail jjim! Gomtang always needs kimchi for me, and this kimchi looked great too,,? Overall a proper Korean restaurant feel..!

Anok's side dishes and seasoning the broth to taste

The basic side dishes came out first at Anok. Baechu kimchi, kkakdugi, and gungchae jangajji arrived, along with a sauce to eat with the meat.

There's pepper and salt in the little containers so you can season to your own taste. I just shake it in generously.

What does Anok's clear pork gomtang taste like?

The first thing I tried at Anok was the clear pork gomtang! The broth is really clean-style, so it was easy to eat from the very first spoonful without feeling heavy. There's a subtle savory depth from the meat stock along with the nutty flavor of the pork.

And best of all, there was a good, generous amount of meat in it. The lean meat was pretty tender too, so eating it with rice and broth together made for a filling meal.

If you're a gomtang lover, this is worth keeping in mind when looking for a good gomtang restaurant in Hongdae.

The broth is light and clean, and the noodles apparently have a subtle nutty flavor.

Pyongyang naengmyeon at Anok, eaten with the meat

Next up is Anok's Pyongyang naengmyeon! The noodles come in a clean broth topped with a generous slice of meat. Eating the light naengmyeon together with the meat brought out the meat's flavor even more. The noodles alone are light and clean, but paired with the seasoned meat, it became savory and salty in a great way — personally, I loved eating the noodles and meat together haha. Even first-timers with Pyongyang naengmyeon might enjoy it more this way :)

The meat is light even on its own, but I tried dipping it lightly in the dadagi (spicy chili seasoning) that came with it. It added a spicy, savory kick that paired well with the light meat! Eating it this way made the naengmyeon even more enjoyable haha.

Anok's pork tail jjim, a dish to share

Another dish I was curious about at Anok was the pork tail jjim (braised pork tail).

Like the gomtang or naengmyeon, there are meal options too, but this seemed great to order together when visiting with a group. Pork tail jjim isn't a dish you see often, so it's worth trying at least once if you're looking for something a little different in Hongdae's Korean food scene. This time I ordered naengmyeon, gomtang, and pork tail jjim together, so I got to try a good variety of Anok's signature dishes.

Is Anok in Hongdae worth a visit?

I visited Anok craving Korean food! From the clear pork gomtang to the Pyongyang naengmyeon with cold pork, I tried a variety of dishes, and overall the food was clean and light, making it easy to eat without feeling heavy. The clear pork gomtang had generous meat and a clean broth, making for a satisfying meal, and the Pyongyang naengmyeon had its own charm when eaten with the meat and dadagi seasoning together. If you're craving clean Korean dishes like naengmyeon or gomtang in Hongdae, or looking for a Korean restaurant with a nice atmosphere, I recommend Anok 👍🏻