Hongdae Korean restaurant for a three-dish broth meal: Anok

This time, I found a great restaurant near Hongik University Station! It is called Anok (안옥), and the Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles), clear gomtang (clear beef soup), and even the braised pork tails were all so delicious.

Today, I had a filling and delicious meal of Anok's signature dishes: Pyongyang naengmyeon flavored with broth slowly simmered for 48 hours, deeply satisfying clear gomtang, and braised pork tails with a chewy bite and an umami-rich spicy house sauce.

Let me introduce Anok, where I could eat quietly and peacefully amid the crowds of Hongdae.

Anok information and parking

Anok is open six days a week, from Tuesday, and is regularly closed on Mondays. For holiday closures, check with the restaurant in advance. Hours are 11:30–22:00, with last orders at 21:00.

Because it is on a narrow alley, parking is not available. If you are driving, search for Anok on your navigation app and use a nearby public parking lot. Saemulgyeol roadside public parking is an 8-minute walk away, while Gyeongnam 1 roadside public parking is a 9-minute walk away. Parking around Hongdae Entrance can be limited or unavailable, so I recommend public transportation.

By subway, it is 365 m from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station on Line 2, or about a 7-minute walk.

Anok, built on house-made broth

Anok serves gomtang and Pyongyang naengmyeon based on its own clear, deeply flavored broth.

The signature menu includes clear gomtang for ₩13,000, special clear gomtang for ₩17,000, mul (broth) Pyongyang naengmyeon for ₩14,000, bibim (mixed) naengmyeon for ₩15,000, and yukhoe bibimbap for ₩18,000.

If you are visiting with several people, it would also be nice to add side dishes such as braised pork tails, Korean beef bulgogi hot pot, a plate of warm boiled meat, yukhoe, kimchi pancakes, grilled deodeok root, or potato pancakes. I tried the Pyongyang naengmyeon, clear gomtang, and braised pork tails that day, and the three-dish combination was quite good.

Pyongyang naengmyeon with an appealing clear, rich broth

First, I tried the Pyongyang naengmyeon I had been looking forward to most. My first impression was how exceptionally clear and clean the broth looked, but one sip revealed a surprisingly deep, rich flavor.

Rather than aggressively salty or bold, it was a style where the mild meaty aroma and subtle umami slowly came through, so I kept sipping the broth itself. The thinly sliced meat garnish was tender and mild, too. Especially when I dipped the meat in Anok's house meat sauce, the mood changed completely.

After clearing my palate with the clean, mild Pyongyang naengmyeon broth, eating the meat with its spicy house sauce created a contrast that made the meal even more fun. If you are looking for Pyongyang naengmyeon in Hongdae, take your time savoring everything from the broth to the meat.

Warm and satisfying clear gomtang

Next came Anok's clear gomtang. Rather than a milky-white soup, it has the clear broth its name suggests, but the moment I took a warm spoonful, I could taste the deep, rich broth.

The tender meat was lovely with the broth, and adding rice made it feel like a proper, piping-hot bowl of gukbap (rice soup). Best of all, it was not overpowering, so my stomach felt comfortable even afterward.

It is filling without feeling heavy, so I think it would suit anyone looking for a Hongdae lunch spot, too. When the weather turns chilly or I crave a warm soup, this is a flavor I think I will remember again.

Braised pork tails with an impressive chewy texture

And one of the dishes that unexpectedly stayed with me most was the braised pork tails. The spicy seasoning had soaked in so appetizingly from the very look of it, and one bite showed just how good the sauce's umami was.

The springy, chewy texture distinctive to pork tails was memorable, and the more I chewed, the more appealing it became with the seasoning. A bite of spicy braised pork tails after the mild Pyongyang naengmyeon, followed by warm clear gomtang, made the balance among the three dishes truly excellent.

You can alternate the mildness of Pyongyang naengmyeon, the deep broth of gomtang, and the spicy umami of braised pork tails, so if you visit with a group, I recommend ordering them together.

Hongdae Korean food in a hanok atmosphere

Anok is open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with last orders at 9:00 p.m. It is regularly closed on Mondays.

There is also table seating for groups of 2 to 12, making it nice for family gatherings or small company dinners. For private bookings, I heard you can call the restaurant to check the schedule and receive guidance.

Because of the commercial area, there is no separate dedicated parking, so I recommend checking nearby parking in advance if you are driving. Anok especially felt like a Korean restaurant centered on the depth of its foundational broth rather than flashy, intense flavors. Starting cleanly with Pyongyang naengmyeon, warming my stomach with clear gomtang, then adding a spicy highlight with braised pork tails made for a combination that flowed like a course meal.

Hongdae has plenty of intense dishes, but sometimes spending time over neat Korean food in a calm hanok space feels even more special, right? If you are looking for restaurants in Hongdae Seoul or a Hongdae lunch spot—especially if you enjoy mild, deeply flavored broth dishes such as Pyongyang naengmyeon and gomtang—enjoy a comfortable meal at Anok. :)