Lamb skewer restaurant in Seocho, Seoul: Hanseong Yang Kkochi

I visited Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 (한성양꼬치 교대2호점) while looking for somewhere near Gyodae Station to have dinner. I suddenly got a craving for lamb skewers that day, and it turned into a proper feast: lamb skewers, lamb sirloin skewers, jisansun, cucumber salad, and beer. You just can't leave beer out when you're having lamb skewers, haha. From the moment that grilled-meat aroma rose up, I thought, “Yep, I chose well today.”

• Location: 63 Seocho-daero 50-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 서초구 서초대로50길 63)
• Hours: Daily 12:00–24:00
• Parking: Available in front of the restaurant
• Reservations: Available via Naver Booking
• Highlights: Automatic rotating grill and a wide range of Chinese dishes

What was the atmosphere like at Hanseong Yang Kkochi near Gyodae Station?

Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 is tucked into an alley near Gyodae Station, so it was in a convenient spot for an after-work dinner. The restaurant had a more relaxed, comfortable dining atmosphere than I expected, and every table was set up with a grill for cooking lamb skewers.

Once you put the skewers on, they rotate around and cook on their own, which was nice because I didn't have to keep flipping them. Rather than feeling overly formal, it felt like a good place to casually have a drink and a meal with friends or coworkers. There were also tables for groups, so it looked like a solid option for a Gyodae Station company dinner, too.

What was on the menu?

Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 had everything from classic lamb skewers and lamb sirloin skewers to lamb ribs, guobaorou (sweet-and-sour crispy pork), jisansun, fried rice, and corn noodles. After going back and forth for ages, I ordered lamb skewers, lamb sirloin skewers, jisansun, cucumber salad, and beer.

Ordering a few dishes to share alongside the meat definitely made the meal more satisfying. A lamb skewer restaurant meal can feel a little one-note if you only eat meat, but the jisansun and cucumber salad kept things interesting until the end.

Once you order, the basic side dishes and sauces are set out with your meal.

There was cumin seasoning, which is essential for lamb skewers, along with a spicy soy sauce, so it was easy to dip according to my taste. Especially with cumin, you need to be generous with it for that real lamb-skewer experience, haha. The meat had a charcoal aroma and was perfectly fine on its own, but the cumin paired especially well with lamb's naturally nutty flavor, while the spicy soy sauce cut through the richness a little. The basic sides were also nice palate cleansers between bites of meat, and ordering cucumber salad separately gave the meal a refreshing, crisp element that worked really well.

How were the lamb skewers and lamb sirloin skewers?

I started with the classic lamb skewers. The pieces weren't tiny; each skewer had satisfyingly large chunks of meat. As they cooked over the charcoal and a little fat rendered out, that savory aroma really came through. Golden on the outside and juicy inside, they gave me exactly the feeling I wanted after dipping them in cumin.

The distinctive lamb aroma wasn't overpowering either, so I think even people who don't eat lamb skewers often could enjoy them without feeling intimidated.

The lamb sirloin skewers we ordered alongside them definitely had more of the meat's own texture than the regular lamb skewers.

Each piece was skewered in a generous chunk, so the juices felt richer with every bite, and the lamb sirloin skewers were more satisfying if you really wanted to eat meat. Personally, the regular lamb skewers were better for casually picking at continuously, while the lamb sirloin skewers were better if you wanted to appreciate the flavor of the meat itself. Ordering both was fun because I could compare them.

I definitely recommend adding jisansun and cucumber salad

Lamb skewers alone felt a little incomplete, so I ordered jisansun too. Jisansun is a Chinese-style stir-fry of eggplant, potato, and bell pepper, coated in a savory sauce with a slight sweetness, and it was just right as a side for the lamb skewers. The eggplant was especially tender and soaked up the sauce, while the potatoes had a fluffy texture, so they worked nicely together. Having a bite of jisansun between lamb skewers changed up the flavor completely and kept the meal from becoming repetitive. People often order guobaorou at lamb skewer restaurants, but this time I was really glad I went with jisansun.

I also ordered cucumber salad, and I reached for it more often than I expected. When you're eating lamb skewers and lamb sirloin skewers, that rich, savory fat flavor keeps going, you know?

A bite of cucumber salad at that point was crisp and refreshing, like it cleared everything up in my mouth. Its tangy, spicy flavor also made it a great drinking snack and a good match with the meat.

How was the lamb skewer and beer pairing?

I had beer that day too, and as expected, beer goes so well with lamb skewers. A bite of charcoal-scented lamb followed by a cold sip of beer cleared away the richness and somehow made the next skewer go down naturally. Dishes with a bit more meaty flavor, like the lamb sirloin skewers, were especially cleaner and easier to enjoy with beer. It was the perfect combination for when you want meat and a beer after work without having an overly heavy meal.

Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 was a great Gyodae Station restaurant for enjoying lamb skewers, lamb sirloin skewers, Chinese dishes, and beer all in one place. The automatic rotating grill made cooking fun, the cumin-dipped lamb skewers were good, and adding jisansun and cucumber salad made for a very satisfying spread. If you're looking for somewhere near Gyodae Station for dinner plans or a casual drink, Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 seems like a good choice.