Gangseo Seoul Korean BBQ with pre-grilled pork: Gwangseonjip

Gwangseonjip Kkachisan Station Main Branch, close to Kkachisan Station

I visited Gwangseonjip Kkachisan Station Main Branch when I was looking to have some meat near Kkachisan Station.

It is on the first floor of Somang Building at 149 Gomdallae-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, and about a three-minute walk from Exit 2 of Kkachisan Station, so it was conveniently close to find from the station.

Hours are 16:30–24:00, every day of the year. You can use the Gomdallae Culture and Welfare Center Public Parking Lot, a three-minute walk away; it costs ₩600 for 30 minutes, ₩1,200 for 60 minutes, and ₩2,400 for 120 minutes. Yutongsangga public street parking is free after 6 PM.

Tables filled up quickly, even at an early dinner hour

I visited a little early for dinner, and when I first came in, it looked like there were plenty of seats. But while I was sitting down and ordering, the tables started filling up one by one really quickly.

You can also join the waitlist through Catchtable, so I wondered if this was a popular Kkachisan Station restaurant because it gets so busy. Seeing customers come in, I became curious about why it was so popular. Thankfully, I came early and was able to walk right in without waiting. :)

A Jeju black pork half platter that was great for two

There were two of us, so we ordered the half platter, the recommended menu for couples.

It includes 180 g each of Jeju black pork ogyeopsal (pork belly with skin), kkodeulsal, and ppyeolsal, and costs ₩49,700. Since we could try several cuts all at once, it was a good menu to order as a pair.

The convenience of not grilling the meat ourselves

And what I liked most about Gwangseonjip was that we did not need to grill the meat ourselves! Everything we ordered arrived fully grilled over charcoal, so we did not have to keep turning meat at the table. At Korean BBQ, one person can end up grilling the whole time and not really get to eat, but here we could simply relax, chat, and eat. That made me think it is a good Kkachisan Station BBQ spot for a date or a get-together with friends.

The table setting and sauces served with the meat

The basic table setting was quite generous too. There was ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), shiitake mushroom sauce, wasabi, Maldon salt, pickled onions, dressed chives, lettuce, and corn cheese. Bean sprouts, mushrooms, kimchi, shishito peppers, and bracken fern were also grilled with the meat, making them nice to eat alongside it.

For the sauces, they poured either a spicy sauce or a soy sauce-based one over the meat, and served the other separately for dipping.

It was much tastier to cut up some grilled vegetables, such as bean sprouts or bracken fern, and eat them with the meat rather than eating the meat alone. The ogyeopsal was thick and satisfyingly chewy, with a subtle charcoal aroma.

True to its name, the kkodeulsal had a firm, springy texture that had a different charm from the ogyeopsal. Alternating among all three cuts, including the ppyeolsal, kept us from getting tired of it until the end.

The braised green onion kimchi I kept reaching for

And my favorite thing while eating was the braised green onion kimchi served with the meat. You can order it for an additional ₩5,900 with a full or half platter, but I was told it is served free of charge.

It was honestly so good with the meat. Put some green onion kimchi on a piece of pork, and the slight spice and savory depth made it something I kept reaching for, haha. The meat itself was delicious, but the well-matched side dishes made the meal even more satisfying.

Small touches before and after the meal

Before the meal, they also gave us enzymes to aid digestion, vitamins, and a honey stick. When we left after finishing, they even gave us sugar-free candy, which made me feel they were thoughtful about their guests. These little services may seem like nothing, but they do stick in your mind after a meal.

At first, I simply came to eat meat, but after trying it, I could see why customers filled the place from early on and why there was even a waitlist. It was convenient not to grill the meat ourselves, we could enjoy a good variety of cuts, and even the accompanying dishes were delicious! If you are looking for a good restaurant near Kkachisan Station, in Hwagok-dong, or for Kkachisan Station Korean BBQ, it could be worth a visit. I definitely want to come back next time to try other menu items. :)