Hongdae Korean restaurant with quiet window seats: Anok

A hanok-inspired Korean restaurant in Hongdae

I came out to Hongdae with my mom for a meal for the first time in ages, and there happened to be a newly opened Korean restaurant, so we went!

From the entrance, it has such a strong hanok feel that it almost feels like a traditional full-course Korean restaurant~ It has an atmosphere you do not usually get in Hongdae. Definitely an uncommon vibe for the area.

There is a menu board at the entrance like this, so you can check the menu and prices before going in.

The hanok-style building and the courtyard? decorated with gravel and stone paths are so charming and pretty.

Inside is clean too, with soft lighting that creates a lovely atmosphere. It feels a little like a minimalist traditional Korean restaurant.

Disposable aprons are available near the entrance, so just grab one if you need it. I only spotted them as I was leaving after finishing everything, hahaha.

We visited at 4 p.m., so it was neither lunch nor dinner time and the restaurant was a little quiet. I actually liked that haha.

The banchan (Korean side dishes) arrive simply and neatly, without any fuss. Even the tableware and spoon rests have that tidy traditional-restaurant feel.

Window seat or tucked-away corner: which is better?

I think the window-side seats are the best spots. You can eat while looking out at the view, and because they are set apart inside the restaurant, they feel a little private.

There is another seat next to it. It is even more tucked away, but it also looks out onto the front courtyard? so the view is nice, and it feels even more private. As an introvert who likes corners and pretty views, I absolutely loved a seat like this haha. If I visit again, I have to sit there.

Our order, from braised pork tail to Pyongyang naengmyeon

We ordered three dishes: braised pork tail (₩29,000), clear gomtang (₩13,000), and Pyongyang naengmyeon (₩14,000).

My first braised pork tail

The first dish to arrive was the braised pork tail! It was red, so I was worried it would be spicy (I am terrible with spicy foodㅠㅠ), but it was not spicy and it was delicious haha!!

It was my first time having pork tail. It was a little like jokbal (braised pig's trotters), a little like pork skin, and deliciously chewy. I find meat with only lean flesh a little less tender and slightly tough, so rather than all-lean meat, I prefer meat with a suitable amount of fat. The braised pork tail was chewy but tender to bite through, which I loved. Totally my kind of dish.

The clean-tasting clear gomtang

Next came the clear gomtang (pork gomtang, a clear pork soup). Oh, does it not look like such a neatly presented Korean dish, the kind of gomtang foodies would seek out?!!! Hahaha. I liked its clean flavor with none of that unpleasant pork smell.

My first-ever Pyongyang naengmyeon

Next came the Pyongyang naengmyeon! When I first saw it, I thought, “Huh, why are they bringing us clear gomtang again?” Hahaha. Honestly, apart from the scallions and pepper on top, do they not look exactly the same?ㅠㅠㅠ Hahaha.

Looking at the photo now, the meat is slightly different, of course. The gomtang has some fat mixed in, while the naengmyeon meat is all lean. Hahaha. But they look so similar. Before tasting it, I could not even tell whether what was underneath was rice or noodles...

For reference, it was my first time ever trying Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles). Hahaha. It was better than I expected?! But I still prefer the more punchy Hamheung naengmyeon for now haha. (Although maybe I will start craving Pyongyang naengmyeon someday?)

Delicious dishes, but the food temperature was a letdown

The braised pork tail was my favorite, while my mom said the clear gomtang was the best. But one thing we both found disappointing was that, perhaps because the weather was a little chilly that day, we wished the food had been hotter.

From the notice, it seems they intentionally serve food at a temperature that is comfortable to eat right away, rather than piping hot. It really was easy to eat immediately, but the warmth and comforting heat you expect from gomtang or gukbap (rice soup) were a little lacking, so it felt lukewarm, which was disappointing. I think the cold weather made me feel it more.

Still, the staff were so kind, the restaurant was clean, the interior was tidy, and even the restroom was clean and nice. As the weather gets colder, I think it would be even better if the food were served hotter. It felt so lukewarm that, despite the intention to serve it at an easy-to-eat temperature, I wondered whether it had been portioned out in advance. That was the one thing that lingered for me. If they serve it hotter, it will surely become a great gomtang spot in Hongdae! Haha. Even so, it was lovely to have a delicious dinner while spending time with my mom for the first time in a while.