Gyodae lamb BBQ with rare loin skewers: Hanseong Yang Kkochi

A Gyodae lamb skewer spot for a Seocho work dinner — lamb tenderloin skewers, fried eggplant in sauce, and fried rice.

Looks familiar, doesn't it? This is the same building where I posted about my go-to pizza place upstairs on the 2nd floor — today I brought y'all to Hanseong Yang Kkochi on the 1st floor. That's how much of a regular I am here haha.

What's on the menu at Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2?

Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 is technically a lamb skewer place, but half the menu is cooked dishes. They have jisamseon (shredded pork stir-fry), whole lamb ribs, sweet and sour pork with glutinous rice, premium lamb ribs, gyeongjang yukseul (shredded pork in black bean sauce), lamb skewer with egg and tomato, and even mala xiangguo.

The description for the lamb tenderloin skewers says this: "a rare cut, only a small amount from each lamb." We ordered it today.

Is Hanseong Yang Kkochi a good place for a group dinner?

Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2 has a layout that's perfect for group dinners. I actually come here for dates and hangouts too haha.

They even nail the country of origin signage right onto the wall.

Lamb's health benefits, per the wall: vitality and energy, good for the spleen and stomach, helps with dizziness from organ imbalance, detoxifying. Cumin's benefits: improves blood circulation, helps you sleep well, strengthens the stomach. And the final line is the kicker — "Lamb and cumin together: zero cholesterol, great for digestion and dieting." Great for dieting, they say — guess I'd better order a drink then.

Peanuts, pickled mustard greens, pickled radish, and soy sauce with cumin powder. How can you NOT order a drink once you see this combo? You can't.

Soju, beer, pour pour pour~!

How ordering works and what it costs

You order by tablet here. It says: "Main dishes are available from 2 servings."

• Lamb tenderloin skewers ₩23,000
• Lamb skewers ₩17,000
• Fried eggplant in sauce ₩18,000
• Fried rice ₩7,000
• Soju ₩6,000
• Cass ₩6,000

Here's what we ordered.

Left: lamb skewers. Right: tenderloin skewers. The meat color is vivid and the fat is marbled just right throughout.

Once they're skewered like this, it's like — you grill, I'll drink haha.

Fried eggplant in sauce, ₩18,000: crisp outside, soft inside

Hanseong's fried eggplant in sauce is ₩18,000 — I tried it for the first time this visit. I already like eggplant in general, but this one nailed crispy-outside-tender-inside so well;;; the batter is thin but stays crispy on the outside, and the sauce is sweet and tangy — basically the perfect drinking snack ;;

As the fat drips onto the charcoal, smoke rises right up — and the smell seriously crossed a line.. (in a good way)

Once everything's grilled through, dip it in the cumin powder along with the fried eggplant, and chomp chomp chomp.

Lamb loin skewers and lamb skewers: any gamey smell?

Alright, next up: lamb skewers, come on out! Gamey smell? None of that here. The tenderloin skewers, being that rare cut, are noticeably fine-grained and tender. The regular skewers have that proper chewy bite. Honestly, just order both.

The ₩7,000 fried rice you should always order

Whenever I come to Hanseong, I always order this one, you know? Looks like plain fried rice, topped with egg and a dollop of ketchup on the side. It's literally basic fried rice, but it's a flavor you can never replicate at home — you know what I mean? Nothing sticks or clumps, and the savory depth is spot on. Dip it in that ketchup and the whole bowl disappears. You just can't get this texture without a properly heated wok. If you've ever tried making this at home, you'll know exactly why it doesn't work out..

Parking and reservations: what to know before you go

• Parking is tight. If you drive, no guarantees there'll be a spot
• It's 3 minutes from Gyodae Station Exit 14, so taking the subway is the easier way to go
• Reservations are possible. There might be a wait on weekends — this place fills up even though it's spacious
• Main dishes start from 2 servings, so it's not really built for solo dining
• Order both the tenderloin and regular skewers — tenderloin is tender, regular skewers have the chew
• The fried rice is a must. The fried eggplant is essential too..

Verdict on Hanseong Yang Kkochi Gyodae Branch 2

Total score: 5 / 5

• Taste ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Not a single dish to complain about
• Gamey smell ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ None, seriously
• Cooked dishes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The fried eggplant nailed crispy-outside-tender-inside
• Value ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fried rice at ₩7,000 is basically a steal
• Convenience ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tight parking is the one downside
• Would revisit ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I already come here regularly anyway

📌 Three-line summary

• Order both the tenderloin and regular lamb skewers — no gamey smell at all
• The fried eggplant is crispy-tender and sweet-tangy, amazing eaten with the meat
• The ₩7,000 fried rice has that proper scallion-oil-coated flavor

Reviewing a place you're a regular at is hard. I've been here so many times, nothing feels new anymore. But this time I tried the fried eggplant for the first time and found a new favorite dish. And the fried rice is still exactly that — still delicious.. If you're looking for lamb skewers near Gyodae Station, or you can't decide on a dinner spot in Seocho, come here. I'm going back to order the fried rice again 🐑