Hwagok-dong Seoul Korean BBQ: ₩67,600 pork platter, Gwangseonjip

Today I visited a restaurant famous for rare pork cuts, where I heard the meat comes out already grilled and tastes incredible — Gwangseonjip Kkachisan Station Main Branch. This is a place that gave me a genuine 100% intent to return, and even made me want to write a receipt review on my own !! Let me share the review now.

Gwangseonjip's ₩67,600 combo platter: pork served 100% grilled

What I ordered at Gwangseonjip Kkachisan was the most popular item, the combo platter (₩67,600), a set featuring ogyeopsal (thick-cut pork belly), kkodeulsal, and bbolsal all on one plate. Unlike a typical Korean BBQ place that serves samgyeopsal or mokgyeopsal, Gwangseonjip specializes in rare pork cuts like bbolsal and kkodeulsal.

They said the signature pa-kimchi (green onion kimchi) is complimentary! And it's loaded with meat too!!

As soon as we ordered, the meat was smoked over charcoal and grilled at a set temperature until 100% done, so all we had to do was keep it warm on low heat while waiting for the bracken, mung bean sprouts, kimchi, and chives to wilt slightly before eating. There was no hassle of grilling it ourselves, and we could enjoy the delicious flavor of the meat while chatting.

Four sauces come out — wasabi, salt, house ssamjang, and shiitake-wasabi sauce — and the shiitake-wasabi sauce is truly a stroke of genius.

What are kkodeulsal and bbolsal?

Kkodeulsal comes from the back of the pig's neck, and apparently only about 300–400g comes from a single pig, making it a very rare cut. It looks like it has big chunks of fat similar to ogyeopsal, but when you actually eat it, the coarse texture makes the fat wonderfully chewy — the bite was delicious.

Bbolsal comes from the pig's temple area, yielding only about 100g per pig, another rare cut. It's pure lean meat, but it also boasts a texture as tender as beef.

Corn cheese and perilla oil buckwheat noodles: the sides to order

For sides at Gwangseonjip Kkachisan, I tried corn cheese, kimchi-mari noodles, and perilla oil buckwheat noodles (deulgireum makguksu). The corn cheese, heated right at the table, was enough to whet the appetite as we watched the cheese melt before our eyes.

The tangy, sweet, refreshing kimchi-mari noodles and the perilla oil buckwheat noodles were also really good. In particular, the perilla oil buckwheat noodles were a level above what I'd previously known — slightly heavier, but it cleansed my palate after the rich meat and made me want to dive right back into the pork. That was the moment I confirmed this as a genuine Kkachisan Station must-visit!!

Can you drive to Gwangseonjip? Parking and non-alcoholic beer

Gwangseonjip Kkachisan Station is a 3-minute walk from a large public parking lot (Gomdallae Culture & Welfare Center public parking lot), making it convenient to visit by car. There's a bus stop right in front of the restaurant, and it's also close to Kkachisan Station, so it's easy to get to by public transit — but for those of us who need to drive, parking really matters.

Also, whenever you visit a BBQ restaurant, there's always the burden of the driver not being able to drink, or having to think about the cost of a designated driver home even if you do drink together. This place completely erases that worry.

You can probably guess from the menu, right?! Yes~ that's right. They also sell non-alcoholic beer!!! You can't eat meat this delicious without a beer, right?! 🤣 Plus, they have a variety of drinks prepared, including sweet cinnamon highballs, making it a great spot for group gatherings. 😁

Welcome drinks and heotgae sticks: Gwangseonjip's free extras

As soon as we were seated at Gwangseonjip Kkachisan, they gave us a welcome drink of jasmine tea along with an enzyme drink, honey stick, and vitamin. It felt like they were telling us not to worry about hangovers at all.

When you actually order alcohol, they give you a detailed service touch — a heotgae stick (hangover relief supplement). How could you not order a drink here? A place that worries about your hangover this much 🤣

They display truly necessary but hard-to-say-out-loud requests right on the ordering screen, so you can comfortably ask for them when needed — another moment of being touched by their thoughtfulness...👍 I was in awe of the owner's attention to detail.

Group dinners at Gwangseonjip: table spacing and sections

Overall, Gwangseonjip had a cozy atmosphere. The tables were spaced widely apart, and divided into sections every three tables, so groups of 9 or more could use an entire section.

There was a nostalgic, old-fashioned charm, while ornate chandeliers lit the space here and there — not overdone, giving off a cozy glow that let us enjoy the food comfortably. There was no cramped feeling between seats, making it a great spot for group gatherings.

Gwangseonjip Kkachisan Station Main Branch: address and hours

• Address: 149 Gomdallae-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 16:30–24:00, open 365 days a year
• Parking: Gomdallae Culture & Welfare Center public parking lot (no parking support, 3-minute walk)