Gopchang restaurant in Garak-dong, Songpa revisited after a year

I want to talk about a gopchang (grilled beef intestine) place I revisited after a long while. Actually, this wasn't my first time here — about a year ago I stopped by on a whim and the memory of how good it was stayed vivid in my mind. Because that memory was so good, I ended up coming back today.

Location and hours of Jinseong Hanwoo Gopchang Garak Flagship

🗺️ 27 Songpadae-ro 28-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul / ⏰ Daily 12:00 - 23:00 / 🚗 2 hours of parking available / ⭐ Takeout, delivery, Wi-Fi

The moment I walked through the door, old memories came flooding back. The interior hadn't changed much either, so it felt oddly familiar, like I'd been here just yesterday.

Ordering the same gopchang and makchang as a year ago

Looking over the menu, I didn't even need to think about trying something new — I naturally ended up ordering gopchang and makchang (grilled beef bung/rectum) again. That flavor from a year ago must have been etched into my memory. My companion and I naturally started chatting about our last visit, hoping today's meal would be just as satisfying as that time.

How was the gopchang?

First up on the grill was the gopchang. Just the sizzling sound already built up my expectations, and the moment I popped a piece in my mouth, I knew those expectations weren't misplaced.

The distinctive savory flavor of gopchang spread through my mouth, and the more I chewed, the more that subtle savoriness came through. It was clearly cleaned with no gamey smell at all, and the balance between the crispy outside and the moist inside was excellent.

It tasted exactly like it did a year ago — actually, I think I enjoyed it even more today. Just watching it turn golden brown on the grill was enough to make my mouth water.

How is makchang different from gopchang?

After clearing out most of the gopchang, we naturally moved on to the makchang. It had a different charm from the gopchang — a thick, chewy texture that was clearly there, but well-trimmed so it wasn't tough or overwhelming.

The slightly smoky char on the outside paired well with the juices that burst out with each bite, making every single piece impossible to skip. Alternating between the savory gopchang and the chewy makchang was also part of the fun.

The two menu items didn't take away from each other at all — if anything, they complemented each other nicely. Even with just salt and sesame oil dip and no special seasoning, the natural flavor of the ingredients really came through, which was plenty satisfying.

All the way to the finishing rice ball

And one thing you can't skip at this place is the finishing rice ball (jumeokbap) at the end. Honestly, it had been a while since I'd had jumeokbap, and maybe because of that it tasted even better than usual.

Each grain of rice, fried until savory, was evenly coated in seasoning. It was perfectly balanced whether eaten as a palate cleanser after the meat or nibbled on in between bites.

The process itself — gently frying the rice in the leftover meat fat and seasoning on the grill — was a small joy on its own. Watching each grain soak up the oil and turn golden brown made even the waiting fun, and it was the kind of dish you scrape clean down to the last spoonful.

Was it still the same a year later?

Looking back, I think the reason I came back today was because of how much I loved this exact combination — gopchang, makchang, and finishing rice ball — a year ago. It was impressive that even after all this time, the quality had stayed the same, or maybe even gotten better.

Often a restaurant you once loved changes a little over time or falls short of expectations, but this place had none of that letdown — it was just as consistent as ever. If anything, I found myself reaching for more than before, so I'd say this is a place that keeps its skill intact no matter how much time passes. The prices and portions weren't too much of a burden either, so I could easily see myself dropping by again.

From now on, whenever I have a craving for gopchang or makchang, I think I'll naturally end up coming back here. Thanks to today's visit after a year away, I have a feeling this place won't just be a spot I passed through once, but one I'll keep thinking about and returning to as a regular. Filling up today with gopchang, makchang, and the finishing rice ball as one set meal made for an especially welcome and satisfying time, even more so after such a long gap.