Private Korean BBQ in Mapo, Seoul: Gogikkun Gim Chunbae

A private Korean BBQ restaurant between Hongdae and Hapjeong

When you’re on a date in Hongdae or Hapjeong, sometimes you want Korean BBQ but a place that’s too noisy feels a little overwhelming, you know? Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch (고기꾼김춘배 홍대본점), where I went this time, has tall partitions at every table, so it was more private than I expected. Best of all, the staff grilled everything from Korean beef to Korean pork for us, making it an easy, comfortable place to eat. We tried the Korean beef/pork set for two, half-and-half naengmyeon, and diced fried rice!

Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch: location and hours

Address: 36 Hongik-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 마포구 홍익로3길 36 3층) Hours: 12:00–23:00 (last order 22:00)

Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is conveniently located between Hongik University Station and Hapjeong Station, on the third floor of the building! I was confused at first because I couldn’t spot it well, but it’s the building with MIROMIRO on the first floor~

Once inside, the restaurant was much bigger than I expected. They even operate the fourth floor as an annex, so it looked suitable not only for dates but also for work dinners and group visits! What I especially liked was the atmosphere.

The lighting was soft throughout, and the partitions rose high around each table, so you didn’t end up making eye contact with the next table! It felt a little cozier and more private than a typical Korean BBQ restaurant. Since the staff grill all the meat too, it was easy to chat while eating.

What we ordered and a few tips

• Korean beef/pork set for two — ₩118,000
• Diced fried rice — ₩8,000
• Half-and-half naengmyeon — ₩7,000

Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch sells everything from domestic five-layer pork belly and pork neck to Korean beef! We ordered the set that lets you try both Korean beef and Korean pork. There’s no dedicated restaurant parking, so I recommend public transportation,, (If you do bring a car, the Sinchon outdoor public parking lot is recommended.)

If you leave a Naver photo review or sign up for notifications, you can get one of pork rind, steamed egg, or stew for free, so make sure you join in haha.

I liked that the side dishes came out in a good variety, and the scallion salad was my favorite here. Its sweet-and-tangy seasoning was pretty addictive; eaten with the meat, it cut right through the richness, so the pairing was great.

Korean beef and pork set for two, tasted cut by cut

Here is the signature Korean beef/pork set for two that we ordered at Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch. I could tell the meat was good quality as soon as it arrived, and it also came with mushrooms and corn! They grilled the meat in this order: Korean beef sirloin → fresh boneless short rib → five-layer pork belly.

The Korean beef sirloin had nicely distributed marbling, and grilled over charcoal, that smoky aroma came right up and got my appetite going,, They cooked ours to about medium-well. It’s the Maillard reaction, right? The outside browned beautifully while the juices stayed inside, so it was tender.

It wasn’t overly fatty, and the more I chewed, the more savory beef flavor came through—just right as a first bite! As expected, if beef is grilled well, you’re already halfway to a great meal,,

Half-and-half naengmyeon with both mul-naengmyeon and bibim-naengmyeon

Just as the sirloin was starting to feel rich, the half-and-half naengmyeon arrived. I really loved this menu item. At Korean BBQ, you always end up debating between mul-naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth) and bibim-naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles), right? Here, you get both in one bowl, so there’s no need to give either one up,, The mul-naengmyeon cleansed the palate after the meat, while the sweet-spicy seasoning of the bibim-naengmyeon went so well with it. It was fun switching back and forth!

Second up was fresh boneless short rib! This one definitely had a chewier bite than the sirloin, and the more I chewed, the richer the beef flavor became. It had just the right amount of fat mixed in, so its nuttiness really came through too.

Since each cut had a different texture and flavor, eating them as a set kept it from becoming repetitive. Salt, yay~ Why do I love dipping meat in salt so much,,?

Diced fried rice: how it tasted and one downside

For a mid-meal carb recharge, we had the diced fried rice. It included finely chopped meat, and the seasoning had a pleasantly spicy feel! One slight disappointment, though, was that the rice wasn’t warm,, Since it was fried rice, I think it would have tasted much better piping hot, but the food had cooled down a little, which was a shame. Still, the flavor itself was very good, so we ate almost all of it,,

Five-layer pork belly to finish

Last but not least was the five-layer pork belly. And eating it reminded me again: ah,, I really am a five-layer pork belly person. The outside was browned nicely, the skin layer was chewy, and when I bit in, the juices and savory richness of the fat burst out from inside,,

The meat quality was good, so it tasted great with any sauce! (I recommend pairing it with the scallion salad too.)

Final thoughts

Rating: ★★★★ Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch was a comfortable date spot because you can have Korean beef and pork as a set, with staff grilling it for you. I especially liked the more private atmosphere compared with typical Hongdae Korean BBQ restaurants, thanks to the tall partitions and soft lighting! Personally, the five-layer pork belly and the half-and-half naengmyeon that eliminates decision paralysis were what stayed with me most,, If you’re looking for a Korean BBQ restaurant with a nice atmosphere for a date around Hongdae and Hapjeong, it’s worth visiting at least once ㅇ_<