Mapo Korean restaurant for family bibimbap and soup rice: Horangi Gotgan

Horangi Gotgan was a place I had been happy with on my previous visit because the food was so neat and tasty! I had come alone then, so I was a little sad that I couldn't try more dishes. This time, since I was in Gongdeok with my family, I stopped by again.

The menu is rooted in Korean food, but there is plenty of variety and every dish is easy to enjoy, so this time we ordered several things and really tucked in.

Horangi Gotgan near Gongdeok Station: weekend lunch wait?

It is close to Gongdeok Station, so it is easy to find. Last time I visited a little after weekday lunchtime, so

I hadn't thought it was particularly busy, but the weekend lunch atmosphere was completely different. There were quite a few guests, and we waited about 10 minutes before getting in. Still, they took our order while we waited, so the food came out quickly once we were seated,

and the staff handled orders and service thoughtfully, so the wait did not feel especially inconvenient. It struck me as a place loved by office workers in Gongdeok for weekday lunch and by nearby residents as a Korean restaurant on weekends.

A tidy, comfortable dining room

Once inside, Horangi Gotgan's signature tiger character appears here and there. It gave the otherwise clean overall atmosphere a bit of the restaurant's own fun.

There are tables for two, four, and six, so it looked well suited to all kinds of visits, from eating alone to family meals and office lunch gatherings. I came with family this time, and it was comfortable for sitting down to eat.

Horangi Gotgan menu and prices

• Yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef mixed rice) ₩12,000
• Pork belly bibimbap ₩10,000
• Beef-bone soup rice ₩10,000
• Yeolmu bibim naengmyeon (young-radish mixed cold noodles) ₩10,000
• Yeolmu bibimbap ₩10,000
• Nurungji tangsuyuk (crispy rice-crust sweet-and-sour pork) ₩10,000
• Charcoal-grilled spicy pork rice bowl ₩11,000
• Spicy soft tofu beef-bone soup rice ₩12,000
• Spicy beef tripe beef-bone soup rice ₩13,000
• Beef brisket bibimbap ₩10,000
• Beef bulgogi bibimbap ₩11,000

Last time I came alone and tried only one menu item, but this time I was with family, so we ordered a variety of dishes I had been curious about.

My mom loves bibim naengmyeon, so she ordered the yeolmu bibim naengmyeon and pork belly set, while my sibling chose the signature yukhoe bibimbap. I ordered the spicy soft tofu beef-bone soup rice.

Normally I would have picked just one, but coming with family meant I could taste everything from soup to noodles to bibimbap, which was great.

Tasting the beef-bone soup and each dish

Before our food arrived, they gave us a small tasting portion of beef-bone soup, and it was much better than I expected. Though the broth was milky white, it was neither dull nor greasy; it was clean yet deep in flavor. As we each had a spoonful before the meal, our appetites naturally woke up.

Yukhoe bibimbap

First, the yukhoe bibimbap looked appetizing from its colors alone, with its variety of vegetables.

The yukhoe had a subtle sesame-oil aroma, and the seasoning was not overly strong, so the ingredients' flavors came through well. I could see why it is introduced as a signature dish.

Spicy soft tofu beef-bone soup rice

The spicy soft tofu beef-bone soup rice I ordered had a different appeal from the clear beef-bone soup. It came with silky soft tofu and topside beef, and the broth had a warming kick. Mixing in the rice made it filling and deeply soothing.

Yeolmu bibim naengmyeon and pork belly

I also really liked the yeolmu bibim naengmyeon and pork belly combination my mom ordered. It was not a dry, thoroughly mixed style with no broth just because it was bibim naengmyeon; it had a little broth in it, making it far cooler and cleaner-tasting than expected.

Adding pork belly made it much more filling than noodles alone, and the spicy seasoning paired nicely with the meat too.

From solo meals to family dining

I was satisfied when I visited alone last time, but trying several dishes with my family this time made me understand a little better why there are so many customers.

It is a good place for anything from lunch to a family meal: Korean dishes are served neatly, the price range is not burdensome, and there are plenty of menu choices.

It is especially accessible because it is close to Gongdeok Station, so if you are looking for a Korean restaurant in Gongdeok, it is worth stopping by at least once. I had already visited once, yet I was happy again this time, so I think I will return whenever I have a meal in Gongdeok.