Weekend Korean BBQ dinner with free kimchi jjigae: Geumseong Hoegwan

Craving meat for dinner near Seoul City Hall, I found Geumseong Hoegwan, a Korean BBQ restaurant near City Hall. It's close to the alley of eateries by City Hall Station, so it's easy to get to, and it sells both beef and pork at reasonable prices, so you can pick whatever suits your mood.

Location and waiting — 5-minute walk from City Hall Station Exit 7

Coming out of City Hall Station Exit 7 and walking toward the Bukchang-dong food alley, it's not hard to find. It's about a 5-minute walk from City Hall Station, making it a good spot for office workers' lunch or dinner gatherings.

With Seoul City Hall, Deoksugung Palace, and Gwanghwamun nearby, it's a good place to stop by when looking for somewhere to eat in downtown Seoul.

Menu and ordering — pork one-geun set for ₩55,000

Geumseong Hoegwan's main focus is beef, but its menu is varied enough to cover both beef and pork, including galbi bon-samgyeop, pork sets, and more. Signature items include galbi bon-samgyeop, 1% pork neck, emperor galbi, seasoned king galbi, and hanwoo snowflake beef.

I was thinking of ordering beef galbisal for two plus extra samgyeopsal, but my friend preferred pork, so we went with the pork one-geun (about 600g) set. We ordered the pork one-geun set for 55,000 won, bibim naengmyeon for 7,000 won, a bowl of rice, and cider.

Table setting and side dishes

Maybe because we'd made a reservation, the charcoal was ready right away.

The dishware looked like brass or bronzeware — classy and clean, the kind of place that would be nice to bring a foreign friend to. The side dishes were spicy kimchi, a pickle with a texture a bit like burdock root, and some soy-marinated greens, maybe yeolmu (young radish) or myeong-i namul (wild garlic leaves).

The dipping sauces set out with the meal were wasabi, ssamjang (soybean paste dip), tonkatsu sauce, breadcrumbs, and salt, so we could mix and match in various combinations.

Pork one-geun set: galbi bon-samgyeop and pork neck

Out came the bon-samgyeop and pork neck, one geun's worth, that we'd ordered. It was quite filling for two women, so it would probably be just right for a couple.

Zucchini, kkwari peppers, green onion, and mushrooms came out too, and grilling them together made everything taste even better. The meat quality was good and fresh. That said, since I'm generally not a fan of eating around the bone with pork ribs or jokbal, the meat was delicious but I'd say people who don't like dealing with a big bone might be better off ordering pork neck or beef galbi instead.

How's the free kimchi jjigae?

And then the free kimchi jjigae! Even as a freebie, the portion was just right for two, which is great for people who don't order a side dish and are drinking — it was also delicious eaten with rice.

Bubbling away nicely — honestly good enough that they could run it as a kimchi jjigae restaurant on its own. Among all the side dishes, the kimchi was the tastiest. The rice came with cha-jo (foxtail millet) mixed in, which made it even better.

It was so good we scraped the pot clean!

How big is the bibim naengmyeon portion?

The bibim naengmyeon came out quickly along with the meat, but note it's about 2/3 the size of a regular naengmyeon portion. Make sure to top it with some grilled meat and eat it as yuksam naengmyeon (naengmyeon with meat)!

The fun of charcoal grilling and sauce combos

The meat cooking away nicely — the fat from the grill drips right down into the charcoal, and the charcoal aroma and smokiness soak in, making it chewier and cleaner-tasting.

The first bite off the grill has to be with salt! Chewy, springy meat. Samgyeop really does beat pork neck.

Eating it with wasabi and pickles, you almost don't even need a lettuce wrap — feels healthy, right?

Still, we also wrapped some in fresh lettuce with ssamjang,

and as a special treat, dipped the grilled pork in tonkatsu sauce and then breadcrumbs — this was pretty tasty too. I have to try this at home sometime; it was surprising how much it tasted like actual tonkatsu.

Restaurant atmosphere and Saturday evening waiting

Overall the place is clean but has a retro feel that fits the word 'hoegwan' (hall) in its name. It's a comfortable atmosphere, good for eating with friends, and it seemed suited for office dinners or family and friend gatherings too. I visited around 5pm on a Saturday and the place was packed with families and groups of friends enjoying meat together.

Pros and cons overview

• Con: No parking, so you'll need to use a nearby lot
• Con: Galbi bon-samgyeop comes with a large bone, so those who don't like bone-in meat might prefer pork neck or beef galbi
• Pro: Close to City Hall Station, so it's easy to get to
• Pro: Sells both beef and pork, so groups can pick whatever menu they like
• Pro: Wide range of options from lunch specials to dinner BBQ dishes
• Pro: The free kimchi jjigae portion is just right for two

If you're looking for a good restaurant near City Hall Station, a spot for an office dinner, or a lunchtime BBQ place, this one's worth a visit.

📍 Geumseong Hoegwan Seoul City Hall Direct Branch / 30 Namdaemun-ro 1-gil, 1F, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea / Daily 11:00–23:00 / Use nearby parking lots