Songpa Korean restaurant for gopchang hot pot: Horanggul Bangi

A warming gopchang hot pot in Bangi-dong's food alley

I came here to cure the alcohol from the night before, only to end up drinking again… hahaha. On a day when I was craving a warming broth, I was looking for a bar in Bangi-dong's food alley and visited Horanggul Bangi Branch (호랑이굴 방이점), known for its gopchang jeongol (beef small-intestine Korean hot pot). Bottom line: the hot pot was delicious, but the chicken-skin dumplings were seriously amazing. Here goes my review of going for hangover food and polishing off a bottle of Saero!

Horanggul Bangi Branch

Horanggul Bangi Branch is in Bangi-dong's food alley, within easy walking distance of Songpanaru Station. It also seemed like a good place to come for dinner and a drink after hanging out in Jamsil or Songridan-gil. It can get busy on weekend evenings, so I recommend coming with a little extra time.

Look at what I ate. Doesn't it all look so delicious,,,💛❤️

Rather than a super-loud pocha (Korean pub), the atmosphere felt like an izakaya where you can comfortably enjoy hot pot and drinks. It would suit a date, a gathering with friends, or a company dinner in Bangi-dong. Ordering by QR code at the table was convenient too—no need to call a staff member over.

Horanggul gopchang hot pot at medium spice

We ordered the Horanggul gopchang hot pot, added two portions of gopchang, and got chicken-skin dumplings plus a bottle of Saero! You can choose the spice level for the hot pot, and we went with medium. It was not just aggressively spicy; the broth was peppery and rich, perfect for hangover food.

Once it started bubbling away on the table, even the smell made me want a drink… hahaha. The rich flavor of the gopchang naturally seeped into the broth, and there were plenty of ingredients, including garlic chives, cabbage, and tofu. It started off peppery and clean, then the broth grew richer the longer it cooked, so I just kept reaching for another spoonful.

Horanggul gopchang hot pot

Adding extra gopchang was an excellent choice. It was chewy and savory without being tough or having a strong odor. Eating it with the vegetables cut through the richness, so it made a great drinking snack. The broth was quite rich, so I think I will crave it whenever I need hangover food the day after drinking. The problem is that it makes you order another drink… an endless cycle of coming for hangover food and having a hangover drink instead, hahaha.

Chicken-skin dumplings ordered as a side

Highly recommend Horanggul's chicken-skin dumplings

And the hidden star of the day was the chicken-skin dumplings! They were only a side, so I ordered them without huge expectations, but my eyes went wide after one bite. The dumplings are wrapped in chicken skin and grilled, making them much crispier and more savory than ordinary dumplings.

The outside was golden and crisp while the inside stayed moist—the texture combination was unreal. The distinctive rich flavor of chicken skin was there without becoming too greasy, and with the cabbage and sauce served alongside, I just kept eating them.

If the gopchang hot pot is the main event, the chicken-skin dumplings are the side you absolutely need to order with it. Honestly, they were so my style that I want to come back just for these next time. Crispy and salty, they are a dangerously good match with Saero… a bottle disappears in no time.

A warming Bangi-dong drinking snack and recommended side

Q. Looking for a warming brothy drinking snack in Bangi-dong? A. I recommend Horanggul's gopchang hot pot! Q. Which side should you order? A. Please get the chicken-skin dumplings. They are seriously amazing.

Horanggul cheese rice is essential!

If you are looking for somewhere in Bangi-dong's food alley to have a filling meal and a drink, Horanggul Bangi Branch was a good choice. The warming, rich gopchang hot pot works equally well as hangover food and a drinking snack, and the combination is complete when you add the crispy chicken-skin dumplings.

I also recommend it for anyone looking for an izakaya in Bangi-dong for a date or a Bangi-dong venue for a group company dinner. Next time, I am ordering the gopchang hot pot and chicken-skin dumpling combination again. That is the real review from someone who went for hangover food and ended up drinking Saero too! Hahaha.