If you’re someone who enjoys innards, you have to try gopchang (곱창) or beef intestines! It’s a delicacy in Korea, usually barbecued to a crisp to bring out the fattiness. Wonjo Garlic Gopchang (원조마늘곱창) in Mullae, Seoul offers a rendition of this dish with their twist: lots and lots of garlic.
Retro-Inspired Interior
This restaurant is another gem hidden in Mullae, an underhyped region near Yeongdeung-po! It has a striking red retro-style signboard.
The inside is styled like a warehouse with ceiling beams, concrete walls and a shiny floor.
Every table has an ordering tablet and multi-purpose chairs that open up to store your items (so there’s no smell)!
All the food is pre-grilled in the kitchen before being served on your table.
Wonjo Garlic Gopchang Menu
The menu offers both small intestine (gopchang, 곱창) and big intestine (daechang, 대창).
The biggest difference is the fattiness! Small intestines are leaner while the big intestines are very fatty.
They are available as-is in their Gopchang (화덕황소곱창, 23,000won for 200g), which is tenderised with a 15-year patented method, and Hanwoo Daechang (한우대창, 24,000 won for 300g).
But their signature items are the Hanwoo Green Onion Daechang (한우대파대창, 25,000 won for 300g) and Hanwoo Garlic Gopchang (한우마늘곱창, 25,000 won for 200g). Both feature the intestines stuffed with green onion and garlic respectively!
They also have other cuts like Makchang (막창구이, 23,000 won for 200g), which is another part of the small intestine; and Beef Heart (염통구이, 18,000 won for 180g).
Side Dishes
Every table gets a set of complimentary banchan, including tteokbokki and a spicy stew!
There was green onion kimchi, seasoned chives and seasoned beansprouts. The tteokbokki wasn’t memorable for us but it was a good snack while waiting for the main course.
We liked the spicy stew, which was tangy and spicy to whet our appetites.
Hanwoo Green Onion Daechang
The gopchang came to our table in a sizzling hotplate and the visual was enough to have us drooling!
The Daechang was practically bursting with fat and a streak of green onion (at least there’s green, right?). Every piece was crisp, juicy and sinful but without gaminess, and the green onion added a nice fragrance.
It’s slightly chewy but every bite gets more flavourful!
While incredibly delicious, daechang can get overbearing after a while; so you can interchange it with bites of grilled potato and onion underneath.
Hanwoo Garlic Gopchang
The daechang was delicious but the Garlic Gopchang stood out to us more! These were stuffed with garlic pieces, permeating every bite with a strong garlic flavour.
It was served on a bed of grilled chives, which cut through the richness and added an enjoyable crunch.
Compared to the daechang, the gopchang was not fatty and easier to eat more of! If you prefer a cleaner flavour, gopchang is a better option.
Hanwoo Yukhoe
We tried their Hanwoo Yukhoe (한우육회, 12,000 won), topped with plenty of sesame seeds.
It had a firm, almost chewy texture; compared to other versions we’ve tried that were more tender. Still, it was clean and beefy with a pleasant sesame aroma.
Bonus: Fried Rice
Fried rice is a must after barbecue meals! They served our fried rice (무채볶음밥, 2,000 won) in an adorable heart shape with a sheet of egg.
This was a perfect end to the meal, with the rice absorbing all the flavourful fat from the grill. The bits of radish kimchi added crunch and a tanginess to balance it out!
Gopchang Restaurant In Seoul
One of our favourite grilled dishes to eat in Korea is gopchang and Wonjo Garlic Gopchang does a satisfying version of this dish! If you’re looking for other barbecue meats to enjoy aside from pork belly, please add this to your list.
Check out more barbecue places in Seoul to try:
- Chonnom (촌놈): Charcoal BBQ In Seoul With Yangnyeom Beef Galbi & Cheese Bomb Fried Rice
- Iljeomsa (일점사): Charcoal Galbi Restaurant in Seoul Has Unlimited Kimchi Pancake, Ramyeon & Eggs
- Namdo Dwaejichon (남도돼지촌): Pork Neck BBQ In Seoul With Yangnyeom Gejang
Wonjo Garlic Gopchang (원조마늘곱창)
서울 영등포구 경인로79길 17-1 1층
17-11, Gyeongin-ro 79-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
Mon to Fri: 4pm to 11pm
Sat: 12.30pm to 10.30pm
Sun: 12.30pm to 10pm
Nearest train station: Mullae (문래역) Exit 7, Line 2
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*This was an independent review by MiddleClass
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