Hongbogak
홍보각
About
A calm, polished Gangnam dining room for clear-broth jjamppong, stuffed mojasaeu prawns and shared Chinese-Korean dishes.
The signature here arrives as a large prawn concealing smaller shrimp: cut the mojasaeu (모자새우) with a knife, as staff advise, and its juicy centre is the point. It is a little theatrical, and rich enough to share. The dining room is calm and polished, with wide gaps between tables; the tile floor is a detail you notice while waiting for the first dishes. For something less showy, order jjamppong (짬뽕). Its seafood broth is clear and clean, without the fishy smell or chili-powder weight that can dominate the noodle soup elsewhere. Tangsuyuk (탕수육) brings crisp coating that stays crisp under a balanced, not-too-sweet sauce, with chewy meat. The kitchen’s seasoning tends toward restrained rather than fiery; that suits the seafood, though it can read as bland if you want a bolder hit. The catalog lists mojasaeu at ₩60,000 and small tangsuyuk at ₩48,000, so this is a meal to plan for sharing rather than casual solo eating. Hongbogak is on the lower level of Novotel Ambassador Gangnam. It serves lunch and dinner daily from noon to 9:30pm, closing between 3 and 6pm. Reservations are handled through Catch Table; the next month’s slots open at midnight on the first, with releases each day. If driving, use the underground parking entrance on the right; the restaurant validates up to three hours. A noon booking is available for lunch, but allow time for a multi-dish meal rather than treating it as a quick noodle stop. This is best suited to a family gathering, date, or meal with friends when you want a quieter, more formal Chinese-Korean restaurant. Reviewers often praise the attentive service, and chef Yeo Kyung-rae sometimes visits tables, though there is no guarantee of a personal appearance. Prices are high for the portions by some diners’ measure, and courses can become salty or oily toward the end. Go for careful seafood and a composed room, not a bargain or aggressively seasoned food.
Menu
- 모자새우 (S)₩60,000
- 탕수육 (S)₩48,000
- XO팔보채 (S)₩100,000
- 칠리새우 (S)₩60,000
- 크림새우 (S)₩60,000
- 깐풍새우 (S)₩60,000
- 청경채볶음 (S)₩50,000
- 계절채소 (S)₩50,000
- 호유채심 (S)₩50,000
- 유린기 (S)₩48,000
- 깐풍기 (S)₩48,000
- 라조기 (S)₩48,000
- 궁보계정 (S)₩48,000
- 북경오리₩160,000
- 탕수우육 (S)₩70,000
- 통후추소고기 (S)₩70,000
- 호유우육 (S)₩70,000
- 송이우육 (S)₩100,000
- 고추잡채 (S)₩60,000
- 동파육 (S)₩60,000
- 게살볶음밥₩28,000
- 잡탕밥₩48,000
Local tips
- Book through Catch Table; check at midnight on the first for next month’s slots.
- Arrive before 3pm or after 6pm to avoid the daily break.
- Cut the mojasaeu with a knife to reach its juicy centre.
- Use the underground lot on the right and ask for parking validation.
Details
- 신논현
Opening hours
- Sunday
- 12:00–15:00, 18:00–21:30
- Monday
- 12:00–15:00, 18:00–21:30
- Tuesday
- 12:00–15:00, 18:00–21:30
- Wednesday
- 12:00–15:00, 18:00–21:30
- Thursday
- 12:00–15:00, 18:00–21:30
- Friday
- 12:00–15:00, 18:00–21:30
- Saturday
- 12:00–15:00, 18:00–21:30