Gopchang Jeongol — Korean Intestine Hot Pot in Gaebong-dong

Tonight’s anju (안주 — food you eat while drinking) is gopchang jeongol, at my regular place Yeokjeon Sundae-guk in Gaebong-dong, Seoul.

What is it? Gopchang jeongol (곱창전골) is a spicy hot pot loaded with beef or pork intestines, simmered at your table in a gochujang-based broth. Sounds intense if you’ve never tried offal, but done right the gopchang is chewy, clean-tasting, and the broth gets deeper the longer it boils.

This place never misses. The broth is fiery in the classic Korean “kalkal” way — the kind of spicy that makes you reach for a shot of soju, which is exactly the point. Gopchang jeongol and soju is a time-honored pairing here.

Next time I’m ordering meori-gogi (머릿고기 — sliced boiled pork head meat, a classic side at Korean sundae-guk joints). It never fails.