401 BBQ Seoul — Haha & Kim Jong-kook’s Famous Korean BBQ Spot in Hongdae
If you’re a fan of Running Man or Korean BBQ, 401 BBQ (401 정육식당) is a must-visit spot in Seoul. It’s the restaurant run by Haha and Kim Jong-kook, and one that my husband had always wanted to try whenever he visited Seoul.
I wasn’t sure whether to write about it since I didn’t take many photos, but the meat quality was so I decided to post it.
How to Get There — Easier from Hapjeong Station than Hongdae
Although often referred to as the Hongdae branch, the restaurant is actually located right outside Exit 3 of Hapjeong Station (Line 2 / Line 6).
Coming from Hapjeong Station is easier, especially if you don't plan to wander through Hongdae's main busy street.
We walked from Hongdae Station and enjoyed the lively streets before spotting the bright white 401 BBQ sign. You really can’t miss it.
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| The mascots of Hongdae’s Red Road, Kkaebi and Kkaesooni, welcome you. |
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| At a busking zone in red road in Hongdae, you’ll find a world direction signpost showing various global cities. |
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| From Hongdae Station, you can stroll along the lively street lined with pubs, restaurants, cafés, dessert shops, clothing boutiques, and accessory stores |
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| The main road stretches straight ahead, with a small crosswalk cutting across. Beyond it, crowds of people fill the street. |
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| I stopped for a photo at KT&G Sangsangmadang, a famous multi-cultural art complex that gives off a trendy, creative vibe. |
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| A close-up of the Sangsangmadang building — if you start from the Hongdae station, you’ll spot this building on your right, which means Haha & Kim Jong-kook’s 401 BBQ restaurant is just ahead. |
Inside the restaurant: Interior & Cleanliness
The space is clean, modern, and spacious — not always easy to find in BBQ spots. There’s no smoky residue lingering in the air, and each chair has a little storage for your bag or coat.
- There’s no online reservation system, but large groups can call ahead. Dinner hours can get busy, so arriving early is a good idea.
The walls have Haha and Kim Jong-kook figures, aprons you can use, and Running Man name tags — creating a fun, casual vibe. |
| After passing through bustling Hongdae and crossing the crosswalk, you’ll see it immediately — the bright white signboard of 401 BBQ is impossible to miss. |
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| On the wall, there’s a Haha-shaped figure, and next to it, aprons that you can grab and use during your meal. |
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| On another wall, you'll spot a Kim Jong-kook figure, adding to the fun Running Man vibe. |
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| One side of the restaurant’s large wall is covered with Running Man name tags — including those of past guests who appeared on the show. |
From Grill to Table: A full 401 BBQ experience
The restaurant’s signature items are Big Grilled Pork Belly 400g(Kkot Samgyeop), Big Grilled Pork Shoulder 300g (Kkot Moksal), and Grilled Pork Neck 160g (Hangjeongsal).
Other cuts include regular pork belly 180g, pork shoulder 180g, and pork cheek meat 160g(Gabrisal) — or you can try the Assorted BBQ Set to sample all of them.
Grill & Service
We ordered the Big Grilled Pork Belly (400g). It was thick, beautifully marbled, and perfectly juicy. The grill is cleverly designed so side dishes like egg or kimchi don’t mix with the meat, and the staff grill everything for you, which makes the experience easy and enjoyable.
The result: tender, juicy, and incredibly flavorful meat.
Sauces & Side Dishes
A variety of sauces is provided, including salt dip, ssamjang, gangdoenjang, and a house-made spicy sauce. Fresh side dishes like pickled onions, lettuce, scallion salad, and pickled radish complement the meat.
I usually have it wrapped around a piece of pork belly with lettuce and pickled radish, adding just a touch of ssamjang — but their house-made sauce and gangdoenjang sauce were great too. You can try and match the sauces to find your favourite combination.After the BBQ — Korean-style Finish
Korean BBQ is never complete without something warm or refreshing to finish. To finish the meal, you can choose from Doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew), Kimchi stew, or Cold Noodles (Mul or Bibim Naengmyeon). We tried the Doenjang-jjigae, which was warm, slightly spicy, and rich with a geneous amount of meat — a perfect balance to the heavy BBQ.
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| The basic side dishes, sauces, and steamed egg are neatly arranged on the grill table. |
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| The staff grill the meat perfectly for you, and we also ordered an extra doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew). Though it’s not too clear in the photo, the meat was thick and juicy. |
Unexpected Encounter with Haha 😮
The restaurant is managed by Geunsik, one of Haha’s longtime friends, who also appeared on the show Running Man.
While chatting with one of the grill staff, we asked if Haha often comes by — and to our surprise, he said,
“He’s actually eating in the back right now.”
A few minutes later, we saw Haha himself walking through the dining area toward the entrance!
He even stopped outside to chat with Geunsik for a bit before leaving.
We were both too shy to ask for a photo or autograph — something I kind of regret now 😥
After-Dinner Walk — The Gyeongui Line Forest Trail
After dinner, we walked along the nearby Gyeongui Line Forest Trail toward Hongdae Station (near Exit 3) for digest. The trail is peaceful, safe at night, and lined with trees and benches. It was a nice contrast to the lively streets we had just walked through, and a perfect way to digest after a hearty
meal.
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A sign marking where start of the Gyeongui Line Forest Park
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| Walking along the forest path, we found a small pond-like space surrounded by calm nature. |
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| The night view beautifully blended nature and city lights — a peaceful contrast to the lively Hongdae streets. |
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| The clean, well-paved walkway lined with trees on both sides created a relaxing path. |
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| There were plenty of benches along the way, making it a perfect spot for a quiet evening walk after a filling BBQ meal near Hongdae. |
Final Thoughts
401 BBQ delivers excellent meat, thoughtful service, and a clean, comfortable space. Even without the celebrity connection, it’s worth visiting for authentic Korean BBQ in Seoul. For Running Man fans, the little touches around the restaurant make it even more enjoyable.
You never know — you might be as lucky as we were to see Haha unexpectedly! If it happens, I hope you feel encouraged to ask for a photo or autograph. 👍
*This review is based on my personal experience, and results may vary for others. Please take it as a friendly reference.
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