Paljamakchang – Running Man’s Gary and Haha’s Shop

Paljamakchang Hongdae Branch  (팔자막창) Haha’s Restaurant

Korean Address (Naver Map): 서울특별시 마포구 서교동 395-17 

English Address (Google Map): 395-17 Seogyo-dong (23 Jandari-ro)

Operating hours: 5:00pm to 5:00am

Click here to see my list of Seoul Food Itinerary

*Important Update*

Apparently, as per this article, it seems like Haha’s shop is now going by the name “401” and had undergone some renovation. It’s still in the same location though so you can still refer to my map and directions.

According to one of my readers, he mentioned that the restaurant is still selling BBQ stuff but there’s no more Makchang (intestine) on the menu. Scroll to end of this article for direction to Gary’s Paljamakchang at Gangnam.

Introduction

Anyone who caught the recent Korean variety show craze would have heard of Running Man. And Paljamakchang was opened by one of the running man member Gary. Subsequently, another member Haha got the franchise from Gary and opened his franchised Paljamakchang at Hongdae area.

I visited Haha’s restaurant and I walked past Gary’s shop at Gangnam, which I will indicate the direction to Gary’s shop as well. Though Paljamakchang offers BBQ pork belly, traditional Korean rice box, soup, they specialized in BBQ pig intestine. So don’t be surprise if GoogleTranslate translate Paljamakchang as something that is along the line of rectum.

The table set up

Good thing i like about Paljamakchang is they offer big plastic bags for customers to store their jackets.

Pig intestine / Pork Belly

There are two kinds of intestines as per their menu – large intestine (150g – W$9,000,) and fresh large intestine (150g – W$10,000). The fresh version is slightly more expensive, smaller in quantity but apparently the better quality.

Click to enlarge. The waiter gave me a Chinese version menu so sorry to those who can’t read Chinese =\

I ordered the fresh version and this is the first time seeing a raw pinkish pig intestine getting cooked right in front of my eyes.

Doesn’t look very appetizing, yet.

It doesn’t look very appetizing during the grilling phrase but it’s another story after it’s fully grilled. To be frank, I am not a big fan of internal organs but this grilled intestine works for me and I think it’s worth a try. Anyway, how often do I get to eat grilled pork intestines in Singapore?

Pig Intestines and Pork Belly

The intestines taste very very fresh and clean. The surface is grilled to crisp (by their waiters), texture is chewy but yet not to the extend of rubbery.

I also ordered a portion of Pork Belly at W$8,000. It’s not out-of-this-world  but it’s still good, typically taste like how a typical Korean BBQ Pork Belly ought to be. The exterior is grilled to crisp with no marinate on the pork belly. As always, wrap it in the lettuce and sauce to enjoy!

Grilled intestine wrapped in Perilla Leaf. Not exactly a fan of this leaf from the mint family that has a hairy texture. I still prefer the lettuce.

Remember to dip the intestines and pork belly into the unique blend of Korean BBQ chilli paste. Paljamakchang’s version is rather different from chill paste from a typical Korean BBQ restaurant. The most evident difference is the added crushed peanut and the salty sweet paste.

I like Paljamakchang’s Dip and Paste very much.

Grilled pork belly wrapped in Red Leaf Lettuce, one of the most common vegetables used in Korean BBQ.

Korean Rice Box (Dosirak 도시락)

I also ordered the traditional Korean rice box at W$4000 that came with a portion of spicy tofu soybean paste soup (Dubu Doenjang JjiGae 두부 된장찌개). The Korean rice box is call dosirak (도시락) and don’t call it a bento.

The lunch box, before shaking it. I took out the seasoned anchovies though.

The Korean rice box works like our Mcdonalds shaker fries. Hold the box and lid together and shakkkkeeeee it baby. Probably the shaking just add a little fun factor for a tourist like me. The portion is rather small but I guess the the rice cannot fill up the lunch box for this shaking thing to work.

Rice Box after shaking. Well mixed and ready to fit into my stomach!

Among everything, I particularly like the mixed rice. I can finish the rice even without the rest of the ingredients. There’s slices of meat that looks like sausage/luncheon meat. It don’t exactly taste like one and it is not exactly to my liking. Still rather unsure what i’d eaten on that day.

The soy bean paste soup that comes as a set with lunch box

As for the spicy tofu soybean soup, to be honest, although it “comes with the rice box”, it’s one of the better one i had till date. Be warned that it’s rather spicy and that’s what i love about the soup and i love the crushed peanut that is mixed into the soup.

Conclusion

Probably a must-go for Running Man Fans out there. There’s a wall with a lot of signatures from various Korean celebrities including the members of Running Man but i can’t seem to be able to identify them.

Despite it being a restaurant opened by a Korean celebrity, i think that the BBQ pig intestine is good and unique enough to convince me to pay a visit again IF i have the chance to come back to Seoul. *pray pray*

Another table beside me was grilling some chilli-marinated pig intestines and looks GOOD. Can someone please try that and let me know whether is it nice? Hahaha~

The interior of Haha’s shop. We reached at about 5.30pm when it just open. No crowd! *Happy*

Directions and Maps

While doing research, i read from online that it’s not easy locating Haha’s shop and it’s even worst for Gary’s shop at  Gangnam. But it does not seems too difficult from the map and i am glad that i found Haha’s shop quite easily and i just happen to walk past Gary’s shop and seems rather easy to locate too.

Follow my directions and i promise you won’t be lost.

Click here for full list of Seoul Food Itinerary

Directions to Haha’s Restaurant

Actually the nearest station is not from Hongdae MRT station but from Hapjeong MRT station. But since i am staying in Hongdae, i took a short walk to Paljamakchang and it took about 7 to 10 minutes.

1. From Hongdae MRT, come out from Exit 9, turn to your left and walk straight and you will come to a T-Junction.

2. At this T-Junction,  turn right. As you can see from the map, after turning right, just follow the map direction and walk straight.

3. You will cross a couple (two major) of cross junctions and just continue walking.

4. After walking for about 5 – 7 minutes, you should be able to see this tall unique building at a cross junction as shown in my map which is known as the “KT&G Sangsang Madang”

5. You should be able to spot Haha’s shop Paljamachang at this junction by looking to your right. Tada, you are there.

Directions to Gary’s Restaurant (Gangnam Branch)

Korean Address: 서울특별시 서초구 서초동 1309-8

English Address: 1309-8 Seocho-dong (8 Gangnam-daero 69-gil)

Actually i think that Gary’s shop is even easier to find. Although it’s nearer to Sinnonhyeong station, i walked from Gangnam (강남) station as i was at that area anyway. It’s about about a 5 – 7 minutes walk. It’s actually just beside a very well known Korean Fried Chicken Restaurant, Kyochon Fried Chicken, which i will review on later.

1. Exit from Gangnam station’s exit 9. Turn to your right and walk straight all the way.

2. Walk for about 5-7 minutes. You should will cross two cross junctions along the way. And you should be able to see Gary’s shop Paljamakchang at the third cross junction.

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