Hongdae Dakgalbi
San Diego's only restaurant that specializes in dakgalbi — Chuncheon-style spicy chicken stir-fried with cabbage, rice cakes and sweet potato in a big pan at your table, cooked for you by the staff and finished with torched mozzarella and fried rice made in the leftover sauce. Opened in 2026 in Hive Plaza, with gopchang, pork belly platters, cold buckwheat noodles and stews alongside.
- Dakgalbi $28–35
- Parking: Brutal: free for the first 2 hours, then paid; easiest before 5pm, packed at weekend dinner
- Details checked Oct 2026.
4428 Convoy St #130, San Diego, CA 92111
Hongdae Dakgalbi is a pricier Korean spot in Hive Plaza on Convoy Street in San Diego's Kearny Mesa. Regulars order the Cheese dakgalbi — or the Couple Set with cheese, a side and drinks and the Fried rice made in the pan at the end — order it halfway through. Parking is brutal.
Parking at Hive Plaza
Brutal- Fills up: Fri–Sat 5–9pm · Easiest: weekdays 11am–1pm
- Shared with: Manna BBQ, HIVE Bar & Karaoke, Curry House CoCo Ichibanya, Oi Shiba
Busy Hive Plaza lot shared with Manna, HIVE and CoCo Ichibanya — free for the first 2 hours, then paid; easiest before 5pm, packed at weekend dinner.
Lot full? Convoy Plaza Shopping Center is rated easy and about a 3-minute walk. It's for that plaza's customers, so pair it with a stop there.
Park once, walk to
- bb.q Chicken Convoy Korean Fried Chicken · 1 min
- Beard Papa's Bakery · 1 min
- Monsta Ramen Curry Ramen · 1 min
- Shan Xi Magic Kitchen Chinese · 1 min
- Yun Tea House Boba · 1 min
- It's Boba Time Boba · 2 min
Hive Plaza guide Every lot on Convoy
Fill times estimated from Google's Popular Times for the spots in this lot. Walk times are estimates.
Good to know before you go
Cost & paying
- Dakgalbi is priced per serving with a 2-serving minimum and one flavor per pan — two servings feed three or four, so a couple should expect leftovers or get the $85 Couple Set
- Opened in early 2026 and still settling in: reviews praise the flavor, portions and tableside service, but some find it pricey for chicken and vegetables
Waits & timing
- Takes reservations, which is rare on Convoy; big group tables
- Last call can come well before closing — after 9pm, call ahead
- Yelp lists a 2:30-4pm break Monday to Thursday; the weekday lunch menu runs 12-3pm
At the table
- Staff cook everything at the table; ask for the fried rice about halfway through and rice early if you want it to cut the spice
Dessert or tea after Hongdae Dakgalbi
- Yun Tea House Get: Dark Phoenix — the most-reviewed drink
- Beard Papa's Get: Original puff with vanilla bean custard — the one regulars come back for
- It's Boba Time Get: Thai tea with boba — their own best seller, brewed 6 hours and made with half & half
Hongdae Dakgalbi vs other Convoy korean
| Spot | Order | Price | Latest close | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hongdae Dakgalbi | Cheese dakgalbi | $$$ | 11pm | Brutal |
| Chon Ju Jip | Kimchi jjigae | $$ | 8pm | Brutal |
| Friend's House Korean | Spicy tofu soup | $$ | 9:30pm | Brutal |
| Tofu House | Hot stone bulgogi | $ | 9:20pm | Brutal |
Hongdae Dakgalbi: quick answers
What should I order at Hongdae Dakgalbi?
Regulars order the Cheese dakgalbi ($30 a serving, 2-serving minimum) — or the Couple Set ($85) with cheese, a side and drinks, Fried rice made in the pan at the end ($7) — order it halfway through, Steamed egg ($10) — huge, fluffy and cheesy.
Is parking easy at Hongdae Dakgalbi?
Parking is rated Brutal for this lot at peak times. Busy Hive Plaza lot shared with Manna, HIVE and CoCo Ichibanya — free for the first 2 hours, then paid; easiest before 5pm, packed at weekend dinner.
What should I know before going to Hongdae Dakgalbi?
Dakgalbi is priced per serving with a 2-serving minimum and one flavor per pan — two servings feed three or four, so a couple should expect leftovers or get the $85 Couple Set. Staff cook everything at the table; ask for the fried rice about halfway through and rice early if you want it to cut the spice. Takes reservations, which is rare on Convoy; big group tables.
Where can I get dessert or boba near Hongdae Dakgalbi?
Yun Tea House (boba, 1 min walk, open until 10:45pm (11:45pm Fri–Sat)); Beard Papa's (bakery, 1 min walk, open until 8pm (9:30pm Fri–Sat)); It's Boba Time (boba, 2 min walk, open until 10pm).
Does Hongdae Dakgalbi take reservations?
Takes reservations, which is rare on Convoy; big group tables.
Hongdae Dakgalbi hours
| Mon | 12pm–10:30pm |
| Tue | 12pm–10:30pm |
| Wed | 12pm–10:30pm |
| Thu | 12pm–10:30pm |
| Fri | 12pm–11pm |
| Sat | 12pm–11pm |
| Sun | 12pm–10pm |
How to find it
Details checked October 2026. Wrong hours, closed, or changed? Report a problem