Korean Barbecue Chain Gopchang Story Arrives in Boston With a Love of Offal

Gopchang Story, a Korean barbecue chain that showcases offal, opens today in Boston in the former T’s Pub space near Boston University. The word gopchang refers to cattle or pig intestines, which star on the menu in various forms, such as in a soft tofu and clam stew, over fried rice, or marinated and grilled.

Grilling gopchang “has long been an essential part of Korean barbecue culture, but it often gets underrepresented outside of Korea,” according to Eater NY, which includes a Manhattan location of the chain in a map of the city’s best Korean barbecue restaurants. The restaurant highlights “the beauty of Korean offal meat,” says Eater NY, sprinkling charred and crispy grilled beef intestines, heart, and more with a unique blend of spices. While the grilled dishes are the must-try on the menu, the spicy beef intestine casserole is also “an absolute standout.”

Founded in Seoul in 2004, Gopchang Story has numerous franchises across South Korea, as well as a few in the United States around New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. Los Angeles expansion is in the works as well.

The Boston location of Gopchang Story joins a fairly substantial Korean food scene; less than a mile down Commonwealth Avenue, diners will find an especially good selection of restaurants serving Korean fried chicken, bibimbap, soft tofu stews, and, yes, Korean barbecue. Within that section of Allston, mainstay Korean Garden is known for its barbecue and does offer gopchang in various forms. But Gopchang Story’s celebration of intestines — it’s named for them, after all — may give it an edge in catching the attention of diners excited to try hearty platters of grilled meat sprinkled with “magic powder” made of yam.

Gopchang Story opens at 973 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, on July 20. To start, operating hours will be 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday and Tuesday and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Walk-ins only. Watch for updates on social media.