The area around Hongik University known as ‘Hongdae’ is a center of activity that drives the cultural trends among young people.

At night, Hongdae really comes alive with the passion of Korean young people. Starting at sundown, there are performances by indie bands, both the famous and the not-so-famous. These multifarious creative self-expressions, as well as the vibrant night club culture, instill the Hongdae area with its youthful vitality.

There’s one word that is indispensable when talking about Hongdae, and that is ‘freedom’. The atmosphere in Hongdae is very welcoming and free of prejudices, allowing people to express themselves freely. This is evident in the wide variety of live performances one see around Hongdae, as well as in the wide diversity of restaurants, including Italian and Turkish. Everywhere, you’ll find Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Turkish restaurants, and especially between Hongdae Station and the front gate of Hongik University, and also near Geukdong broadcasting station, Sangsu Station, and Hapjeong Station.

The latest trend in the Hongdae area are Japanese restaurants, which specialize in donburi (rice bowl topped with various ingredients), charu-soba (cold buckwheat noodes), and izakaya (Japanese-style bar).  Koreanised Japanese cuisine seems perfectly suited to the tastes of both Korean young people and foreigners.

1. Bulia (Chinese)

The restaurant specializes in Chinese hot pot, also known as Chinese fondue.  With a 20-year culinary career, the cook, who is from Sichuan, China, creates unique flavours.  The hot pot served here is not quite as spicy as you’ll find in China.  The ingredients can be ordered separately as desired, or can be ordered in a variety of combinations.
- address: 161-1 Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-335-6689
- website: http://www.bulia.co.kr/

2. Castle Praha (Bar/Pub)

The specialty at Castle Praha is traditional Czech-style house beer. The remarkable exterior of this restaurant has been modeled after the Prague Orloj, the famous astronomical clock tower in Prague’s main square.  The interior is decorated throughout with various Czech accessories, giving it an appealing, exotic atmosphere. They serve traditional Czech food and beer, prepared under the guidance of a master brewer.
- address: 395-19 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-337-6644
- website: http://www.castlepraha.co.kr

3. Chin Chin (Japanese)

This is a Japanese-style kaiseki restaurant, and they offer a varied form of simple Japanese set menu. The atmosphere makes it a good place to go for a drink at dinner time.
- address: 343-9 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-334-1476

4. Cusco (Peruvian)

Enjoy a variety of Peruvian teas, alcoholic beverages, and dumplings.  The chef, who is from Peru, makes authentic Latin American dishes, with ingredients like potatoes and red chili peppers, but without cheese.  A representative Peruvian dish is ceviche, a distinctive Latin American version of raw fish with sauce and fresh onions.
- address: 414-18 Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-334-6836

5. Dolkkot (Korean)

This restaurant specializes in oyster dishes.  To make their unique dish called gulsotbap, they cook rice with mushrooms, ginkgo berries, a julienne of white radish in sweetened vinegar, and oysters, and top it off with dried myeongnan jeot, fermented pollock roe seasoned with chili pepper powder.  The oyster set menu includes raw oysters, grilled oysters, oysters au gratin, and rice mixed with oysters and seasoned shredded radish.
- address: 205-3 Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-324-5894 

6. Donburi (Japanese)

This restaurant specializes in a Japanese dish called donburi, which is a large bowl of rice topped with various ingredients.  It is so popular that you need to line up even before the restaurant opens. This is the place to enjoy the best donburi in Seoul.
- address: 366-18 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-3141-8398

7. Dongmakjip (Korean : Galbi)

This grilled boneless rib (Galbi) restaurant is always packed at dinner time.  They offer only boneless beef ribs, either marinated or unmarinated.  The restaurant is divided in three: a main building that looks like an old inn, a huge annex, and an outdoor restaurant.  It is huge, with over a hundred oil-drum tables.  The prices are low, and after your meal they provide complementary janchi-guksu (noodles in a light seaweed broth topped with kimchi, thinly sliced egg, green onions, and cucumbers).
- address: 161-8 Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-323-0577

8. Eomeoniga Charyeojuneun Siktak (Korean : Hanjeongsik)

At this restaurant, Korean table d’hôte is attractively presented with some interesting fusion twists.  Among their various special set menus are the “Imo”, “Gomo”, “Eomeoni”, and “Very Special” set menus, all of which come with rice porridge, salad, Korean chop suey, Korean pancakes, soup, tempura, and various meat dishes. The “Very Special” set menu should be ordered one day in advance. The restaurant is run by the novelist Yang Gwi Ja, and the neat interior which can be seen through the floor-to-ceiling windows attracts many visitors.
- address: 403-13 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-333-5616
- website: http://www.dinnertable.co.kr/

9. Eomeoniwa Godeungeo (Korean)

The food here isn’t cheap, but you feel like you are having baekban which your mom fixes at home. They start making your rice as soon as you place your order, so it tastes deliciously fresh.
- address: 407-19 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone:  02-337-0704

10. Greek Joy (Greek)

Greek tzatziki is made from olive oil and natural yogurt and is a well-known as a healthy food in Europe. Gyros are the basic menu here, and it is a typical fast food in Greece. Oil removed barbeque chicken with mushrooms, cabbages, tomatoes, green peppers, and vegetables in tzatziki sauce with the broad pita bread are all good to eat.
- address: 358-36 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-338-2100

11. Hakadabunko (Japanese)

This restaurant specializes in Kyushu-style donkatsu ramen (ramen noodles in a pork broth) which has come to be known as the king of ramen.  Hakata (donkatsu) ramen, a specialty of Kyushu, is made with a rich pork gravy.   This restaurant serves two kinds of donkatsu ramen; inramen, which has a rich pork flavour, and the milder cheongramen.   Of all ramen restaurants in Seoul, the food at this one is said to taste the closest to ramen you can get on the Japanese mainland.  The food here is so popular that you may have to wait in line over an hour to enjoy it.
- address: 93-28 Sangsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-338-5536

12. Hongik Sutbulgalbi Saenggogi (Korean : Galbi)

This restaurant specializes in charcoal barbecued fresh meat.  Their most popular dishes are the generous portions of galbi (ribs) and samgyeopsal (pork belly).  Since they partially pre-grill the pork belly, you don’t have to wait long before eating.  The soybean stew is also popular.  One of the walls is covered in graffiti, which creates the atmosphere of the Hongik University area.
- address: 331-1 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-334-3354

13. Le Petit Four (Dessert/Tea)

Here, you can enjoy charming French pastries, such as macarons. Also popular is the capsule ice cream, which is available in a variety of flavors.  The prices are quite low as well.
- address: 486 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-322-2669
- website: http://blog.naver.com/lepetitfour

14. Malaxiang (Chinese)

Enjoy Chinese cuisine with ‘mara’ (a Chinese word meaning ‘spiciness’).  The chicken and seafood dishes are recommended.  The fiery flavor comes mostly from Chinese sancho peppers and chili peppers.  The food is reasonably priced, so this place is quite popular.
- address: 317-10 Sangsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-338-6390
- website: http://www.malaxiang.com

15. Mimine (Korean : Twigim)

This tempura restaurant was very popular in Incheon and has now relocated to the Hongdae area. The move was hotly anticipated, and ever since they opened, the new location has been rapidly increasing in popularity. The hot item on the menu is their shrimp-twigim, and they also make a very nice, soupy topokki, and they taste fantastic together. Instead of the soy sauce that most places offer, this place uniquely offers salt to dip the twigim in.
- address: 372-6 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 070-404-8011
- website:  http://blog.naver.com/mimine_fry/

16. Namul Meongneun Gom (Korean : Bibimbap)

The main dishes at this restaurant are bibimbap (rice mixed with vegetables) and gomtang (beef broth with rice). The vegetable side dishes that accompany the bibimbap are a little bland compared to those at other restaurants.   The textures and flavors of the ingredients are more prominent since they are not overpowered by excessive seasonings.
- address: 395-199 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-323-9930

17. Teppen (Japanese)

At this restaurant specializing in iron-griddle cooking, there is a palpable sense of the youthful, energetic atmosphere unique to the Hongdae area.  As you walk in, the staff greets you with impressive enthusiasm. On the menu are various teppan dishes, among which the most popular is teppanyaki, a mixture of vegetables and noodles topped with a chopped omelet and sauce. The main branch is in Japan. And just like in Japan, there is an additional service charge of 2,500 won per person.
- address: 409-1 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-336-5578
- website: http://www.teppenkorea.com 

18. The Makgeolli (Korean : Makgeolli)

Makgeolli shop which has recently become popular.  Not only traditional makgeolli, but also a wide variety of makgeolli like cocktail makgeolli. All of the dishes, like perilla leaf and meat pancakes, samgyeopsal-kimchi pancakes are served as anju, are exquisite.
- address: 408-1 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, SeoulSeoul
- phone: 02-336-1007

19. Utsav (Idian)

Enjoy street food in an Indian restaurant. The vintage gray exterior gives the place a unique atmosphere. The low-priced lunch buffet is very popular. Other popular choices on the menu are the curries and satay (meat skewers). The dining area features a small pool.
- address: 93-102 Sangsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-334-9189
- website: http://www.utsav.co.kr/

20. Wolhyang (Korean : Makgeolli)

The owner of this place also operates a brewery that makes a variety of makgeolli (Korean rice wine) with organic brown rice.   In order to offer fresh makgeolli on tap, they set up a unique makgeolli draught machine. As an accompaniment to the mageolli, they offer a side dishes in a variety of styles, from traditional Korea to fusion. They hold makgeolli-making classes every Saturday at noon.
- address: 335-5 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- phone: 02-332-9202