Yeouido snack bar: missed-lunch set where gimbap wins, Hyeonseonine

Why I came to Hyeonseonine at Yeouido's IFC Mall after missing lunch

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch (현선이네 프리미엄 IFC몰점) is a Korean snack bar (bunsik) on the second basement floor of IFC Mall in Yeouido. This time I got the tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) set to go and ate it at home. I had an errand in Yeouido, and lunchtime slipped far past me.

I was hungry and looking for something filling but not heavy, so I ended up at Hyeonseonine in IFC Mall. I like tteokbokki anyway, but I'd also heard it's a popular spot with office workers at lunchtime, so my expectations were even higher.

I didn't eat in the shop this time. I took it home and enjoyed it at leisure, and it was a more satisfying meal than I expected.

Where is Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch, and what's the vibe?

The shop is on the second basement floor of IFC Mall in Yeouido, so it's really easy to get to. The location is perfect for a Yeouido office-worker lunch.

With so many companies nearby, I could see plenty of office workers coming in at lunchtime. The atmosphere felt easy for a quick solo meal, or for sorting out lunch with colleagues over bunsik.

When you're stuck on a lunch menu around Yeouido IFC, I can see why Hyeonseonine comes to mind.

For takeout at Hyeonseonine, the set menu is the answer

What I took home was Hyeonseonine's tteokbokki set, which brings tteokbokki together with sundae (Korean blood sausage), fried snacks and gimbap (seaweed rice roll) all at once. That's why I was so happy with it.

The portion was generous enough for a full lunch, and being able to eat several dishes together was what I liked best. True to its reputation as an office-worker lunch spot, it was a filling combination.

Is Hyeonseonine's tteokbokki still good as takeout?

The sauce stayed intact even as takeout. The first thing I tried at home was the tteokbokki, and I was surprised that my worry about it losing flavor in a container turned out to be pointless.

The sweet, moderately spicy sauce had soaked well into the rice cakes, and it was addictive, the kind where your hand keeps going back.

You can also choose the spice level, so you can order to your own taste, which I liked. I immediately understood why people recommend Hyeonseonine for a Yeouido IFC lunch.

The crispy fried snacks are a must

The fried snacks (twigim) were better than I expected too.

Even after takeout, the crunch was still quite alive, and they were clean with no oily smell. Dipped in the tteokbokki sauce, they tasted exactly like they do at a snack bar.

Tteokbokki and fried snacks really is a combo that never fails.

The sundae was good too

The sundae in the Hyeonseonine set was moist with no gamey smell at all. The chewy texture was nice, and it tasted even better with the tteokbokki sauce.

Ordering the set means you get a variety of dishes together, which made me very happy with it.

The surprise star: Hyeonseonine's gimbap

The dish that impressed me most in the set was the gimbap. It's snack-bar gimbap, so I didn't expect much, but the filling was generous and the rice was seasoned just right. It was really delicious.

Eaten with the tteokbokki, it went together well and added to how filling the meal was. I almost wanted to order just the gimbap to go.

Why I recommend it as a Yeouido office-worker lunch spot

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch isn't only good at tteokbokki; every dish was well made. Even as takeout, the flavor and texture held up, and the portion was generous enough for a satisfying meal.

If you work in Yeouido and are stuck on lunch, or you want a simple but filling meal at IFC Mall, I recommend Hyeonseonine. It works for eating alone, and it's also good for sharing a set with colleagues. If I'm at IFC Mall in Yeouido again, this is an office-worker lunch spot I'd happily come back to.

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch hours

• Address: B2, IFC Mall, 10 Gukjegeumyung-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Weekdays 11:00–21:00
• Weekends 12:00–21:00
• Last order 20:40

Final verdict

If you're looking for a lunch around Yeouido IFC, Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch was a satisfying choice.

Tteokbokki, fried snacks, sundae and gimbap, nothing fell short, and it tasted great even as takeout, so I'd recommend it for an office lunch or a light meal after work.