Daehangno fusion restaurant: spicy flat iron steak risotto at Omil

Pasta in Daehangno/Hyehwa at Omil: expect a weekend wait!

Calling everyone who loves cute and quirky things 🙏 Today I'm sharing a visit to Omil Hyehwa Daehangno (오밀 혜화점), a unique fusion Western restaurant in Hyehwa-dong that's a treat for both eyes and mouth. I fell for the adorable look, and then fell for the taste all over again, so come along for the review!

How long is the weekend lunch wait at Omil Hyehwa?

We waited about 40 minutes for weekend lunch at Omil Hyehwa. You enter your phone number at the kiosk on site and get a KakaoTalk alert, so you can wander around Daehangno while you wait.

We went for weekend lunch, and since it's a hot spot there were people ahead of us, so we waited about 40 minutes. You type your phone number into the kiosk on site and KakaoTalk pings you, which was so convenient. You can check your live place in line on KakaoTalk, so we browsed the neighborhood and waited leisurely. The wait wasn't hard at all!

Omil Hyehwa atmosphere: when to go for a quieter meal

Thanks to the cute interior, Omil Hyehwa had a lot of kids at the lunch peak, so it was a little noisy. Once the peak passed it got quiet and relaxed, so I'd suggest dodging the lunch rush a bit.

We stepped inside excited to find out how good it would be after all that waiting. Maybe because of the cute interior, there were quite a few children and it was a little loud, but after the peak the kids cleared out and it became quiet and calm, perfect for a meal. If you visit slightly off lunchtime, I think it'll be much cozier!

What we ordered at Omil Hyehwa and the prices

• Lover Duck omurice (omelet rice) ₩16,900
• Spicy flat iron steak risotto ₩17,900
• Buckwheat soba maki (buckwheat rice roll) ₩12,900
• Cola ₩3,500
• Orange juice ₩3,500

Omil Hyehwa's dishes: a feast for the eyes first

We ordered a nice variety, mostly signature dishes. The moment the food arrived, I totally understood why it's such a hit with kids!

Why the spicy flat iron steak risotto (₩17,900) was the best dish

This was the dish that completely won me over that day: the spicy flat iron steak risotto! It's topped with thick, tender flat iron steak, and the lightly spicy, nutty, smooth cream sauce spreads gently through your mouth, so I kept going back for more. It wasn't greasy at all, and the savory depth clung to every bite. It was my favorite and I highly recommend it.

Rubber duck omurice (₩16,900) in a Halloween pumpkin

The Lover Duck omurice is like Omil's mascot dish! Normally a yellow squeaky duck toy sits on top, but for Halloween season it's a duck toy tucked inside a pumpkin toy. So clever! The ducks made from quail eggs are cute too. Inside the soft egg sheet is nicely stir-fried rice, and it tasted really great.

Heads up: when you cut open the fluffy egg, the ducks tumble down and it breaks your heart a little...!

What does the buckwheat soba maki (₩12,900) taste like?

This neat, healthy-looking buckwheat gimbap (seaweed rice roll) is filled with chewy buckwheat noodles instead of rice. It was clean and mild, and a nice side to go with the risotto and omurice.

Can you take home the duck toy from Omil's omurice?

Yes, you can take home the duck toy that sits on the Lover Duck omurice at Omil Hyehwa. It's a small thing, but it felt like getting a gift!

Overall I was surprised by the carefully made plating and the deep flavor. No wonder customers love it. Even we adults squealed "eek!" the moment the food came out and were busy taking photos, and we happily cleaned our plates. If you want a special meal that's fun for both eyes and mouth, definitely visit Omil Hyehwa in Daehangno!