Gongdeok pasta restaurant for solo dining in Seoul: HEOD Gongdeok

Looking for a place to grab brunch or pasta near Daeheung Station, I ended up at HEOD Gongdeok.

How to get to HEOD Gongdeok, and its opening hours

HEOD Gongdeok is about 293m from Exit 4 of Daeheung Station, less than a 5-minute walk, so it was easy to get to. The olive-green sign also stands out, so it wasn't hard to find even on a first visit.

• 📍 24 Gwangseong-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor
• 🕐 Daily 11:00–21:00
• ⏰ Break time 15:30–17:00
• ⏰ Last order 19:50
• 🅿️ Sinsu public outdoor parking lot or the 'Modu's Parking' app

'HEOD' is apparently short for 'the sun is rising.'

The brand started with French toast in Jumunjin, Gangneung, and has since expanded to several regions, serving a menu that naturally blends Korean and Western dishes, they say.

With everything from French toast to pasta, gnocchi, steak and risotto, it's a lineup broad enough to cover both brunch and a full meal in one place.

Inside HEOD Gongdeok: the window seats and the mood

Walking into HEOD Gongdeok, it felt less like a simple dining spot and more like a place suited to all kinds of gatherings.

The window seats in particular get great sunlight, so visiting during the day would also be great for photos.

Shrimp tomato oil pasta with added sausage

I visited alone on a weekday and went with the pasta + americano set. I chose the shrimp tomato oil pasta for the pasta and iced americano for the drink, and added a sausage.

The first thing I noticed about the shrimp tomato oil pasta was how generously the shrimp were piled on. Garlic chips and grated parmesan were on top, and peperoncino gave the usual nuttiness of oil pasta a slight kick of heat.

Above all, the shrimp were big and plump, which made eating it more fun. The oil base with a bright touch of tomato made it lighter than expected, and eating it together with the garlic chips and cheese deepened the flavor even more.

The extra sausage I ordered was crisped up nicely on the outside while staying juicy and tender inside — a great pairing with the pasta. Even eating alone, I was satisfied with both the portion and the overall composition.

And the phrase "You look happy today!" printed on the plate was a cute little touch. Finding small details like this while eating adds its own kind of fun.

What's on the HEOD Gongdeok menu?

HEOD Mapo offers quite a wide range of choices beyond pasta.

Drinks include coffee, tea, juice, ade, beer and wine, and the French toast comes in butter, vanilla, strawberry and fruit versions. The main menu includes sous-vide flap steak, chicken with mashed potatoes, and gnocchi.

There are also several pasta options — shrimp oil, pork jowl miso, lemon butter, scallion pork jowl oil, basil vongole, lobster bisque, shrimp rosé, and ragù — plus risotto and pilaf, so there's plenty to choose from depending on your taste.

It's also worth checking out the set menus.

Why HEOD Gongdeok works for solo diners and groups

Visiting in person, I found it wasn't at all awkward to eat alone here. At the same time, the clean interior and window seating make it feel just as suited to a date, a blind date, brunch with friends, or a family meal.

Being close to Daeheung Station is another plus, so it's worth keeping in mind if you're looking for somewhere to eat in Gongdeok or Daeheung-dong.

Check the review event before you visit

When I visited, I was told they were running a review event where writing a photo review on Naver or CatchTable gets you an orange juice or americano. The details and conditions of the event may change, so it's worth checking with the restaurant before you go.

If you're looking for a place near Daeheung Station to enjoy both brunch and pasta, give HEOD Mapo a try. It struck me as a restaurant that works well in all kinds of situations — solo meals, dates, family dinners, and gatherings alike.