Japanese ochazuke two ways in Mapo, Seoul: Ochaya Yeonnam

Ochazuke in Yeonnam-dong, enjoyed two ways

Ochaya is a Japanese restaurant centered on ochazuke (rice with tea broth). First, you can enjoy the rice and toppings like a rice bowl; after eating about half, pour in the warm green-tea broth and have it as ochazuke for a completely different flavor. (Both are seriously delicious!!)

Preview ⬇️

Location and hours

It is on the second floor at 38 Donggyo-ro 38-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and is open daily from 11:30 to 20:30. Last orders are at 19:50, and there is no parking.

A cozy interior for solo meals and dates

The interior was done in warm wood tones, so it felt cozy overall. The large windows look out onto the Yeonnam-dong alleyways, which made the meal feel open rather than cramped.

It seemed perfectly fine for dining alone, and I think it would also suit a Yeonnam-dong date.

Ochazuke menu and review event

There were several kinds of ochazuke, the signature menu item, along with a range of other dishes such as soba and tempura.

• Buta no Kakuni Ochazuke
• Sake Chazuke
• Senbei Matcha Ice Cream (review event)

And if you take part in the receipt review event, you can get senbei matcha ice cream too! 😀

How did I eat the sake chazuke?

Here it comes!

Sake Chazuke

Salmon and flying-fish roe were served over rice, with seaweed and wasabi on the side.

At first, I tried it like a salmon rice bowl without pouring in the warm broth. The rice was not ordinary white rice but nutritious mixed-grain rice, which made it feel more filling.

Putting the salmon and rice on the accompanying seaweed with a little wasabi was so good! The salmon, nutty mixed-grain rice, and sharp wasabi worked beautifully together, so it was plenty delicious even before adding the broth. 👍

After eating about half the rice, I poured in the warm broth and tried it as ochazuke. The warm broth gently cooked the salmon, giving it a different flavor from the first way I ate it.

The broth was mild and clean rather than overpowering, so it was easy to eat, and it felt like a great warm meal to fill you up.

Buta no Kakuni Ochazuke

Large pieces of braised pork belly sat on the rice, and the meat was so tender that it cut easily with a spoon. The seasoning was sweet and savory, which went well with the rice, and a touch of wasabi on the meat kept it from feeling rich and made it taste clean.

There was a fairly generous amount of meat, and it had a dongpo pork-like feel.

The mild ochazuke and sweet-salty pork were a great combination too!

Finished every last bite!!

Senbei Matcha Ice Cream

Lastly, I tried the senbei matcha ice cream I received through the review event. Smooth vanilla ice cream came with matcha syrup and senbei (Japanese rice crackers). The characteristic slight bitterness of matcha went really well with the nutty, crisp texture of the senbei.

It made a nice light dessert after the meal.

For a warm Japanese-style meal in Yeonnam-dong

Overall, this was a Japanese restaurant in Yeonnam-dong where I could enjoy ochazuke done by the book. I liked that one dish could be enjoyed in two ways: first like a rice bowl, then as ochazuke after adding the broth.

The restaurant was cozy enough for a solo meal, and it would also be a solid choice when looking for lunch near Hongik University Station or a Yeonnam-dong date spot. If you want a warm Japanese-style meal around Hongik University Station or Yeonnam-dong, Ochaya Yeonnam could be worth a visit.