Daehangno pub with a torch fire show: tteok gopdori-tang, Hyehwahwa
In short
Hyehwahwa is a straw-fire Korean pub on the second floor of an alley building in Daehangno, Jongno, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Hyehwa Station Exit 4. We ordered the spicy straw-fire tteok gopdori-tang (rice cake, gopchang and chicken stew) at 26,000 won and a half plate of top-grade chilled yukhoe (beef tartare) at 18,000 won, then watched a staff member sear the whole gopchang and chicken thigh with a torch right at the table. Hyehwahwa makes an easy Daehangno date course for a hearty, spicy table after a play.
Good to know
- Location
- 29-3 Daemyeong-gil, 2nd floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul (5-minute walk from Hyehwa Station Exit 4)
- Hours
- Tue–Sun 17:00–01:00 (last order 00:00)
- Closed
- Every Monday
- What we ordered
- Spicy straw-fire tteok gopdori-tang 26,000 won, half plate of top-grade chilled yukhoe 18,000 won
- Seating
- Roomy wood-tone seats, window bar seats with a Daehangno view, several table types
- Events
- Welcome drink for saving 'Hyehwahwa' on Naver Map, free ice cream for a receipt review
- Price reference
- ₩26,000 ≈ $19 · ₩18,000 ≈ $13.5 (2026-09-23)
as written by the visitor on Sep 23, 2026
I was looking for a good-atmosphere pub in Hyehwa and ended up at Hyehwahwa, famous for its straw-fire cooking. Spicy gopdori-tang, top-grade yukhoe, and a cold beer all laid out together — just the visual alone made me want to drink. Watching them sear things over the straw fire was kind of mesmerizing, honestly, a real fire show..! There's a reason it's known as a Hyehwa hotspot.
Where is Hyehwahwa, and how far is it from Hyehwa Station Exit 4?
Hyehwahwa is on the 2nd floor of a building in a Daehangno alley, close to Hyehwa Station. It's a 5-minute walk from Exit 4, and the sign itself looks like it's on fire, so you can spot it right away.
It's on the 2nd floor, so you head up the stairs and find an interior decorated with rice straw that really commits to the straw-fire concept. Even just the signboard menu out front looked solid and got me excited.
Inside Hyehwahwa: wood-tone seats and a window bar with a Daehangno view
Inside, Hyehwahwa is wood-toned with plenty of seating, and the window bar seats even give you a view of Daehangno. The windows were open, so there was a cool breeze, giving it a bit of an outdoor-tent feel while you look down over the street below. It's nice in daylight, but I think it gets even more atmospheric once it's a little dark out!
The seating was bigger than I expected, with a variety of table types — fun to get there early and pick your favorite spot!
Hyehwahwa menu and prices
The lineup of dishes to pair with drinks is really varied. The straw-fire dishes are the signature.
- Spicy straw-fire gopdori-tang (rice cake and gopchang stew) ₩26,000
- Straw-fired gopchang bomb spicy jjaglee stew ₩26,000
- Straw-seared cauldron knife-cut octopus ₩24,000
- Top-grade chilled yukhoe with aged kimchi egg gimbap ₩26,000
- Half plate top-grade chilled yukhoe ₩18,000
- Spicy scallop and clam stew ₩15,000
- Plump fried shrimp gangjeong ₩15,000
- Meat-bomb yuk-jeon (beef pancake) ₩18,900
- Straw-fire mentaiko rice bowl with lots of egg ₩10,000
The names are long, but that's exactly why they're distinctive — you can tell the flavor and ingredients at a glance. There's also a wide range of traditional liquors and highballs, making it the perfect spot for a drink.
What does the tableside torch searing at Hyehwahwa look like?
The highlight of Hyehwahwa is definitely the straw-fire searing! Staff use a torch to sear the gopchang (beef tripe) and chicken thigh, and watching the cauldron flame roar up is a full-on spectacle just by itself. After this one round of searing, a subtle smoky flavor really soaks in.
A staff member sears everything for you piece by piece, so you can enjoy it without the hassle of grilling at home. The searing also melts off excess fat from the gopchang, leaving it clean with no gamey smell.
Tteok gopdori-tang 26,000 won plus a half plate of yukhoe 18,000 won
What I ordered was the spicy gopdori-tang ₩26,000 and the half plate of top-grade chilled yukhoe ₩18,000. Seared whole gopchang and chicken thigh, plus rice cake, glass noodles, and potato, all piled up generously — (I'm a glass-noodle person, so I wished I'd added an extra portion of noodles). You put all the ingredients in together and cook them, and the spicy broth pairs perfectly with everything.
The tofu and baek-kimchi (white kimchi) that come as basic side dishes also go great with the gopdori-tang. The yukhoe half plate is seasoned with a sweet-and-savory sauce, so it's tasty whether you eat it plain or dip it in the sauce.
Alternating between hot and cold made the pairing even better. There's a reason this is the combo most people order. The broth gets richer as it boils, and honestly, it was the most generously loaded gopdori-tang I've ever eaten — I started wondering if 'Hyehwahwa' should actually be spelled with a lot more generosity built into the name.
Looking at these photos again, I want to eat it all over again.. Hyehwahwa is a great spot to have a spicy, hearty meal once you're hungry after a play :)
Hyehwahwa hours and visit info in Daehangno
- Hours: Tue–Sun 17:00–01:00 (last order 00:00)
- Closed every Monday
- Search 'Hyehwahwa' on Naver Map and save it for a welcome drink; receipt review gets you free ice cream
Where it is
29-3 Daemyeong-gil, 2nd floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 종로구 대명길 29-3 2층
