Blue Ribbon Italian lunch near Children's Grand Park: Osteria Hyeon

I went to Osteria Hyeon, the kind of place near Children's Grand Park where I bet lots of people have come for the first time, but nobody has come just once! The exterior and the interior vibe are lovely and the food quality is so good that I'm planning to come back. It's also great for dates or for treating someone to a meal, and since it's recognized by Blue Ribbon, you can go with confidence.

What are the exterior and terrace of Osteria Hyeon like?

Osteria Hyeon (오스테리아 현) is an Italian restaurant on the 1st floor of 237 Neungdong-ro, near Children's Grand Park, with rows of green potted plants and an eye-catching awning outside. Just the exterior puts me in a good mood, hehe.

On a nice day, sitting at a terrace seat and eating with the breeze blowing through the green trees would probably feel like being on vacation abroad!! I immediately thought it would be a perfect lunch date course near Children's Grand Park.

The Blue Ribbon and the Stefano Ferrara oven

The entrance door of Osteria Hyeon carries a Blue Ribbon Survey sticker. Wow, just having that up there says a lot. They use a Stefano Ferrara oven, an oven officially certified by the Neapolitan pizza association, so you know you have to eat the wood-fired pizza.

From the moment you walk in there's warm lighting and clean interior design, and even at lunchtime the mood is totally right, so it feels like you came to eat and ended up getting a little healing too!

What are the menu and prices at Osteria Hyeon, and what did I order for lunch?

The menu at Osteria Hyeon is varied, with Neapolitan pizza, salads and grilled dishes. Everything looked good and I wanted to try one of each, but I ordered the following.

• Porcini truffle mushroom pizza (₩30,000)
• Aged chicken thigh steak (₩32,000)
• Grilled octopus (₩38,000)

The complimentary starter bread comes neatly set with olive oil and olives, and even just that tells you this place does things properly.

How is the porcini truffle mushroom pizza?

The porcini truffle mushroom pizza (₩30,000) is a Neapolitan-style pizza baked in the wood-fired oven, and it looks amazing from the start... The edges coming out of the oven have a few slightly charred spots, and that's the proof of a Neapolitan wood-fired pizza!!

One bite and the outside is crisp while the dough inside stays chewy and moist, and the deep, nutty aroma of porcini fills you up from your nose to your mouth!

There's a subtle layer of white truffle oil, so with every bite that fragrant truffle scent keeps rising, and it's seriously addictive.

When you lift a slice, the cheese stretches out softly, and you can tell just by looking that this is a flavor you have to try. If you like mushrooms, you absolutely have to order this!!

How is the aged chicken thigh steak?

The aged chicken thigh steak (₩32,000) at Osteria Hyeon has a crisply cooked surface and comes with balsamic glaze. I figured a chicken steak would be nothing special, but I totally fell for it. The crisp surface looks so good it makes your mouth water!

Maybe thanks to the aging, it has the deep savory flavor chicken thigh is known for, and with the sweet tang of the balsamic glaze added, you can enjoy it to the end without it feeling greasy.

The moment I picked up a piece with my fork and put it in my mouth... the outside is golden and crisp, while the inside is moist and tender with the juices really intact. Eating it together with the mixed greens dressed in balsamic is an absolutely brilliant combo!!

Is the grilled octopus worth ordering?

The grilled octopus (₩38,000) at Osteria Hyeon comes on a crystal plate, laid over an orange tomato-carrot sauce with clearly grill-marked octopus on top. This one truly exceeded my expectations. Just the look of it made me go, wow...

When you pick up a piece of octopus with your fork, the outside has a light smoky char and a properly chewy, bouncy texture, and the more you chew, the deeper sea flavor of the octopus comes through and blends with the sweet-and-sour depth of the tomato-carrot sauce. Seriously the best.

Eat it in one bite with the grilled vegetables and you think, yes, this is what a great Italian place combo is like. This octopus alone is reason enough to come back to Osteria Hyeon!!

Osteria Hyeon for lunch near Children's Grand Park: final thoughts

For lunch near Children's Grand Park, nothing beats this. From the authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizza to the aged chicken thigh steak and grilled octopus, not a single dish falls short at Osteria Hyeon, an Italian restaurant that's totally my taste. If you're looking for a lunch spot near Children's Grand Park, for a date, a family meal or a special occasion, definitely save it and give it a visit!!

Osteria Hyeon hours and parking

• Hours: Tue-Sun 11:00-21:30 (break time 15:00-17:00), last order 21:00
• Closed every Monday
• Group seating available, separate men's and women's restrooms, reservations, Wi-Fi, takeout available
• Parking: use the Kakao T parking lot at the Lease Building behind the restaurant, free for the first 2 hours. If the Lease Building lot is full, use other paid lots such as Sejong University or Children's Grand Park