Yeonnam-dong American restaurant for a mid-afternoon meal: Hey Joji

Does Hey Joji in Yeonnam-dong have no break time, so you can go in the afternoon?

Hey Joji (헤이죠지, written in the original as Hey George), an American home-style restaurant in Yeonnam-dong, has no break time, so you can eat comfortably even in the awkward afternoon hours. I was wandering the Yeonnam-dong alleys with a friend recently when we spotted Hey Joji, which has an amazing, feels-like-you're-abroad vibe, so we went in! (ฅ•ω•ฅ)♡

The weather's so nice these days, and exploring every little Yeonnam-dong alley is such a treat, right? But if you get caught by a break time midway, finding somewhere to eat is surprisingly hard, haha (T_T) (•́⍛•̀) Hey Joji has no break time, though, so you can drop by whenever you like, which was honestly the best part!

Even in that awkward afternoon slot, we could relax and enjoy a delicious meal without feeling rushed!

What is the atmosphere like at Hey Joji?

Hey Joji has American-style decor, with natural wood and vintage props starting right at the entrance, so even a photo at the door makes an Instagram-worthy shot. The moment we reached the entrance, we felt the exotic energy! (๑°o°๑) It felt like visiting a cozy countryside restaurant or a homemade-food place from an American movie.

Inside, warm, cute lighting, assorted vintage American posters and charming decorative props fill the space. (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

Each table is neatly set, and the music and mood throughout got us excited and in a good mood even before eating! It's perfect as a date spot, and also a great place to gather with friends, eat good food and chat.

The staff welcomed us so kindly that we were in a great mood from the moment we walked in! ☺️💕

What did we order at Hey Joji?

At Hey Joji we ordered the popular signature dishes: garlic squid oil pasta and waffle chicken. The menu was packed with all kinds of American home-style dishes like steak, risotto and pasta, so I agonized over what to eat for ages! Everything looked so good that I nearly got decision paralysis, but after much thought we settled on these two! (๑╹ڡ╹๑)

How does the garlic squid oil pasta taste? Packed with garlic flavor, umami to the max

Hey Joji's garlic squid oil pasta combines sharp garlic with chewy squid and wasn't greasy at all. The garlic squid oil pasta came out first, and as soon as the plate arrived, a savory, slightly spicy garlic aroma drifted up and made my mouth water 🤤

The clean taste typical of oil pasta met the chewy squid, and the garlic's kick and the salty seasoning soaked right into the noodles, so I cleaned the plate down to the last bite without ever feeling heavy.

The squid wasn't tough but plump and bouncy, and the chew was excellent!

Does waffle chicken work? The classic sweet-and-salty, an unusual combo

Hey Joji's waffle chicken pairs crispy chicken with a sweet waffle, and the syrup and sauce make a perfect sweet-and-salty combination, so you really have to try it when you go!! ( Swag~ 😎 )

At first I wondered, "Will waffles and chicken really go together?" but that worry vanished with the first bite. The chicken was fried crispy outside and juicy inside, the waffle was fluffy and sweet, and the syrup and sauce on top tied it together perfectly! Picking up the crispy chicken coating and the sweet waffle together for one bite sets off a flavor explosion in your mouth, haha (T_T)(≧∇≦)b

It's sneakily addictive, the kind of dish you keep reaching for!

Tips for visiting Hey Joji in Yeonnam-dong

Hey Joji in Yeonnam-dong was a satisfying meal with nothing lacking: the food, the atmosphere and the friendly service were all good. Every corner of the restaurant is a photo spot, so taking pictures was fun, and the food looked so pretty that I couldn't put my camera down 📸

If you want to properly enjoy exotic American home-style food in Yeonnam-dong, or enjoy good food and atmosphere comfortably without a break time, I strongly recommend Hey Joji! ( •̀ᴗ•́ )و Next time I plan to come back for the steak and risotto that I couldn't try this time!

When you head out to Yeonnam-dong, have a special, delicious time at Hey Joji too~! ❤️