Comparing two poke bowls at Slow Cali, a Hongdae poke restaurant

Hi everyone haha! Bringing you a review of Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch — a Hongdae poke spot where I tried the salmon poke and chicken breast egg poke!

Hongdae poke restaurant recommendation "Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch" — salmon poke and chicken breast egg poke!

Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch is a great pick for a light but filling meal near Hongik University Station. With poke and salad becoming such popular meal choices, Hongdae has quite a few similar spots these days, but Slow Cali stands out for having a wide range of poke and salad options so you can pick to your taste!

Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch: hours and parking

Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch is open daily from 10:00 to 23:00, with last order at 22:40. There's a dedicated parking lot right behind the store.

• Hours 10:00–23:00 / last order 22:40
• Closed Sep 25 for Chuseok holiday
• Parking: dedicated lot behind the store (if full, nearby Donggyo-ro public parking or AK Plaza parking recommended)

What is the Slow Cali Hongdae dining room like?

Interior

The branch I visited is on Sinchon-ro, easy to find from Hongik University Station. Walking in, the interior is clean and tidy overall, and there were more customers than I expected, which gave me the sense this is a popular spot! Best of all, the staff were friendly, so every time I go I get to eat comfortably :)

When you're looking for a place to eat around Hongik University Station, it can get crowded and hectic, but since Slow Cali focuses mainly on poke and salad, it was relatively easy to eat comfortably here! (They also get a lot of takeout and delivery orders.)

Since it's open daily from 10:00 to 23:00, it's convenient not just for lunch or dinner but for relatively late-night eating too!

Which poke bowls did I order at Slow Cali?

Menu

I tried two combinations: salmon poke with spicy sauce, and chicken breast egg poke with soy sauce. The salmon poke had soft salmon paired nicely with the spicy sauce, and the chicken breast egg poke, with its light chicken breast and egg plus soy sauce, was clean and easy to eat~

Both dishes come with vegetables and various toppings, so I really liked being able to get a well-rounded mix of ingredients in one bowl. You can also get drinks alongside — there's ACV (apple cider vinegar) juice, and set options too!

Allergen and nutrition info, the self-bar and kiosk ordering

Allergen info / nutrition info

The allergen info and nutrition facts are clearly posted, so be sure to check them out — they're on the wall behind the self-bar. Ordering is done via kiosk.

Self-bar

You just grab what you need from the self-bar and start eating right away. Doing it yourself is actually pretty convenient.

Salmon poke with spicy sauce: how does it taste?

Slow Cali's salmon poke comes with raw salmon, scallion, edamame, flying fish roe, fried onion flakes, seaweed, red cabbage, and furikake. Loaded with fresh salmon! This was the first dish I picked that day, naturally.

I chose the spicy sauce for this one!

The salmon itself is soft and rich, so it pairs really well with the spicy sauce. Part of the fun of poke is mixing everything together, and with the soft salmon plus crunchy vegetables and crunchy toppings, every bite had a slightly different texture — I loved it~

Especially with the spicy sauce added, the flavor felt much more alive compared to a plain, light poke! (Highly recommend)

Chicken breast egg poke with soy sauce: how does it taste?

The chicken breast egg poke is built around chicken breast and boiled egg, with stir-fried seaweed, scallion, edamame, fried onion flakes, red cabbage, cherry tomatoes, and furikake.

Light yet filling — the chicken breast egg poke! This was the second dish I tried.

On the official menu, this is introduced as a protein poke — high-protein chicken breast and egg combined with Slow Cali's soy sauce!

I had this one with the soy sauce (the basic sauce option). While the salmon poke with spicy sauce felt a bit bolder and stronger in flavor, the chicken breast egg poke, thanks to the soy sauce, was savory yet light and easy to eat!

With chicken breast and egg included, it's a solid option for anyone wanting to get in some protein, and with the vegetables and various toppings, it turned out to be more filling than I expected after finishing the bowl :)

Is Slow Cali Hongdae worth a visit?

If you're dieting and looking for a meal that's still tasty without being too intense, this kind of combo could be a good option. The store was clean, there were plenty of customers, and the staff were friendly — overall it was a comfortable place to eat!

If you're looking for poke or salad near Hongik University Station, Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch seems like a solid choice! On a day when you want something light but a plain salad won't cut it, and a heavy meal feels like too much — try the salmon poke or chicken breast egg poke for a satisfying meal~