Hongdae pizza restaurant near Hongik Station: Raymond's 20-inch set

My boyfriend and I headed out for a Hongdae date after a while, and I suddenly craved proper American-style pizza, so we went to Raymond's Hongdae near Hongik University Station. I'd had my eye on this place for a while, and the vibe turned out even hipper and more stylish than I expected — total win for a date spot, haha.

• Location: 15 Yanghwa-ro 18an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor (3-min walk from Hongik University Station Exit 8)
• Hours: Sun–Thu 12:00–24:00 / Fri–Sat 12:00–2:00 (next day)
• Ordered: [Signature] Raymond Set (₩54,900 / 20-inch half pizza, 4 slices + boneless fried chicken + sausage + truffle fries)
• American-style slice pizza specialist / limited to 20 pizzas on weekdays, 30 on weekends

How to walk to Raymond's Hongdae from Hongik University Station Exit 8

Raymond's Hongdae is really easy to get to — about a 3-minute walk (roughly 140m) from Exit 8 of Hongik University Station. Turning into the alley, a striking neon sign and vintage red oak-barrel tables set out front immediately caught my eye. There was a big menu banner in front of the entrance listing the set menus and craft beer lineup, which was handy for checking things out before going in.

What the Raymond's Hongdae interior is like, and is there a wait?

Even on a Thursday afternoon, the inside of Raymond's Hongdae was buzzing and lively with customers. Luckily our timing worked out and we got seated with no wait at all. Stepping inside, the classic checkered tile floor, the sleek red interior, and warm pendant lighting all came together for an exotic feel — like walking into a local pizza pub in Manhattan, New York.

There's a neatly arranged self-serve bar on one side of the restaurant. It has a glass dispenser of cold water, paper cups, and hot sauce for anyone who wants a kick — really convenient. The red-and-white logo banding running along the walls added even more to the hip mood.

This time, instead of alcohol, I ordered a chilled zero-sugar cola. They thoughtfully brought it out with a clear glass full of ice, and I was all set to enjoy fizzy soda alongside the pizza.

What comes in the ₩54,900 Raymond Set

The Raymond Set (₩54,900) finally arrived! A huge round silver tray packed edge to edge with a 20-inch half pizza (4 slices), crispy boneless chicken, truffle fries, and no fewer than five dipping sauces plus house-made pickles — the sheer visual made me gasp.

The four pizza slices: mac and cheese, pepperoni, bacon and cheese

The pizza in the Raymond Set lets you try four flavors at once: mac and cheese, pepperoni, bacon, and cheese. From the signature mac and cheese pizza bursting with rich, gooey cheese, to the salty crispy pepperoni, savory bacon topping, and the loaded cheese slice — each piece was way bigger than my palm, so it was really filling for two people. The crust was crispy outside and chewy inside all the way to the edge, so I happily ate every last bit of the crust.

Boneless fried chicken, truffle fries and the five dipping sauces

The gourmet boneless fried chicken side was crispy-outside, juicy-inside perfection — on par with dedicated fried chicken restaurants. The thin, crispy truffle fries with their subtle truffle aroma kept pulling my hand back too, and dipping into the ketchup, mustard, cheese sauce, garlic dip, and special barbecue sauce meant there was never a dull bite.

Picking up a big pepperoni slice by hand, the heft of it and the cheese pull were pure art. Fresh out of the oven, warm and savory-salty, it went perfectly with the crust.

Since the slices were so huge, the roller cutter they gave us made it easy to cut into bite-size pieces. The crisp cutting sound and the toppings packed all the way through the slice were both very satisfying.

The golden-fried boneless chicken stayed juicy inside, and pairing it with the sweet-spicy sauce or cheese sauce was fantastic. The crunchy pickles and pickled peppers cut through the richness completely, so we enjoyed a perfectly balanced last bite.

Recommended for anyone who wants to try this!