# Mild boneless jjimdak lunch with a foreign friend in Hongdae: Ongdarae - By Jaeha (https://superchart.com/en/@chungcheong-wooden-chopsticks/) - Written Sep 7, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul - Sponsored: This is a sponsored post for which the restaurant provided the meal. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@chungcheong-wooden-chopsticks/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@chungcheong-wooden-chopsticks/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/index.md) ## In short Ongdarae Jjimdak is a Korean restaurant serving braised chicken (jjimdak) about a 5-minute walk from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station in Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered the signature dish boneless and mild, added mozzarella cheese and a side of ongbap (crispy rice), and found it mild enough for a Taiwanese friend to enjoy without any trouble. With spice-level options, group seating and a free dessert corner, it's a solid pick for eating Korean food in Hongdae with a foreign friend. ## Good to know - **Location**: 354-8 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul — about a 5-minute walk from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station - **Hours**: Mon–Sat 11:00–23:00 / Sun 11:00–22:00 - **Last order**: Mon–Sat 22:00 / Sun 21:00 - **Amenities**: Group seating, parking, pet-friendly - **Ordering**: Pre-order via tabletop kiosk at each table - **Order placed**: Ongdarae Jjimdak (boneless, mild) + mozzarella cheese add-on, ongbap (crispy rice) - **Options**: Bone-in or boneless; spice level mild, medium, or spicy - **Basic side dishes**: Yuzu salad, dongchimi radish - **Free dessert corner**: Tea, coffee, scones, snacks, barley crackers *as written by the visitor on Sep 7, 2026* ![First photo from the visit to Ongdarae Jjimdak near Hongik University Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-01-1qfmk-900.webp) This time I met up with a close friend and her younger sister, who came to visit Korea from Taiwan, for lunch in Hongdae! Since I was hanging out with a foreign friend, I thought hard about what menu would work well — and the place I ended up choosing was..! > Ongdarae Jjimdak, a well-known restaurant near Hongik University Station Cutting to the chase — after eating here that day, I thought, "I could totally bring foreign friends here" haha. Especially since my Taiwanese friend's sister, who's usually a picky eater, really dug in. So proud. ## A 5-minute walk from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station Ongdarae Jjimdak is about a 5-minute walk from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station! It's right on the main road, so it's easy to find, and there's a bus stop out front too, making it convenient to get to. - 📍 354-8 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul - 🕒 Mon–Sat 11:00–23:00 / Sun 11:00–22:00 - ✔ Last order Mon–Sat 22:00 / Sun 21:00 - ⭐ Group seating, parking, pet-friendly ![Spacious, clean interior of Ongdarae Jjimdak](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-02-16e8b-900.webp) We arrived right at opening time, so we got to sit wherever we wanted with no rush — the restaurant is spacious and clean, making it a comfortable place to eat. ![Private space suitable for group use](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-03-1a3r4-900.webp) On one side there's a private area good for group use, which looked like it'd work well for family outings, get-togethers with friends, or group meals. ![Comfortable jjimdak restaurant hall with floor-to-ceiling windows](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-04-ywwfl-900.webp) Jjimdak — a dish that's hard to get wrong — plus floor-to-ceiling windows and a pleasant atmosphere..! It seemed like a restaurant a lot of foreign visitors go to as well haha. ![Window-side table with tabletop ordering kiosk](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-05-1vjhh-900.webp) We sat at a window-side table! Each table has a tabletop kiosk for pre-ordering. ![Basic side dishes of yuzu salad and dongchimi radish](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-06-11inb-900.webp) The basic side dishes were yuzu salad and dongchimi (watery radish kimchi). Dongchimi's refreshing tang pairs surprisingly well while eating jjimdak. :) ![Mild boneless jjimdak topped with mozzarella cheese](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-07-9bhk0-1200.webp) ## Mild jjimdak loaded with cheese We ordered the signature Ongdarae Jjimdak boneless and mild, and added mozzarella cheese too. (It'd be a shame to skip the cheese..ㅠ) You can choose bone-in or boneless, and the spice level comes in mild, medium, or spicy, so it's easy to tailor to your taste haha. ![Soy-sauce-based Ongdarae Jjimdak](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-08-1k0jk-900.webp) The jjimdak has a soy-sauce-based seasoning that's nicely salty and a bit sweet — just right! It wasn't intensely spicy, so my friend's sister ate it comfortably without any trouble. ![Jjimdak with cheese, glass noodles, sweet potato, and bok choy](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-09-15oah-900.webp) Adding the cheese in particular brought a nutty, creamy element that paired really well with the jjimdak. The glass noodles soaked up the sauce nicely, and with sweet potato and bok choy mixed in, there was fun in picking through all the ingredients. Most of all, I was so satisfied seeing my friend's sister eat so well. Ordering it mild meant she could enjoy it without any pressure haha. Having tried it myself, it definitely seems like a flavor most people would like! ## Don't skip the ongbap at Ongdarae Jjimdak! ![Ongbap table setting at Ongdarae Jjimdak](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-10-1o0g7-900.webp) And we couldn't leave without ordering the ongbap (crispy rice), Ongdarae Jjimdak's must-have side..!! I was so curious about this one. ![Crispy toasted ongbap with stir-fried kimchi and seaweed](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-11-miwt2-900.webp) It comes with rice toasted crisp like nurungji (scorched rice), served with stir-fried kimchi and seaweed — delicious even eaten plain. ![Ongbap mixed into jjimdak sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-12-1jh55-900.webp) ![A bite of ongbap wrapped with perilla leaf and seaweed](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-13-14mbw-900.webp) We left a bit of jjimdak aside and tried mixing the ongbap into the sauce. Eating the crispy, nutty rice together with the jjimdak sauce, perilla leaves, stir-fried kimchi, and seaweed was so good. (This combo is truly heavenly haha!) ## The fun of picking your own free desserts ![Free dessert corner along one wall of the restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-14-1p6ye-900.webp) After scraping clean every last bit of the jjimdak and ongbap, we looked around the restaurant and — wait, there's a free dessert corner along one wall?! It's literally free to use, and stocked with tea, coffee, scones, snacks, and barley crackers. ![Free tea, coffee, and snacks on display](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-15-1g7ls-900.webp) ![Coffee, barley crackers, and snacks enjoyed at the dessert corner](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend-16-3701t-900.webp) Unfortunately there were no scones left that day, but we made sure to grab coffee, tea, snacks, and barley crackers. Eating a hearty jjimdak meal and then getting dessert on top made for a satisfying finish. ## Looking for a Hongdae restaurant to visit with a foreign friend? This visit to Ongdarae Jjimdak was extra memorable because I got to share it with my friend's sister from Taiwan. The spacious, comfortable space with group seating and adjustable spice levels also looked great for visiting with several people. Most of all, having tried it myself, this is a dish a foreign friend can enjoy comfortably without any worry, so it seems like a solid choice for anyone looking for Korean food to share with foreign friends in Hongdae. If you're craving a filling meal in Hongdae, try the jjimdak with ongbap together. :) ## Where it is - Ongdarae Jjimdak (옹다래찜닭) - 122 Yanghwa-ro, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 마포구 양화로 122 1층 옹다래찜닭 - 37.5540495, 126.920501 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%98%B9%EB%8B%A4%EB%9E%98%EC%B0%9C%EB%8B%AD/@37.5540495,126.920501,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@chungcheong-wooden-chopsticks/hongdae-jjimdak-mild-cheese-foreign-friend/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt