Hongdae poke lunch for one at Slow Cali, a Seoul restaurant

There have been so many meals out and company dinners lately... After eating all sorts of things, I find myself reaching for easy, healthy food like poke or salad every now and then. Not long ago, I was near Hongdae and stopped by Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch (슬로우캘리 홍대입구역점), a go-to Hongdae salad and poke spot for a tasty, healthy meal!

A poke lunch spot near Hongdae Entrance Station

Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch caught my eye right from the exterior. It is on the first floor of a building with a lovely atmosphere, and it immediately became somewhere I would want to visit often.

Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch is also very close to Hongdae Entrance Station, making it wonderfully accessible for office workers and students looking for a Hongdae lunch spot.

Comfortable seating for solo diners

Inside Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch, a clean, neat interior welcomes you. In particular, there are well-equipped window bar tables and seats for one or two, so you do not feel self-conscious at all when visiting alone. During my meal, I could see that most people had come alone and were comfortably enjoying a solo meal in Hongdae.

There was also a steady stream of takeaway orders at Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch, which made me think it is clearly a well-loved poke spot in Hongdae.

Ordering the classic salmon poke set

At Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch, a great Hongdae lunch spot, I found a set menu I wanted to try. So I ordered it! I went with the signature poke + ACV (apple cider vinegar) ade set.

There were lots of options to choose from, so I selected a salad base and the classic salmon poke for my signature poke. For the dressing, I ordered the classic sauce.

The harmony of salmon and classic sauce

The food is made as soon as you order, but it came out quickly, which was nice. Having tried it, I know bland salads can quickly become tiresome when you are on a diet, but Slow Cali's poke was the very definition of healthy food that tastes good.

The salmon I chose as the main ingredient had absolutely no fishy taste. It came in big, springy cubes, and the chew was incredible.

The classic sauce was savory and full of soy-based umami, blending nicely with the salmon and vegetables without overwhelming them. Along with crisp fresh vegetables, there were flying fish roe, edamame (young soybeans), shredded seaweed, and crunchy crispy onion chips, so the textures never had a dull moment right through to the last bite.

A meal rounded out with ACV ade

The ACV ade (apple cider vinegar ade) that came with the poke set was truly the perfect match for people on a diet. The tang of apple cider vinegar and the sharp fizz freshened up my palate, and it was an easy-to-enjoy health drink said to help with blood sugar management and digestion, too.

Having ACV ade instead of an ordinary sweet soda completed the perfect diet-salad spread. It was a choice I did not regret.

For anyone keeping up a diet meal plan as a New Year's resolution~ and for anyone wanting a healthy, clean Hongdae lunch amid a busy daily routine~ I recommend Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch! Make today a healthier day with a bowl of light, delicious poke for lunch!

Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch · 1F, 9 Sinchon-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea · 10:00 - 23:00