Korean restaurant in Mapo, Seoul for yukhoe bibimbap: Doonjeong

While looking for somewhere to have lunch alone in Hongdae, I visited Doonjeong Hongdae Direct Branch (도온정 홍대직영점). I was curious about both the yukhoe bibimbap and shrimp minari-jeon, so I ordered them together.

How close is it to Hongik University Station?

The address is 1F, 183-12 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, and it is about 200 m from Exit 1 of Hongik University Station. Being close to the station made it easy to fit into my lunch plans.

The hours listed in the original post are 11:00–21:00, with a break time from 15:00–17:00. Parking is also available in front of the restaurant. It sits slightly inward from Hongdae’s main street, so the area felt relatively calm, and there was a Blue Ribbon selection notice at the entrance.

Is it comfortable to eat alone?

The restaurant was clean and spacious, with wood-toned decor. The generous space between tables also felt comfortable. The open kitchen was visible, and there were seats for solo diners as well as groups.

While eating alone, I did not feel self-conscious. There were also several one-bowl dishes, making it easy to choose something for a solo meal.

How much are the yukhoe bibimbap and other dishes?

I ordered yukhoe bibimbap and shrimp minari-jeon. The yukhoe bibimbap price had increased from when I visited and was listed as ₩16,000 at the time of the original post. The shrimp minari-jeon was ₩19,000.

There were broth dishes such as gomtang (beef soup) alongside bibimbap, so I could choose based on my preference. Other menu prices listed in the original post were as follows.

• Clear gomtang ₩12,000
• Chadol Hanwoo gomtang ₩18,000
• Spicy Hanwoo gomtang ₩15,000
• Half portion of seasoned meat ₩11,000
• Yukjeon (pan-fried beef) ₩17,000
• Hanwoo beef tripe hot pot ₩54,000

How was the yukhoe bibimbap as a solo meal?

The yukhoe bibimbap is a dish of raw beef and minari (water dropwort) mixed with rice. It came neatly as a single bowl, making it convenient for lunch alone.

Once mixed, the aroma of the minari came through and paired well with the yukhoe.

I also enjoyed the broth that came with the yukhoe bibimbap.

Should you add shrimp minari-jeon when eating alone?

I ordered the shrimp minari-jeon too because I was curious about both dishes. However, at ₩19,000, it is worth considering the portion and price before adding it for one person. It would likely feel less burdensome when shared among several people.

The basic side dishes were kimchi and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi).

I could comfortably eat Korean food alone, but if I returned for another solo meal, I think I would focus on the one-bowl dishes. Its proximity to the station also made it convenient for lunch before or after shopping or a café visit.