Hyehwa restaurant for a Naksan Park date lunch: Omil

On a weekend when the weather had turned pleasantly cool, my husband and I went on a Hyehwa date for the first time in a while, with a walk around Naksan Park in mind. While looking for somewhere to eat in Hyehwa, I spotted the adorable rubber-duck omurice and ended up at Omil Hyehwa Daehangno. It is close to Hyehwa Station and right in the heart of Daehangno, so it is in a great spot not only before or after a play or show, but also alongside a walk in Naksan Park. I came for the cute look, but after trying it, I was quite happy with the food too.

Where to find Omil Hyehwa Daehangno near Hyehwa Station

Omil Hyehwa Daehangno is on the second floor of a building in central Daehangno, just a short walk from Exit 4 of Hyehwa Station. Looking up at the building, I could see the phrase “Eat, Smile, Love” and a smile logo, so it was easy to find even from a distance.

Heading up the stairs to the second floor, the yellow entrance door, curved mirror, and colorful posters immediately gave off a cheerful feel.

A bright, comfortable dining room

When I opened the door, a neat space centered on bright ivory tones unfolded in front of me. As you would expect from a recently opened restaurant, everything from the tables and chairs to the walls was very clean, and the soft lighting added warmth.

There was a good mix of two- and four-person tables, so it looked suitable for a Hyehwa date, meeting friends, or a family meal. The tables were not cramped together either, so my husband and I could eat comfortably.

The self-service station had bottled water, pickles, and aprons, with high chairs beside it, which was handy. The restroom was inside the restaurant, so that was convenient too.

What we ordered and the review event

Omil Hyehwa Daehangno has omurice and pasta, as well as gnocchi, steak, and side dishes. The menu was more varied than I expected, so choosing was a little difficult! That day, the two of us ordered two mains and one side.

• Rubber-duck omurice ₩16,900
• Gochujang butter pasta ₩18,900
• Omil soba maki ₩12,900
• Basil & tomato ade, regular price ₩7,900

We heard that joining the Naver review event came with an ade, so we had the basil & tomato ade as well. Its regular price is ₩7,900, and we received it complimentary after taking part in the review event.

What did the Omil soba maki taste like?

The first dish to arrive was the Omil soba maki. Instead of regular rice, it used buckwheat noodles wrapped in gim (dried seaweed), with egg, vegetables, and more inside—such an unusual maki roll.

Best of all, the eggs at either end had “>_<” faces drawn on them. It was the kind of look you simply cannot skip photographing!

The flavor combination was as good as the cute presentation. I could taste the mild buckwheat noodles, soft egg, and fresh crunch of the vegetables all at once; adding a little of the wasabi that came alongside made it even cleaner and sharper.

The portion was generous for a side dish, making it great to share between two. If you want to try something a little different, I think it is worth ordering once.

The spicy, buttery gochujang pasta

The gochujang butter pasta was my husband’s pick. From the first look—red sauce and noodles spread across a wide plate, topped generously with meat—it looked so appetizing.

The spicy flavor of gochujang (Korean red chili paste) was joined by the rich, mellow flavor of butter, making it familiar yet distinctive. The thick sauce clung nicely to the noodles, so every bite tasted full-bodied, while the meat added texture and made it more filling.

For someone like me who is weak with spicy food, it was fairly hot, and my mouth started tingling as I kept eating. Still, it was not just the heat of gochujang—the buttery savoriness came through too—so it was the kind of spicy dish that kept drawing me back.

Rubber-duck omurice and an unexpected gift

My choice was the rubber-duck omurice, one of Omil’s signature dishes.

Tiny ducks gathered on top of the fluffy egg, complete with a little green parasol, so it caught my eye the moment it landed on the table. True to its name, it even came with a small rubber-duck figurine as a gift.

The little rubber duck riding an inner tube was much cuter than I expected, so it felt like receiving an unexpected present. The rubber-duck omurice was not only cute—it was satisfying in flavor too.

There was a generous amount of rice beneath the soft, moist egg, and the rich sauce tied the whole dish together, making it easy to scoop up bite by bite. It is certainly a menu item children would enjoy, but it also made an adult like me, who loves cute little objects, very happy.

Basil & tomato ade and how it paired with the food

The basil & tomato ade we received through the review event stood out with its vivid color. The sweet-tart tomato flavor had a subtle touch of basil’s distinctive aroma, making it wonderfully refreshing. With a spicy, deeply flavored dish like the gochujang butter pasta, it cleansed the palate nicely, so the pairing worked well too.

How was it for a meal before or after a Naksan Park walk?

Omil Hyehwa Daehangno was a place where I could enjoy cute presentation, a neat setting, and distinctive dishes all together. The rubber-duck omurice and Omil soba maki were definitely fun to photograph, while the gochujang butter pasta impressed me with its spicy yet savory flavor.

What I liked most was that the food was not simply pretty—each dish tasted satisfying too. That said, the gochujang butter pasta may feel rather spicy for anyone sensitive to heat, so I would recommend ordering it alongside a milder dish.

Because it is close to Hyehwa Station, it is a good place to stop before or after a Daehangno play or performance. Like us, you could also plan a Hyehwa date around a Naksan Park walk and a meal here. With its bright, playful atmosphere, it suited not only a date but also meeting friends or a family meal with children.

Recommended for

• Anyone looking for good pasta near Hyehwa Station
• Anyone needing a place to eat before or after a Daehangno performance
• Anyone planning a Hyehwa date course to enjoy with Naksan Park
• Anyone looking for a Daehangno restaurant that is good to visit with children