Daehangno pub after a play: spicy clam soup with soju, Hyehwahwa

Busy, busy, modern life~ I finally got to see a play in Daehangno again, and then had good food and a drink too. I was hunting for a nice pub near Hyehwa Station and ended up at Hyehwahwa (혜화화), and it was so much better than I expected that I had to write a review.

Daehangno has so many restaurants and pubs that it's hard to decide where to go, but Hyehwahwa won me over with both the food quality and the atmosphere, so I think it would be a great date spot too. It's good for a casual drink after a play and also for getting together with friends, so I recommend it to anyone looking for a Daehangno restaurant or pub!

What are the signature dishes at Hyehwahwa?

The signature menu at Hyehwahwa is wide-ranging, from suyuk (boiled pork slices) to knife-cut octopus. Seriously, the lineup from suyuk to knife-cut octopus is amazing.

Inside Hyehwahwa: is it good for a date?

With soft lighting and a cozy interior, Hyehwahwa is a comfortable place to talk rather than a rowdy pub. The moment I walked in, the clean yet moody atmosphere caught my eye.

Maybe that's why there were plenty of couples, and it looked great for a blind date or a Daehangno date course too. It's close to Hyehwa Station, so it's easy to reach and convenient after a play or performance.

Spicy clam soup: not fishy, a perfect match with soju

The first thing we ordered at Hyehwahwa that day was the eolkeun-kalkal baji-rak-tang (spicy clam soup). It was packed with clams, and the flavor was clean and deep with no fishy taste, which made it the best soju snack.

True to its name, a spicy, sharp aroma rises from the broth, and with so many clams in it, just looking at it got me excited. One spoonful of the broth and I understood why it's a popular dish.

The cool, savory depth from the clams plus the spicy seasoning made it a fantastic drinking snack. It went especially well with soju. Clam soup can sometimes taste fishy, but this had none of that, and the clean, deep flavor left an impression. The longer it simmered, the richer the broth got, so I enjoyed it to the very end.

Hanwoo yukhoe & aged kimchi egg sushi: the best dish of the day

The second dish at Hyehwahwa was the hanwoo yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) & aged kimchi egg sushi. You top sweet egg sushi and tangy aged kimchi with fresh hanwoo tartare, and it was the most memorable dish of the day.

It looked really appetizing from the start. The fresh hanwoo tartare was piled on generously, and the combination of aged kimchi and egg sushi was quite unique.

First, the tartare was very fresh. It had a soft texture and nutty flavor, and the not-too-heavy seasoning let the natural taste of hanwoo come through.

And eaten together with the aged kimchi egg sushi, the combination was excellent. The mild tartness of the aged kimchi on the sweet, soft egg sushi cut the richness and brought out more flavor. Put the tartare on top and eat it in one bite, and a mix of textures and tastes fills your mouth, so you keep reaching for more. If I had to pick the most memorable dish of the day, personally I'd choose the hanwoo yukhoe & aged kimchi egg sushi.

How do the snacks pair with drinks at Hyehwahwa?

The spicy clam soup went well with soju, and the hanwoo yukhoe & aged kimchi egg sushi went well with beer. With good snacks, you can't skip the drinks, right?

So we enjoyed both soju and beer and tried different combinations, and every one of them was satisfying. Each dish felt made with the balance of drinks in mind, so even though it's a pub, I thought it was a great food spot too.

Verdict: Hyehwahwa for a Daehangno pub with great food

Hyehwahwa was a Daehangno pub that satisfied on food, atmosphere and access. The spicy, refreshing clam soup, the fresh hanwoo tartare and the unusual aged kimchi egg sushi: not a single dish let us down.

If you're planning a date in Daehangno or looking for a nice pub after a play, I recommend Hyehwahwa. Anyone searching for a Daehangno restaurant or a Hyehwa pub should give it a try at least once. I'd go back the next time I'm in Daehangno too. If you want a good time with good food and a good atmosphere, go to Hyehwahwa!!