Jonggak Korean dinner for friends: octopus and sundubu, Bonghyejane

Looking for somewhere to eat dinner near Jonggak, I visited Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch with a friend!

Why Bonghyejane Jubang for a hearty Korean dinner with a friend in Jonggak?

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is a place I went looking for a hearty Korean dinner near Jonggak. Jonggak is a spot a lot of office workers visit, and it's a good location for meetups and get-togethers too, so there are all kinds of restaurants gathered there. That day I wanted a filling dinner with my friend, so I looked for a place with Korean menu options.

With its varied menu and the sense that I could get a warm, satisfying meal here, I decided to visit.

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch: location and atmosphere

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is located inside Jongno Tower, so it's fairly accessible — a good option if you're looking for somewhere to eat near Jonggak Station.

When you search for Jonggak restaurants or Jonggak eateries, it can be hard to decide what to eat, but Bonghyejane sells a wide range of Korean dishes, so it was easy to pick something that suited my taste.

Walking into the restaurant, the atmosphere felt comfortable enough to enjoy dinner and conversation with a friend.

Rather than feeling too formal, it had the kind of everyday feel that's good for stopping in and getting a solid meal — I think it would suit office workers looking for a lunch or dinner spot around Jonggak, or anyone meeting up with friends.

What two friends ordered at Bonghyejane Jubang

My friend ordered the octopus stir-fry set, and I ordered the spicy seafood sundubu. Once we sat down and looked over the menu, there were so many Korean dishes to choose from that we spent a while deciding.

My friend wanted something spicy, so she went with the octopus stir-fry set, while I was craving a warm, spicy broth, so I picked the spicy seafood sundubu. Ordering different dishes and sharing them made it fun to compare flavors too.

How does the 16,000 won octopus stir-fry set taste?

Octopus stir-fry set / ₩16,000

My friend's octopus stir-fry set from Bonghyejane had a striking red sauce that looked appetizing on sight alone. The spicy look typical of octopus stir-fry naturally made me want to dig in as soon as it arrived.

The spicy sauce was well soaked into the octopus, making it a great match for rice — the octopus's chewy texture combined with the savory sauce, and it tasted even better with a spoonful of rice alongside.

The sauce was both spicy and savory, pairing well with rice, and piling the octopus on top of rice made for a satisfying, filling meal. I think this would suit anyone who likes spicy stir-fried dishes or is looking for something that goes well with rice.

Spicy seafood sundubu for 13,500 won: the broth and soft tofu

Seafood sundubu stew / ₩13,500

What I ordered was the spicy seafood sundubu. I usually love warm, spicy soups, so I chose it as soon as I saw it on the menu — the sundubu (soft tofu stew) arrived bubbling in a stone bowl, and just looking at it gave off a warm feeling that made me glad I'd picked it for dinner.

The broth had a spicy kick that woke up the appetite, and the soft tofu inside paired nicely with the spicy soup.

The tofu was soft enough to scoop easily with a spoon and blended well with the broth, and with seafood added in, it felt even more substantial.

Taking a spoonful of the spicy broth alongside rice made me feel warm all the way through. Sundubu stew especially is one of those dishes that feels even more filling when eaten with rice.

Having the spicy broth with rice made for a satisfying dinner, and it had a completely different charm from the spicy octopus stir-fry.

When to go to Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch

Both the octopus stir-fry set my friend ordered and the spicy seafood sundubu I had came with their own charm, so I felt good about choosing different dishes.

When searching for Jonggak restaurants, I felt this is a good place to visit on a day when you want familiar, hearty Korean food rather than anything fancy, or when you want a relaxed dinner with a friend. What I liked was being able to pick whichever menu suited the mood — spicy octopus stir-fry on days you're craving spice, or a warm, spicy sundubu stew on days you want something comforting.

If you're looking for a Jonggak eatery or Jonggak restaurant, I think Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is worth a visit for a hearty Korean meal that suits your taste. It was an especially satisfying visit being able to try two different dishes with a friend over dinner.