Daehangno restaurant in Seoul for gochujang butter pasta: Omil

The weather has been getting nicer and it’s starting to feel a little like fall, so this time I decided to head out around Jongno for a fall outing. Lately I’ve really been going on Jongno outings more than twice a week—from Gyeongbokgung and Seochon to Anguk, Bukchon, Jongmyo, and Hyehwa ^^

Then I heard that Omil, which I’d known from Hongdae and Seongsu for ages, had opened its third branch in Daehangno, so I went to check it out. On a lovely day like this, it would be perfect to eat in Hyehwa and look around the nearby parks too. Especially if you love cute things, I don’t think it’ll be easy to walk past this place ㅠㅠ

Omil’s Cute Space and Menu

I even got to meet the cute Rubber Duck at Omil Hyehwa—let me leave a detailed review!

Where to Eat Before or After a Hyehwa Show?

Omil Hyehwa Daehangno is on the second floor at 35 Daemyeong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, about two minutes from Exit 4 of Hyehwa Station. It is open weekdays from 11:30 to 21:15, with a break from 15:15 to 16:30, and weekends from 11:30 to 21:15 as well. Last orders are at 20:30.

There is an in-house restroom, and group visits, takeaway, delivery, and reservations are available. With Wi-Fi and high chairs too, it felt like a great spot for a Daehangno date and a meal before or after a show.

The Exterior and Interior Atmosphere

I found this adorably cute Omil in the heart of Daehangno. Omil Hyehwa is right in central Daehangno, so it was easy to find. Just walk a little from Hyehwa Station and it’s right there—no trouble getting to it at all. It’s on the second floor, and of course, even the sign is ridiculously cute @@”

Once inside, the space is centered around beige tones with little pops of color here and there.

Overall, it had a calm yet warm atmosphere. It is mainly set up with tables for two and four, and the space was wider than I expected, so it felt quite comfortable.

There were window tables like this along the windows too. And true to Omil, cute little accessories caught my eye everywhere.

There was also a self-service station on one side.

You could help yourself to things you might need, from aprons and phone charging to wet wipes, and pickles too. High chairs were ready as well, so it looked like a nice place to visit with kids.

Omil’s Menu and Our Order

The menu was quite varied, from pasta and omurice to risotto and donkatsu (Japanese-style pork cutlet). There were lots of fusion Western-style dishes, so it seemed like a good choice when you want something a little different from ordinary pasta!!

The signature Rubber Duck omurice immediately caught my eye because it was so cute^^^ I figured you have to try the signature, so Rubber Duck omurice and gochujang butter pasta ordered, done,,, And lately I’ve been really going hard on ades too^^ so I also ordered an Oh! Cherry Ade and a cola.

What We Ordered

Rubber Duck Omurice and Cherry Ade

Such a cute table setting. The turnover was pretty quick too!

Ta-da, the ade came out first, and even the glass was just too cute ㅠㅠ

It came out beautifully in pink and red to match the cherry theme, with cute decorations on top too. A little cluster of cherries sat at the end, with one tiny cherry perched up top as well ㅇㅅㅇ

Fluffy, Soft Omurice

And then the Rubber Duck omurice appeared 🐤 This Rubber Duck is one of the especially cute things about Omil.

I heard the decorations change a little with the seasons. When I visited, perhaps the summer concept was still around, because the Rubber Duck appeared in sunglasses and a swim ring ㅇ.ㅇ Complete with a parasol @@ Now I’m looking forward to Christmas too,,,

And those tiny quail-duck decorations sitting on top of the Rubber Duck were even cuter in person, honestly ㅠㅠ

All right, shall we dig in? Yum. The charm of omurice is always its fluffy, soft egg, and Omil’s egg was cooked wonderfully soft too, making it easy to eat. Inside was mild fried rice, which went nicely with the omurice sauce.

Overall it was not overly bold and had a warm, comforting feel, so it seems like a good choice when you want an easy meal,,, Especially when you’re deciding what to eat after a Hyehwa show, this kind of omurice would be perfect instead of something too heavy or intense!

What Does the Gochujang Butter Pasta Taste Like?

The fusion gochujang butter pasta was such a special treat!! Next up was the gochujang butter pasta I’d quietly been looking forward to.

It was slightly thick and creamy, like a cream pasta, with the savory depth of gochujang (Korean chili paste) and the nutty richness of butter added in.

There were also plenty of substantial pieces of pork in it.

Maybe because it had been a while since I’d had pasta in this fusion style, but the gochujang and butter aroma was honestly much more delicious than I expected. The noodles were cooked just right, the sauce clung well to them, and best of all, it wasn’t too salty.

Eating it with the scattered pieces of meat made it feel even more filling!!! If you’re looking for something a little different from typical Hyehwa pasta, give it a try!

A Warm, Easygoing Meal

Overall, I liked that the food was not too intense, and the cozy atmosphere made for a comfortable meal ㅎㅅㅎ The owner and staff were kind too, so I left feeling happy. If you’re looking for somewhere to eat after watching a show on a Daehangno date, Hyehwa Station is close by, so do stop in @@”

• Cute Rubber Duck omurice presentation
• Fluffy, soft egg and mild fried rice
• Fusion pasta combining gochujang’s savory depth with butter’s nutty richness
• An easy-to-enjoy flavor that is not too salty
• Warm, cozy beige-toned interior
• A self-service station with aprons, wet wipes, charging, pickles, and more
• High chairs available, great for an outing with kids
• A good location for eating before or after a Daehangno show

A Fall Walk On to Naksan Park

In nice fall weather like this, it’s lovely to walk slowly from Hyehwa up toward Naksan Park, taking in the Seoul views and the autumn sky. If you’re planning a Daehangno outing with children, it seems like a good post-meal walking route too, haha. Keep it in mind :)