Euljiro 1-ga snack bar, old-school tteokbokki for three: Hyeonseoni-ne

Where is Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch?

Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch (현선이네 청계즉석점) is a one-minute walk from Euljiro 1-ga Station Exit 3, at 112 Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, on the first floor next to Mega Coffee. A huge LED sign makes it easy to spot, so you won't have trouble finding it.

An old-school Euljiro favorite with real atmosphere! On days when you crave old-fashioned tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), the sauce itself, or crispy fritters, Hyeonseoni-ne is where you end up.

It's open weekdays 10:40-21:00 and closed on weekends. Euljiro is downtown Seoul, so with no office workers around on weekends, a lot of restaurants close, and Hyeonseoni-ne does too.

What's in the Hyeonseoni-ne Combo Set and how much is it?

Even the bowls here burst with old-time charm. Just like a Cheonggyecheon snack bar should be~ just like an Euljiro old-timer~ totally retro ❤️ Wow~ the bowls look like they're from 40-50 years ago. The street-stall vibe adds a lot too, so good~ I love it haha

The Hyeonseoni-ne Combo Set is tteokbokki + sundae (Korean blood sausage) + gimbap (seaweed rice rolls) + fritters + fish cake for ₩25,000. All this food for ₩25,000! It's so much that two people would struggle to finish it, and three people having a beer each along with it would still have plenty.

How spicy is the medium old-fashioned tteokbokki at Hyeonseoni-ne?

You can choose the spice level for the tteokbokki, and the medium was a little spicy for the writer. Even though it's made with wheat rice cakes, they're chewy and springy(?) lol

Lately I've been craving old-fashioned tteokbokki so much haha They say trends come back around, and tastes seem to do the same~ It tastes just like the tteokbokki sold by the wall of the neighborhood church when I was little. Eating at this Cheonggyecheon snack bar brought back memories of being 7. The only difference is that back then the sauce wasn't as plentiful as at Hyeonseoni-ne; otherwise the taste and mood felt almost the same hahaha

I'm not a wimp about spice, but it's the kind of heat where you go, oh, that's spicy.. The kind where kids say it's hot and gulp water, yet keep insisting on eating more tteokbokki.

How much sundae comes in the combo set?

The sundae in the Hyeonseoni-ne combo comes with a fair mix of sundae and innards, and the portion is considerable. Chewy sundae~ same taste as ever! Certified Cheonggyecheon snack bar ♡ The sundae is as good as at the famous sundae spots around the country~

Got a big eater coming? Two people with the combo set plus beer or drinks will be satisfied!

How were the fritters and mini gimbap?

The fritters in the combo come cut up in a nice variety: squid, sweet potato, vegetable, and gimmari (glass-noodle seaweed rolls). Crispy outside, moist inside, they're crunchy and juicy and really excellent as fritters lol

The mini gimbap.. mmm~~ the sesame oil aroma makes your nose happy first ♡ Once it's in your mouth the sesame oil fragrance feels so rich. If you come to Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch and skip the mini gimbap, you're a fool, lol.

What's the atmosphere like inside Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch?

The shop has an old-timer feel with a vinyl door, but the air conditioning inside is blasting. Since the entrance is a vinyl door, I was a bit confused about where the way in was.

I was surprised once inside: about half the customers were young people in their 20s. So 20-somethings relate to retro vibes too. And with the air conditioning blasting, it was nice and cool, and I ate in a comfy(?) old-school atmosphere without worrying about the heat haha

Self-service corner and ordering tips

The self-service corner at Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch has spoons and chopsticks, bowls, pickled radish, and water, so after you order, grab your water right away! Staff bring the food and drinks, and the food comes out surprisingly fast.

Hyeonseoni-ne runs 8 directly managed branches, and I guess family members run them to keep the taste consistent. (Just my guess lol) They've also released a Hyeonseoni-ne tteokbokki meal kit, so if you can't visit in person, you can try it by ordering online.

If you want a meal of snack-bar food in a fresh atmosphere and a glass of beer, I recommend this Cheonggyecheon snack bar, Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch.