Avocado salmon poke lunch near Hongik University Station: Slow Cali

I went back to Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch, a place I often turn to when I need lunch around Hongdae. I've ordered delivery from here plenty of times too, but I usually prefer eating in the restaurant because the self-serve bar lets you help yourself to as much jalapeño and pickle as you want. With fresh salmon and plenty of vegetables, it works well as a diet salad meal, and it's also just a satisfying lunch even when I'm not watching what I eat.

Where is Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch, and when is it open?

Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch is at 9 Sinchon-ro, 1st floor, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, five minutes from Exit 5 of Hongik University Station. It's open Mon-Sun 10:00-23:00, with last order at 22:40. There's a free dedicated parking lot behind the restaurant, and both takeout and table reservations can be made through Naver Reservations.

The dedicated parking lot is behind the building — you go down the alley on the right side of the building and park in the section marked for Slow Cali. If it's full, there are nearby public lots, so it seemed like it'd be convenient even if you drive.

We arrived without a reservation around 11:30am and there were quite a lot of seats. Since poke is often ordered for delivery, there seemed to be a huge number of delivery orders going out. But once it gets past noon it gets pretty crowded, so booking through Naver Reservations would definitely get you seated faster and more comfortably! Takeout reservations are also available through Naver.

Solo-friendly seats and the free self-serve bar at Slow Cali

Inside, Slow Cali Hongdae Entrance Station Branch has plenty of 1-2 person tables that make it easy to visit alone, plus a bar counter by the window — so if you're looking for a solo lunch spot in Hongdae, this could be a good pick. A nice atmosphere for eating alone~

One good thing about coming in to eat instead of getting delivery or takeout is the self-serve bar, where you can freely help yourself to jalapeños and pickles. Sriracha sauce too! Since it's right in front of our office, eating in was much better for us.

Slow Cali menu and prices: poke bowls and salads

Like most Hongdae poke and salad shops, the menu had signature poke bowls made with salmon, tuna, octopus, or yukhoe (raw beef), along with a variety of bowls, salads, and soups. Prices ranged from the low to mid ₩10,000s!

I personally ordered the salmon poke, which I really love. Whether I'm dieting or not, this is genuinely one of my most-ordered lunch items.

How big is the salmon poke bowl with extra avocado?

The salmon poke at Slow Cali Hongdae station branch has salmon that's fresh and not fishy at all, and I like that there's a generous amount of vegetables and brown rice. It looks like a diet meal, but you end up full and satisfied. Especially with the avocado I always add, getting some good fats in makes it even more filling. The fried onions and flying fish roe piled on top generously are also great.

And I can't give up my beloved spicy mayo sauce. Salmon and spicy mayo really are the best combination out there.

I remember trying a salad at another poke place in Hongdae before and getting hungry again quickly because the portion was small, but the poke here has a good balance of toppings and vegetables and a generous amount, making it a really satisfying lunch in Hongdae.

Adding jalapeños from the self-serve bar in between bites kept it from getting monotonous, so I could eat cleanly all the way through.

Is Slow Cali good value for a Hongdae lunch?

• Budget per person: mid ₩10,000s
• Value assessment: salad isn't exactly a cheap menu item, but the portions here are especially generous, which was great.

A Hongdae salad restaurant that's good for filling up healthily with fresh ingredients and hearty toppings.

This is a place I come to often, not just when dieting but whenever I want a light, healthy meal in general. Between the quality of the fresh salmon and the freedom of the self-serve bar, I think I'll keep coming back here for lunch in Hongdae!