# Hongdae, Seoul solo dining for chuck tender steak: MELA Hongdae - By Areum Shim (https://superchart.com/en/@ikseon-dusk-table/) - Written Sep 17, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written after receiving a visit sponsorship from the store. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@ikseon-dusk-table/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@ikseon-dusk-table/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/index.md) ## In short MELA Hongdae is a homestyle brunch café on Worldcup buk-ro 5-gil near Hongik University Station in Mapo, Seoul. Visiting alone on a fine day, the writer ordered MELA's chuck tender steak, which came with corn, potato, broccoli and mashed potato, plus a decaf iced americano. A late lunch visit meant a seat straight away with no wait, so solo dining at MELA Hongdae felt easy. ## Good to know - **How to order**: Check the menu at your table, order at the counter; food is brought to your seat - **Ordered on this visit**: MELA's chuck tender steak, decaf iced americano - **Seating**: Tables in several sizes; fine for solo diners and groups alike - **Waiting**: No wait at all on a late lunch visit — seated right away - **Self-serve bar**: Extra cutlery, wet wipes and napkins are self-serve *as written by the visitor on Sep 17, 2026* ![MELA Hongdae's main photo](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-01-b8xd3-1200.webp) [Hongdae steak spot] MELA ## Solo lunch at MELA Hongdae: the chuck tender steak > MELA's chuck tender steak ![A plate of MELA's chuck tender steak](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-02-1jtno-966.webp) On a nice sunny day, I went out alone wanting something delicious to eat, so I stopped by MELA, known as a Hongdae steak spot. I'd walked past this place before and always thought it looked pretty, so it was finally the day I got to visit. Maybe because the weather was so nice, everything looked good in photos these days. Even just looking at the exterior vibe of the store, you could tell the atmosphere was really nice. The building the store is in is also pretty, so I felt good even before walking in. ![Exterior view of MELA Hongdae](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-03-1shjl-966.webp) ![Menu photos displayed in front of the store](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-04-jk5kw-966.webp) Photos of the menu items are displayed at the front of the store, and they not only look delicious but the plating looks quite pretty too. This felt like a Hongdae steak spot worth visiting whether on a date or with friends. ![Entrance and building exterior of MELA Hongdae](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-05-9dr9j-966.webp) ## Seating and mood at MELA Hongdae: is it comfortable for eating alone? MELA Hongdae has various table styles set up, so it's good whether you come with several people or by yourself — a great Hongdae steak spot for solo dining. Once inside, the interior felt even better than it looked from outside. Maybe because I came during a late lunch, I could sit down right away with no separate wait. ![Interior of MELA Hongdae](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-06-1ozma-m-966.webp) ![Various table seating styles](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-07-fxveg-966.webp) ![Seating layout of MELA Hongdae's main hall](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-08-yht11-966.webp) ![The ordering counter area](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-09-1vt1g-966.webp) To order, you check the menu at your table and then order at the counter. Even the ordering counter is decorated nicely, so I kept taking photos. You can really feel how much care went into the store's aesthetic. ![Bakery desserts in the display case](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-10-4dgwl-966.webp) In the display case, there were bakery items on display that would be nice for dessert, and every single one of them looked delicious. ![Self-serve cutlery and napkin corner](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-11-11lib-966.webp) If you need extra cutlery, wet wipes, or napkins while eating, you can grab them here. ## What's on the MELA Hongdae menu: brunch dishes and decaf drinks MELA Hongdae's menu has a wide variety of brunch options. Menu names come with photos, which really helps with ordering. ![MELA Hongdae's brunch menu board](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-12-9dze0-966.webp) I was debating what to eat, and since I was craving meat that day, I ordered MELA's chuck tender steak. ![Drink menu board with decaf options](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-13-a3pj6-966.webp) There's also a variety of drinks to pair with the main dish. Since it was afternoon, I ordered a decaf americano. Having decaf options on the menu means you can enjoy coffee here even later in the day. ## How was MELA's chuck tender steak and its side dishes? MELA Hongdae's chuck tender steak clearly came in a generous portion, arriving with sides like corn, potato, and broccoli. The decaf iced americano that came out first was satisfying — even decaf, it still had plenty of bean aroma. ![A cup of decaf iced americano](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-14-x1ula-966.webp) ![Iced americano placed on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-15-moxjm-966.webp) A little while later, they brought the decaf iced americano I'd ordered first. Since they bring it right to your table, you can enjoy it comfortably while seated. ![The served chuck tender steak plate](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-16-16vwn-966.webp) ![A full spread of the generous steak plate](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-17-1l51h-966.webp) A bit later, the main dish — the steak I'd ordered — arrived, and you could tell right away just how generous the portion was. ![Grilled sides including corn and potato](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-18-1pytf-966.webp) ![Mashed potato and broccoli side dish](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-19-3yx5x-966.webp) Not just the main steak, but the side dishes that came with it were varied and high quality too. Corn, potato, broccoli, and more — all fresh and diverse. Especially good was dipping the veggies into the mashed potato that came alongside. ![Dipping vegetables into the mashed potato](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-20-80crq-966.webp) ![Cross-section showing the steak's doneness](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-21-1kfju-966.webp) Looking at the doneness of the meat, you could tell it was cooked to just the right level. Thanks to that, it wasn't tough at all — it was tender and let you really taste the full flavor of the meat. It also came sliced into bite-sized pieces, making it easy to enjoy. ![Steak sliced into bite-sized pieces](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-22-29xgh-966.webp) ![A piece of meat topped with mustard sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-23-1vf6t-966.webp) Adding a bit of the accompanying sauce made for an amazing bite. The combination of mustard and meat juices really proved once again that it never fails. ![The table after finishing the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae-24-1y8qz-966.webp) ## When is the best time to visit MELA Hongdae? This is a Hongdae steak spot where you can spend a worry-free time when you want genuinely delicious food in a nice atmosphere. I came alone this time, but I found myself wanting to come back with friends. The atmosphere was also great, making it a fitting spot for photos. ## Where it is - MELA Hongdae (멜라 홍대점) - 41 Worldcup buk-ro 5-gil, 1st floor, Unit 105, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 마포구 월드컵북로5길 41 1층 105호 - 37.5561238, 126.9167212 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%A9%9C%EB%9D%BC%20%ED%99%8D%EB%8C%80%EC%A0%90/@37.5561238,126.9167212,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@ikseon-dusk-table/hongdae-solo-steak-mela-hongdae/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt