Namdong Japanese restaurant set meals for a date: Hongdae Gureume

Yesterday, my husband and I went on a date in Incheon’s Nonhyeon-dong for the first time in a while, haha. While looking for somewhere tasty for lunch, we visited Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch, where you can enjoy a range of Japanese dishes :) From ramen and donkatsu (Japanese pork cutlet) to memil (buckwheat noodles), sushi, and rice bowls, the menu was so varied that it was easy to choose according to your taste. It is especially close to Incheon Nonhyeon Station, so it is convenient to reach by public transport, and with plenty to see nearby, it seemed like a nice place for a meal on an Incheon Nonhyeon-dong date course too.

Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch: Location and Information

Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is located at Unit 202 on the second floor of Iplex Building, 17 Nongogae-ro 123beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon. It is fairly close to Incheon Nonhyeon Station, so it was not difficult to find, and because it is inside the building, it would be convenient to visit even on a bad-weather day, haha. Parking is available too, so it looked like a good option for drivers.

• Daily 11:30–21:30
• Parking available
• Takeout available

An Interior Full of Japanese Atmosphere

Photos with a distinctly Japanese feel were displayed from the entrance onward, so even before going in, it felt a little like we had come on a trip to Japan, haha.

Hongdae Gureume specializes in Japanese food, and it sold not only ramen but also donkatsu, memil, sushi, and rice bowls. There were so many kinds of dishes that people visiting for lunch in Incheon Nonhyeon-dong could each easily order what they wanted.

I also heard that the chef trained at a famous culinary school in Japan, which raised my expectations for the food even more, haha.

Aprons were available inside the restaurant, which was handy when eating dishes with broth or sauce, such as donkatsu or ramen.

Kumamoto-Style Gureume Ramen Set

My husband ordered the Gureume ramen set. Among the different styles of ramen, he chose the Kumamoto style.

Kumamoto-style ramen is one of Hongdae Gureume’s signature dishes, and the current menu offers a range including Kumamoto-style, Fukuoka-style, and Korean-style ramen. Because we ordered it as a set, it was not just ramen on its own: several side dishes came with it, making for a very generous spread. There was fried food, salad, and various other things to enjoy together, which was nice, haha. The ramen had the clean, light character typical of Japanese ramen, and the vegetables in it made it taste even better. In particular, the vegetables balanced some of the richness and added texture, which I loved.

Crispy and Juicy Assorted Katsu Set

I ordered the assorted katsu set. As you would expect from a set menu, it came with several dishes and made for a really filling meal. The donkatsu was neither too thin nor too thick, but just the right thickness, so it had a nice bite. It was crisp outside and juicy inside, with a satisfying thickness, so I think anyone who loves donkatsu would enjoy it, haha.

Personally, I liked being able to order a set like this and eat several dishes together rather than having only one thing. My husband’s ramen set and my assorted katsu set had different components, so sharing a little of each let us try even more things :)

A Wide Japanese Menu for Different Tastes

Looking over the Hongdae Gureume menu, there were not only ramen but also donkatsu, memil, sushi, rice bowls, karaage (Japanese fried chicken), and many other Japanese dishes. The current menu includes Kumamoto-style Gureume ramen, Fukuoka-style ramen, donkatsu sets, assorted katsu sets, panmemil (cold buckwheat noodles served on a tray), assorted sushi, sake-don (salmon rice bowl), and karaage-don (fried chicken rice bowl), among others. So it seemed like a good place for couples with different cravings, like us—my husband loves ramen while I love donkatsu. That wide range of choices felt like a real advantage when looking for a date spot in Incheon Nonhyeon-dong.

Post-Meal Fortune Draw and Lucky Box Event

As we were nearly finished eating, I looked at the table and noticed a fun little container there, haha.

It turned out to be a fortune draw, where you could pick a slip with a comforting or funny message. My husband and I each drew one, and even this little thing gave us something to laugh and chat about after the meal, haha.

It was fun to enjoy this small event after a delicious meal. They also said you can participate in the lucky box event with a purchase of ₩30,000 or more, so if your total qualifies, it might be nice to give it a try, haha. Having a little draw at the end after a good meal made it quite fun for a date too :)

For Lunch or a Date Meal in Incheon Nonhyeon-dong

Overall, what I liked about Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch was the chance to enjoy a variety of Japanese dishes, including ramen, donkatsu, sushi, and memil. The set menus in particular come with several dishes, so they seem well suited to anyone wanting a hearty meal. It is close to Incheon Nonhyeon Station, making it fairly accessible, and its varied menu means it seems suitable for many occasions—from dining alone and family meals to couples on an Incheon Nonhyeon-dong date like us. It is also fairly close to Sorae Pogu, so if you are spending time around there and looking for somewhere to eat, it could be worth considering as a restaurant near Sorae Pogu too. That day, my husband and I had our fill of delicious ramen and donkatsu, enjoyed a small fortune draw, and had such a lovely time, haha. If I visit again, I would like to try the sushi or memil that we did not get to have this time :)