Sangsu Station pizzeria, shrimp oil crust dip: Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza

Had a reason to head out to Hongdae for the first time in a while, and while searching for good pizza spots I heard rumors of a wood-fired pizza place called Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza near Sangsu/Hapjeong stations, so I went to check it out!!

What we ordered at Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza, and the prices

There were so many tasty-looking menu items that I agonized for a while before landing on the Gamberi e Rucola shrimp oil pasta (₩19,500) and the Manjo pizza + Fungi Prosciutto half-and-half (₩25,000). The pizza was great, but honestly the pasta's oil sauce is what really stuck with me — let me introduce this pasta spot right now hahaha

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza location, hours and parking near Sangsu Station

• Location: 5 Dokmak-ro 7-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza
• Hours: Daily 11:30–21:00 / closed every Tuesday, closed on Chuseok holiday itself
• Parking: Danin 1 Public Parking Lot, 402-1 Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul (no dedicated parking support, but this public lot is the cheapest and closest, so I recommend it)
• Baby chairs available

What is the wood-tone, antique interior like?

The inside of Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza has an overall antique, wood-toned feel that gave off a warm, cozy impression. Dark solid wood tables and furniture blend naturally into the space, and with soft lighting added on top, it felt slightly vintage yet comfortable.

Rather than the clean modern interiors that are common these days, it has more of a classic, old European restaurant feel, which actually matched the wood-fired pizza really well haha

A Hongdae wood-fired pizza place with baby chairs

Since we'd made a reservation, they'd already set the basics at our table — and wow, a wood-fired pizza spot in Hongdae that even has baby chairs, what a rare find haha. I kept the menu on video.

After we ordered, they lit a candle so we could keep enjoying the wood-fired pizza warm all the way through — nice touch, well played.

While waiting for our order, I also took a peek at the wood-fired oven haha

How the Manjo + Fungi Prosciutto half-and-half pizza tasted

Enter the Manjo and Fungi Prosciutto half-and-half. One half was the Manjo pizza with a tomato base topped with beef, and the other half was Fungi Prosciutto, topped with mushrooms and prosciutto.

The Fungi Prosciutto had a great combo of the mushrooms' clean flavor and the prosciutto's salty punch,

and the Manjo pizza had the fresh tang of tomato sauce plus the savory, rich flavor of the beef, which made it easy to eat without feeling heavy. I'm officially calling this Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza's best menu item. You'd think beef on top would make it heavy or greasy, but the tomato base kept things balanced, and the chewiness of the crust in particular was amazing. The outside was golden-browned, the edge slightly crisp, and the inside chewy, so I ended up happily eating all the way to the very edge of the pizza.

Gamberi e Rucola shrimp oil pasta, ₩19,500

And finally, the Gamberi e Rucola shrimp oil pasta I'd been wanting arrived.

Topped with shrimp, cherry tomatoes, and rucola (arugula), it looked pretty fresh and light — and when I tasted it, the oil sauce was genuinely delicious. Oil pastas can easily end up feeling greasy, but this one's sauce was clean yet full of savory depth, so I just kept going back for more!!!!

Dipping the pizza crust in the shrimp oil sauce

But then, midway through, I randomly dipped a pizza crust into this sauce... and it was absolutely wild. The chewy wood-fired dough soaked up the shrimp oil sauce and turned moist, giving a completely different flavor from eating the pizza alone. This place is a truly legit Sangsu Station find — seriously, take note.

Eventually I just started scooping the sauce with a spoon and pouring it directly onto the pizza lol. Highly, highly recommend eating it this way.

One ordering tip for Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza

After finishing everything, a sip of soda from their review event as a palate cleanser would've been perfect, right? Personally, I think ordering the pizza half-and-half should be the golden rule at this place — everything's so good that sticking to just one flavor feels like a waste.

And I'd also strongly recommend getting the pasta alongside it, because it's just that good 😀 If you're looking for a good spot near Sangsu Station, definitely stop by Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza.