Jonggak Korean restaurant kiosk dinner: spicy octopus set, Bonghyejane

I was looking for somewhere to eat near Jonggak Station and ended up at Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch. I visited in the evening this time, but after eating there I could tell a lot of the menu would work just as well for lunch.

Where is Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch, and what are its hours?

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is on basement level 2 of Jongno Tower. It's about a 1-minute walk from either Exit 3 or Exit 3-1 of Jonggak Station, so getting there by subway was really easy.

Being right by Jonggak Station, it struck me as a great Jonggak restaurant for grabbing a meal before or after work, or over lunch.

• 🕖 Hours: Weekdays 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. / Weekends 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
• Break time: 3:00–4:30 p.m.
• Last order: Weekdays 8:00 p.m., weekends 7:00 p.m.
• 🅿️ Parking: Available (free for 90 minutes)

Seating at Bonghyejane Jubang: solo tables to group tables

Walking inside, there was a wider variety of seating than I expected.

There were solo-dining seats, two-person tables, and larger group tables, so it looked good for anything from eating alone to a lunch with coworkers.

How the table kiosk works and what the menu costs

Each table had its own kiosk, so you browse and order through that. The special home-style set meals and side dishes were mostly in the ₩10,000-range, which felt affordable enough for a Jonggak office worker's lunch.

Even though Bonghyejane Jubang's main dish is octopus stir-fry (nakji bokkeum), the menu was more varied than I expected. Some people want spicy octopus stir-fry, others prefer something familiar like hamburg steak or pork cutlet — having multiple options made it a good spot to visit with people who have different tastes.

What we ordered: octopus stir-fry set and 1988 hamburg steak

• ✔️ 1988 hamburg steak ₩13,500
• ✔️ Octopus stir-fry set ₩16,000

Octopus stir-fry set with chosen spice level: how hot is Shin Ramyun level?

First up, the octopus stir-fry set. You can choose the spice level when ordering, and I went with roughly sinramyun (a popular spicy instant ramyeon) level.

It turned out to be just spicy enough — not the kind of heat that's only aggressive, but a good, tasty spiciness when eaten with rice. The octopus also kept a nice chewy texture, which paired well with the rice.

When it got a bit spicy, pairing it with the mushroom perilla soup that came alongside was nutty and satisfying.

With octopus stir-fry, mixing it into a bibimbap (mixed rice) is basically the classic move, and there was sesame oil right there on the table!

Mixing it into the rice made it genuinely delicious. I thought it'd be a great choice for lunch when you're craving something spicy — filling enough to keep you going through the afternoon!

1988 hamburg steak, the pick for anyone who can't eat spicy food

We also enjoyed the 1988 hamburg steak we ordered alongside it. Since octopus stir-fry is the signature dish here, I'd assumed the menu would be mostly spicy, so the hamburg steak option was a nice surprise.

That makes it easy for someone who can't eat spicy food, or a family with young kids, to still find something to order. It also felt like a plus for coworkers having lunch together, since everyone can pick what they want.

Verdict: is Bonghyejane Jubang a good lunch spot for Jonggak office workers?

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch was a good place to check off both accessibility and menu variety when looking for a Jonggak restaurant. I visited in the evening, but with it being about a minute's walk from Jonggak Station and offering a range of ₩10,000-range meals, I could see it being an even better fit for nearby office workers on weekday lunches.

In particular, being able to adjust the spice level of the octopus stir-fry set meant I could order to my own taste, and going with sinramyun-level spice made it pleasantly spicy alongside rice. And with options like hamburg steak or pork cutlet beyond just the octopus stir-fry, it also worked well for a group with different preferences.

The owner was friendly too, which made for a pleasant meal overall. If you're looking for a solid lunch spot for office workers near Jonggak Station, a good Jonggak restaurant for solo dining, or a comfortable Jonggak Korean restaurant to grab lunch with coworkers, this is one worth remembering for a hearty Korean meal.