# Hongdae date restaurant in Seoul for gluten-free okonomiyaki: UWA

- By Daon (https://superchart.com/en/@late-seoul-sips/)
- Written Sep 6, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul
- Sponsored: This post was written as part of a sponsored store visit.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@late-seoul-sips/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@late-seoul-sips/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/index.md)

## In short

UWA Hongdae Main Branch is a teppanyaki (griddle-cooked Japanese food) restaurant in Hongdae, Seoul, a 10-minute walk from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station. Booked through Catch Table on a weekday evening, the meal at UWA Hongdae Main Branch was tomato okonomiyaki (savory pancake) with shrimp, shio yakisoba with pork, a ginger & lime highball and a cassis orange, and the gluten-free okonomiyaki sat easy on the stomach. With bar seats around the open kitchen and noise kept at a comfortable level, UWA Hongdae Main Branch is an easy recommendation for a date.

## Good to know

- **Address**: 21-16 Wausan-ro 21-gil, 2nd floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- **Hours**: Daily 12:00–22:00, last order 21:00
- **Break time**: Weekdays 14:30–17:00 (none on weekends)
- **Parking**: No parking on site; nearby public parking lot recommended
- **Waiting**: Bookings via the Catch Table app; 2 parties waiting on a Friday at 7pm
- **What we ordered**: Tomato okonomiyaki + shrimp (1 serving), shio yakisoba + pork (1 serving), ginger & lime highball, cassis orange
- **Good to know**: Gluten-free menu available; no regular soju
- **Seating**: Bar seats around the open kitchen (with built-in griddles) plus regular tables

*as written by the visitor on Sep 6, 2026*

## Where is UWA Hongdae Main Branch, and is there parking?

UWA Hongdae Main Branch is a Hongdae teppanyaki restaurant located on the 2nd floor of 21-16 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's open daily from 12:00 to 22:00, with last order at 21:00, and has a break time on weekdays from 14:30 to 17:00 (no break time on weekends). There's a gluten-free menu, and since there's no parking, using a nearby public parking lot is recommended.

![Exterior of the UWA Hongdae Main Branch building](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-01-1fhwh-900.webp)

Here's the exterior of UWA Hongdae Main Branch! It's about a 10-minute walk from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station, and it didn't feel far since I was looking around as I walked. There's no parking space, so I'd recommend parking at a nearby public lot :)

![View around the entrance of UWA Hongdae Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-02-jbpk1-900.webp)

## Friday evening wait times and how to book a table

You can join the waitlist for UWA Hongdae Main Branch through the Catch Table app!! I made a reservation for 7pm on a weekday in advance and was able to get in without waiting. As of Friday at 7pm, there were 2 parties waiting.

![Waiting information posted outside the restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-03-1agk1-900.webp)

Since indoor waiting isn't really an option, you spend time looking around outside and go in once you get the 'enter now' notification!

![Interior open kitchen and bar table at UWA Hongdae Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-04-c3c3h-847.webp)

## Open kitchen bar seats: why UWA works for a date

Bar tables surround the open kitchen in the center, and each table has its own griddle. You order easily from your phone!

![Griddle set into the bar table](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-05-zcj4m-900.webp)

Because it's an open kitchen, you can watch the cooking while you wait, which is fun, and it looked very clean, which gave me more confidence in the place!!

![View of the open kitchen cooking area](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-06-1924b-864.webp)

There's also regular table seating like on the right!! It seems groups of 4 get seated at these tables. The tables were full but it wasn't too noisy — just the right level of ambient noise for chatting with company.

![Regular table seating at UWA Hongdae Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-07-1wxvm-900.webp)

![Menu board at UWA Hongdae Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-08-ffj35-900.webp)

![Menu board listing teppanyaki dishes and drinks](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-09-hho2j-900.webp)

## UWA Hongdae Main Branch menu and complimentary side dishes

Here's the menu at UWA Hongdae Main Branch!! There are teppanyaki dishes like okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and sirloin, and drinks include draft beer, highballs, cocktails, and sawa — but no regular soju.

![Seasoned cabbage served as a basic side dish](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-10-1sfd9-900.webp)

The basic side dish is cabbage, lightly seasoned, and it was salty and delicious! Good for cleansing your palate between bites :)

![Spicy sauces placed on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-11-jxkeu-900.webp)

There are also these spicy sauces, so you can add a bit whenever things feel too rich :)

![Clean griddle before the food arrives](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-12-1o9c3-900.webp)

## Tomato okonomiyaki with shrimp and shio yakisoba with pork

On the well-maintained griddle, our order soon arrives on top ....🤤 We ordered this combo: one serving of tomato okonomiyaki + shrimp, and one serving of shio yakisoba + pork!!

![Gluten-free okonomiyaki topped with tomato sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-13-78i28-900.webp)

The gluten-free okonomiyaki came out first. Since no flour is used, it should be easy on the stomach! Since we chose tomato, they topped the okonomiyaki with tomato sauce, and it looked incredibly appetizing.

Sizzle ,,, ah, this looks delicious

![Two glasses of ginger & lime highball and cassis orange](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-14-dzc1q-900.webp)

### Ginger & lime highball and cassis orange

Our order of ginger & lime highball and cassis orange! We ordered one highball and one cocktail each. Neither felt too strong, and both paired perfectly with the okonomiyaki and yakisoba.

![A highball with lime squeezed in](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-15-1x4c8-900.webp)

Squeeze plenty of lime into the highball!! It was so tasty and refreshing that I gulped it down and nearly overdid it.....^^ I thought about ordering another but held off to save room for round two ㅠㅠㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

![Shio yakisoba on the griddle](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-16-1g05x-1200.webp)

### Why the shio yakisoba is the dish to order

My personal favorite, shio yakisoba!! The first time I had it at another branch, it left such an impression that I still remember it ,,, I've only ever tried the shio version of yakisoba, but I highly recommend it.

![Large shrimp on top of the shio yakisoba](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-17-4c71n-900.webp)

If you choose shrimp, you get about 4-5 shrimp too big to eat in one bite ... so good 🤤

![Cross-section of the cut tomato okonomiyaki](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-18-vrfhq-900.webp)

Since there's no flour, it's easy on the stomach even as you eat, and it's packed with cabbage inside — the way it blends with the tomato sauce is really delicious.

![Shio yakisoba being served onto a plate](https://img.superchart.com/images/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date/uwa-hongdae-gluten-free-okonomiyaki-date-19-1tjte-900.webp)

I'd definitely recommend trying the yakisoba in shio style!! It feels like eating oil pasta but saltier and more delicious 🤤 I'll be ordering shio again next time too ,,,

## Is UWA Hongdae Main Branch worth it for a date night?

I visited UWA Hongdae Main Branch, a popular teppanyaki restaurant with enough of a wait in the evening, and being the main branch, it really was different and even more delicious. Definitely a cut above ... the atmosphere is great and it's not too noisy, so I'd recommend it for a date, and I'd love to come back here with my partner again.

With so many great restaurants in Hongdae, when you can't decide where to go, I really recommend UWA Hongdae Main Branch, where the okonomiyaki and yakisoba are genuinely delicious :) I'd give it a 1000% chance of returning!!

## Where it is

- UWA Hongdae Main Branch (우와 홍대본점)
- 21-16 Wausan-ro 21-gil, 2nd floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- 서울특별시 마포구 와우산로21길 21-16 2층
- 37.5517143, 126.9222234
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%9A%B0%EC%99%80%20%ED%99%8D%EB%8C%80%EB%B3%B8%EC%A0%90/@37.5517143,126.9222234,17z

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