Yeonnam-dong pasta restaurant, two plates compared at noon: Hey Joji

I was craving pasta so badly after a long while, so I went looking for good spots around Yeonnam-dong and found Hey Joji.

There are so many good restaurants in Yeonnam-dong that I couldn't decide where to go, but Hey Joji had a lot of reviews praising the pretty interior and the pasta, so I decided to check it out.

Overall the food was satisfying, and if you're wondering where to go for a date, I'd recommend this place.

Where is Hey Joji in Yeonnam-dong, and what are the hours?

Hey Joji is a pasta restaurant in Yeonnam-dong located at 42-24 Donggyo-ro 46-gil, 1F, Mapo-gu, Seoul, open daily from 12:00 to 21:00 (last order 20:00). The whole place has an exotic vibe that made me feel like I was abroad.

Around the entrance there are various props, dolls, and mirrors decorating the space — very stylish. The exterior makes you want to take photos before even going in, so it seems great for capturing some shots on a date.

📍 42-24 Donggyo-ro 46-gil, 1F, Mapo-gu, Seoul

⏰ Daily 12:00–21:00 (last order 20:00)

I liked that there's no separate break time. It seems handy if you're eating lunch a bit late or looking for a place at an awkward hour.

Is there a wait at Hey Joji at noon?

I arrived at Hey Joji right at 12, and since it wasn't crowded yet, I got seated right away without waiting. Right after I finished ordering, people started pouring in.

For reference, there's a menu board set up at the entrance. If you want to check what's on the menu before heading in, it's worth taking a look there first.

Waiting seemed to be handled in person rather than through a tablet system. This might vary depending on the day, so take it just as a reference. If you want to avoid waiting, I'd recommend visiting a bit earlier.

Inside Hey Joji: the mood and the window seats

The interior of Hey Joji is decorated with cute little props and a retro feel, and personally, my favorite spot was the edge table by the window.

The cute little props scattered around and the retro interior really caught my eye. Everything was styled tastefully so my eyes kept wandering around the room.

Personally, I liked the window-side atmosphere the most. If you sit at the edge, you can eat while looking out at a pretty window. Photos turn out nicely there too — I think I took quite a lot of shots there that day.

If you want to eat while looking out the window, I'd recommend the edge table. There's also a spot right in front of the window where a breeze comes in, which would be great on a nice day if you want a cool, breezy meal.

Right next to it, there are also sofa seats good for four people. If you're visiting with a group of friends or want a more relaxed meal, that area looks good too.

Hey Joji menu and how QR ordering works

At Hey Joji, you check the menu and order through a QR code attached to each table.

It's convenient since you can check the menu instantly and order right there. Just keep in mind there are no separate photos of the dishes on the QR menu.

The menu is broadly divided into pasta, risotto, and wine. The signature dish is the house steak. Among the pastas, the garlic squid oil pasta and the Cajun shrimp rosé pasta seemed to be the popular picks.

I ordered both of these pastas, plus a Sprite and a white wine.

Garlic squid oil pasta vs Cajun shrimp rosé pasta: what's the difference?

Both pastas at Hey Joji were delicious overall, but personally, the garlic squid oil pasta suited my taste the most.

I usually like oil pastas anyway, and this was exactly the classic oil pasta style.

It wasn't particularly spicy or intense, and the squid's flavor came through well, so if you like that distinct seafood taste, you'd probably enjoy it. The garlic aroma mixed nicely with the savory oil, never overwhelming, so I kept going back for more bites.

The Cajun shrimp rosé pasta wasn't bad either — the rosé sauce flavor felt rich and deep, which I really appreciated. There was also a slight kick of spice, which kept it from feeling too heavy.

If the oil pasta felt clean and light, this one had a richer, spicier sauce style. Since the two dishes had such different styles, I think it was a good call to order both and share.

I was so hungry that day that I dug in as soon as the food arrived.

Is Hey Joji good for a Yeonnam-dong date course?

This was one of the tastiest meals I've had recently. Since it's located in Yeonnam-dong, it also seems like a great spot to pair with a café or browsing some prop shops afterward.