Hapjeong date pizzeria, sweet potato Manjo: Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza

It had been a while since we planned a Hapjeong date, and I was really craving Western food or, even better, wood-fired pizza. So I went with a recommendation for Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza, a well-known spot in Hapjeong. Here's my honest review!!

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza near Hapjeong Station: wood-fired pizza right in the name

This is Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza (홍대화덕피자)!! The name literally means 'Hongdae wood-fired pizza'!! I've been going around Seoul trying wood-fired pizza places, and this one kept getting recommended to me over and over!! Having 'wood-fired pizza' right in the shop's name tells you how serious the owner is about it!!

The inside of Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza was cute and a bit vintage. The wood interior gave it such a nice atmosphere, and there were customer photos hung on the wall, so it seemed like a great spot to visit for an anniversary too. Perfect for making memories!! The lighting was also cozy, ideal for a date.

Why Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza works for a Hapjeong date: seating and atmosphere

The seats at Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza are spacious, there are plenty of tables, and the gaps between tables are wide, so I really recommend it to anyone looking for a Hongdae date spot, a Hapjeong date spot, or a Hapjeong Western-food date restaurant. It works well for a daytime date or an evening one. Even though we visited at lunch, true to its reputation as a wood-fired pizza favorite, there were 4–5 couple tables there too!!

We reserved through Naver Reservation and when we arrived, the table was already set like this. So cozy, vintage, and elegant. Seriously, I strongly recommend this as a Hongdae date course or Hapjeong date course!! It'd also be great for a blind date — the table behind us was actually on one, haha..

What to order at Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza: half-and-half pizza is allowed

True to being a great wood-fired pizza spot, Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza had quite a variety, and the best-sellers and signatures were marked, which made choosing easier. (Though honestly I kept agonizing because I wanted to try everything ㅜㅜ)

When I asked, the owner said half-and-half pizza was possible, so we ordered it that way. A lot of wood-fired pizza places won't do half-and-half, so I was really grateful and happy that Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza does. Let me give you my menu recommendations. We ordered half Manjo, half Croccante.

Gamberi Crema Penne: the best pasta I ate all year

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza is famous as a wood-fired pizza restaurant, but it's also well known for its pasta. Worried the pizza might be too rich, I planned to order a tomato-based pasta, but the Gamberi Crema Penne was marked as a best-seller, a signature, AND a staff recommendation!! I was told it's spicy rather than heavy, so I went with the Gamberi Crema Penne pasta. As a proper pasta place, you could choose between penne and linguine noodles, and we picked penne. Here's my honest review after trying it!!

Gamberi Crema Penne pasta — I confirm Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza as a genuine pasta destination. It was the best pasta I've eaten this year. Thick, creamy, and spicy, so it never got heavy, and it was seriously delicious, way better than dedicated pasta specialty restaurants. Confirmed: a top Hongdae Western food spot, a top Hongdae pasta spot!! Strongly recommended menu. You really have to try it.

The Gamberi Crema Penne pasta came out first, followed by the wood-fired pizza, and they lit a candle underneath it so we could eat it warm until the very end!!

How does the sweet potato Manjo wood-fired pizza taste?

This was my first time seeing a sweet potato wood-fired pizza, and it was the best sweet potato pizza I've ever had... The dough was chewy and delicious, the cheese was so soft... but more than anything, the date atmosphere was just so good!! If you're looking for a Hongdae date course, a Hapjeong date course, or a Hapjeong wood-fired pizza favorite, I strongly recommend Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza!!!!!!!!!!!!!