Daehangno Korean pub for chilled yukhoe and clam stew: Hyehwahwa

This time I visited Hyehwahwa, a Korean pub close to Hyehwa Station. It's not just a place to drink — you can order everything from raw beef to hot stew to hearty fried rice at one table, which made it great for dinner plus a drink.

The combo I ordered this time — premium chilled yukhoe (raw beef) half plate, spicy scallop clam stew, and cheese bomb beef belly kimchi fried rice — worked better than I expected. The scallop clam stew happened to be out of scallops on my visit, but instead of just serving it as-is, the staff explained the situation first and loaded in extra clams. That kind of service just feels good.

On top of that there was a welcome-drink event, which gave this Hyehwa Station restaurant a bit of a different feel from a typical Daehangno pub right from the start. Here's my write-up on Hyehwahwa.

Where Hyehwahwa is and when it opens

• 🏮 Name｜Hyehwahwa
• 📍 Address｜29-3 Daemyeong-gil, 2nd floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 🚇 Transit｜About 146m from Hyehwa Station Exit 4
• ⏰ Hours｜5:00 PM – 1:00 AM
• 🕛 Last order｜12:00 AM
• 📅 Closed｜Every Monday
• 🪑 Seating｜Solo seats, couple seats, group seats, bar table, counter seats
• 👥 Groups｜Available
• 📱 Reservations｜Available
• 🚗 Parking｜No on-site parking / use public parking lots
• 💳 Payment｜Local currency, Zero Pay, simple pay

Hyehwahwa is listed as about 146m from Hyehwa Station Exit 4, so it's pretty accessible. A lot of people come to Daehangno for plays and musicals, so they're often looking for a place to eat or drink before or after a show.

That's what makes this spot handy — no need to walk far from the station. It's open from 5pm with orders taken until midnight, so it fits well as a stop after catching a show.

Straw-themed interior and the mood inside Hyehwahwa

On the way up to the Hyehwahwa entrance there's decor made of straw and wood. There's a space piled with straw, plus props using brick and a grill grate — definitely different from the clean, minimalist 'aesthetic bar' look you usually see these days.

The actual straw-filled space really shows off Hyehwahwa's concept.

Even from outside, you can already smell that this is a good place for drinking snacks. Got my hopes up even more for this Hyehwa Korean pub.

The walkway inside is spotless too. I'd made a reservation, so I was seated right away.

The interior is built around wood-toned tables and chairs, with a long bar-style seating area alongside regular tables. When I visited, there were tables of several people eating and drinking together, and the space isn't small at all.

So it works as a casual Hyehwa bar for two friends, but it's also worth considering for a bigger Daehangno group gathering.

What we ordered at Hyehwahwa and the total bill

• ✔️ Premium chilled yukhoe half plate
• ✔️ Spicy scallop clam stew
• ✔️ Cheese bomb beef belly kimchi fried rice
• 💳 Total spent that day: ₩53,000

Personally, I think I picked a pretty good combination of dishes. There's yukhoe to start things off cold and clean, hot soup in the middle, and cheese-loaded fried rice at the end — nothing overlapped.

If you're looking for a Daehangno restaurant-bar where you can handle both a meal and drinks in one go, ordering this way isn't a bad idea.

You can order straight from the table via QR code. The basic side dishes were grilled tofu and baek-kimchi (white kimchi) — surprisingly addictive as a snack.

Save Hyehwahwa on Naver Place for a free aperitif

Just saving Hyehwahwa on Naver Place gets you a free welcome drink right away. It comes in a small glass, and if you're with a group, it's a nice way to clink glasses and set the mood before the main dishes arrive.

Rather than just sitting down and ordering right away, this small touch left a bit more of an impression of Hyehwahwa specifically.

Hyehwahwa seems to have a lot of traditional Korean liquor. Light and refreshing — perfect as a welcome drink.

Spicy scallop and clam stew: what happens when scallops sell out

Second up was the spicy scallop clam stew. Unfortunately, scallops were sold out on the day I visited. But instead of just taking my order as normal, the staff told me upfront that they were out of scallops and offered to add extra clams instead.

This kind of thing might sound minor, but it actually matters a lot in person. They explained the missing ingredient ahead of time and kindly walked me through the substitute, so I was able to enjoy the meal without any bad feelings.

Going from cold yukhoe to a hot spoonful of soup, the combination really worked. If you're someone who needs a soup-based dish at the drinking table, this pairs well. If you're making dinner plans in Hyehwa and looking for a Daehangno Korean pub, ordering yukhoe together with a stew like this is a combo I'd recommend.

Premium chilled yukhoe half plate

The first thing that caught my eye was the premium chilled yukhoe half plate. The raw beef was spread out on a wide dish, topped with chopped scallions and sesame seeds. Perilla leaves and sauce were served on the side to pair with it.

Even as a 'half plate' dish, it had real presence once it was on the table. It wasn't drowned in sauces either — the yukhoe itself was clearly visible, which made it a good starter dish.

When you're out with friends looking for a Hyehwa Station restaurant, sometimes one person wants yukhoe and another wants hot soup — I liked that Hyehwahwa lets you order both kinds of dishes at the same table.

A bite of yukhoe, a sip of drink, another bite of yukhoe. It set the mood nicely before the main dishes arrived.

Cheese bomb beef belly kimchi fried rice

The moment this arrived, I immediately understood why it's called a 'cheese bomb.'

You pour a whole cup of cheese in and mix it up — a literal cheese bomb.

This dish is perfect right when you need carbs after the yukhoe and stew. Sometimes you're at a pub eating nothing but drinking snacks and end up feeling like something's missing at the end. Order this one dish and it wraps things up pretty solidly.

So personally, I felt this was a great dish to order alongside drinks when visiting Hyehwahwa for dinner rather than just drinking.

Who should book a table at Hyehwahwa

It seems like a good match for anyone catching a play or musical in Daehangno and looking for a Hyehwa Station bar afterward, anyone wanting Korean drinking snacks with friends, and anyone who wants to order a range of dishes — yukhoe, soup, fried rice — all at once.

There are plenty of casual beer spots around Daehangno, but Hyehwahwa is a good pick for a day when you want to properly enjoy a Korean-food-focused first round.

Final verdict on Hyehwahwa

• ☑️ Access to Hyehwa Station｜About 146m from Exit 4
• ☑️ Menu range｜Yukhoe, stew, and fried rice all available
• ☑️ Recommended combo｜Yukhoe + clam stew + cheese fried rice
• ☑️ Atmosphere｜Korean pub with standout straw decor
• ☑️ Service｜Welcome-drink event and friendly staff
• ☑️ Good for｜Dates to friend and group gatherings
• ☑️ Reason to return｜Curious to try more Korean drinking snacks here