# Hongdae brunch café for truffle fries on a lunch break: MELA - By Ian (https://superchart.com/en/@meal-margins-seoul/) - Written Sep 18, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul - Sponsored: This visit was sponsored by the business. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@meal-margins-seoul/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@meal-margins-seoul/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/index.md) ## In short MELA Hongdae is an Italian home-style brunch café in Seogyo-dong, Mapo, a 10-minute walk from Hongik University Station. On a weekday work lunch break, booked through Naver, the order at MELA Hongdae was the signature brunch plate at 22,000 won, salmon eggs Benedict at 22,000 won, and truffle fries from the review event. Clean, not-too-heavy flavors and roomy tables make MELA Hongdae a good pick for wedding-invitation get-togethers or team lunches. ## Good to know - **Signature brunch plate**: 22,000 won - **Salmon eggs Benedict**: 22,000 won - **Morning special**: 9:00–11:00 AM - **Reservations**: Naver booking available; walk-ins also accepted - **Location**: 10-minute walk from Hongik University Station, in Seogyo-dong between Hongdae and Hapjeong - **Round window tables**: Two tables for four, first come first served - **Group seating**: Long table in the middle of the room - **Self-service bar**: Napkins and water are self-serve - **Price reference**: ₩22,000 ≈ $16 (2026-09-19) *as written by the visitor on Sep 18, 2026* ![First photo from visiting MELA Hongdae brunch café](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-01-1x129-900.webp) The weather's been so good lately, and my team lead is on vacation,,, so to enjoy this bit of freedom I went to MELA Hongdae, a hidden brunch gem in Hongdae. If this isn't abroad, what is it. ![Exterior of MELA Hongdae with its exotic vibe](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-02-7wze8-m-900.webp) The vibe here is insane. It's a brunch café but it's so good I ran straight to writing this review right after eating. ![MELA Hongdae entrance sign](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-03-1pxv6-900.webp) ## What kind of place is MELA Hongdae? > [ MELA Hongdae ] An Italian brunch café in Hongdae MELA is a place where a culinary researcher trained at ICIF, an Italian cooking school, puts a sense of style into Italian home cooking — brunch, meals, and pasta. They say they use fresh, good-quality ingredients to make food that's not too heavy and that anyone can enjoy comfortably. ![MELA Hongdae on a quiet Seoghyo-dong alley](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-04-1hkl8-900.webp) ## How to get there: 10 minutes on foot from Hongik University Station MELA Hongdae is in Seoghyo-dong (서교동), between Hongdae and Hapjeong. Walk about 10 minutes from Hongik University Station and you arrive in a really quiet neighborhood. I had no idea a place like this existed in Hongdae. There are lots of good restaurants and cafés around here too — this is one of the Seoghyo-dong spots. ![Street view in front of the MELA Hongdae building](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-05-43bp7-900.webp) MELA also has locations at Yeongdeungpo Times Square and Daechi-dong, and it's known as a solid brunch spot. Since it's a brunch place, it opens early in the morning, and apparently a lot of foreign customers come in during the morning hours. ![Area around the MELA Hongdae entrance](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-06-s3ro7-900.webp) ## Do you need a reservation at MELA Hongdae? I booked ahead through Naver. Since it was a weekday lunch, it was fairly busy. I'd recommend reserving if you can!! (Walk-ins are also fine) ![Interior of MELA Hongdae with mint and tile accents](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-07-pb1zc-900.webp) ![Table and chair seating arrangement at MELA Hongdae](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-08-10krd-900.webp) ## Interior and seating at MELA Hongdae This is exactly the mood. The moment I walked in I thought, wait, is this really Hongdae? The overall feel is warm and cozy, so even though I only had a short work lunch break, it felt like I'd gone somewhere for a proper outing. Like a brunch café you'd expect to find in Hannam-dong or Seongsu-dong with that foreign, imported-café feel... There's plenty of seating, and the mint and tile combo is so soothing. Napkins and water are self-serve, and overall the place is spotless — I didn't spot a single speck of dust. That photo on the right is totally my style,,, exactly the mood I love. The chairs and tables are all set up for comfortable dining, so older guests come in for meals too. I think my mom would love it. There are also window seats with a nice green view. These are round tables and great for photos. There are only 2 of these round tables, so it's first-come, first-served!! (Each seats 4 people.) And in the middle there's a long table — great for group gatherings like wedding invitation parties or team lunches. ![Window seat with round table at MELA Hongdae](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-09-1jlkq-900.webp) ![Long table for group seating at MELA Hongdae](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-10-1af5q-900.webp) ## What's on the MELA Hongdae brunch menu? If you come between 9:00 and 11:00 AM, there's a morning special menu. And since it's a brunch café, there's also a range of desserts!! They have bingsu (shaved ice dessert), croissants, pain au chocolat, cookies, and other sweets. ![Dessert display case at MELA Hongdae](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-11-y28ca-900.webp) ![Croissants and cookies displayed at MELA Hongdae](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-12-dp0sc-900.webp) ![MELA Hongdae menu board](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-13-11d8n-900.webp) The menu has meal dishes, brunch options, desserts, and coffee too! There were a lot of drink options too. Lots of Western dishes. The gnocchi looked good too. We ordered the salmon eggs Benedict, the signature brunch plate, and cookies for dessert to set the mood, plus truffle fries from the review event. ![MELA Hongdae signature brunch plate served on one dish](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-14-1boa2-900.webp) ## Signature brunch plate, 22,000 won The signature brunch plate is ₩22,000, a textbook brunch spread with everything you'd picture when you think 'brunch.' It comes with a whole half avocado, sausage, fresh vegetables, roasted potatoes, egg salad, and more, all piled on. ![Close-up of avocado and sausage on the brunch plate](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-15-12bfr-900.webp) ![Brunch plate with roasted potatoes and egg salad](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-16-1hosr-900.webp) They say this signature brunch plate is MELA Hongdae's best menu item — it's more filling than it looks, so by the time you finish you're stuffed..! Nothing too heavy in flavor, overall clean and pairs well with an Americano. (I regret not ordering coffee..the brunch is served with iced Americano-worthy vibes, if that makes sense.) ![Plating of MELA Hongdae's salmon eggs Benedict](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-17-jr36k-900.webp) ## Salmon eggs Benedict, 22,000 won The salmon eggs Benedict is also ₩22,000. Looking at MELA Hongdae reviews, everyone orders this one. So I followed suit — huge success. ![Salmon eggs Benedict with two ciabatta halves and poached eggs](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-18-1wr1c-1200.webp) There are two whole pieces of ciabatta, two poached eggs, and a generous amount of salad. ![Eggs Benedict piled high with smoked salmon](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-19-hsg9e-900.webp) ![Cross-section of the salmon eggs Benedict with salad](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-20-1k64e-900.webp) Wait, hold on,,,, what's going on with this salmon. There's a ton of smoked salmon. There's more here than you'd expect. ![Runny poached egg yolk with carrot slaw](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-21-1kafb-900.webp) There's a well-seasoned vegetable that I think was spinach, and the poached egg yolk is amazing, and the sauce — I don't even know what's in it, but it's so good. The carrot slaw and salad on the side are great too, nothing here falls short. Can you see how fresh the salad looks? With the yuzu dressing it's sweet and tangy, and the vegetables are so fresh and crunchy — it's been a while since I had such a healthy lunch. (Coming from someone who usually only eats mala, stew, or gukbap.) ![Fresh salad with yuzu dressing](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-22-1nccm-900.webp) ![Warm cookies served at the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-23-20ztv-900.webp) ## Cookies and the review-event truffle fries The cookies come warmed up from the oven too, and the fries are tasty. They're called truffle fries — honestly I didn't really pick up truffle aroma, but the fries themselves are delicious. ![Truffle fries received as a review event item](https://img.superchart.com/images/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate-24-6m49x-900.webp) ## What to order next time, and the verdict on MELA Hongdae Besides the brunch menu, MELA Hongdae has a lot of pasta options too, and the pasta at the next table looked delicious.. They also apparently have chuck flap steak as another signature dish. Next time I'll have to try the steak and pasta. The music playing, the relaxed atmosphere — everything about this place was great, no complaints. My lunch break was so short it was almost a shame, but I feel like I finally found a quiet, delicious brunch café in Hongdae after a long time. If you're looking for a quiet brunch café or Western food spot around Hongdae or Hapjeong, definitely check out MELA Hongdae. It's a perfect spot for a Hongdae wedding invitation gathering too. ## Where it is - MELA Hongdae (멜라 홍대점) - 41 Worldcup-buk-ro 5-gil, 1F Unit 105, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 마포구 월드컵북로5길 41 1층 105호 - 37.5561238, 126.9167212 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%A9%9C%EB%9D%BC%20%ED%99%8D%EB%8C%80%EC%A0%90/@37.5561238,126.9167212,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@meal-margins-seoul/hongdae-lunch-brunch-signature-plate/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt