Euljiro 3-ga wine bar with homemade fondue gnocchi: Hey Jinny

Euljiro, such a hip neighborhood 👀 I went to a one-day class there last week, and even on a weekday there were plenty of people around. So many charming shops too — I thought, this really is a great neighborhood for a date.

Among them, I went searching for a good wine bar in Euljiro 3-ga, and found this place — sort of a hidden spot, but the atmosphere was so nice it seemed perfect for a blind date too. They also sell wine by the glass, so you can enjoy it without commitment, which was another plus.

Above all, the food nailed both looks and taste, which made the visit even more satisfying.

Where is Hey Jinny, and what are its hours and group booking rules?

Hey Jinny is on the 2nd floor at 7 Euljiro 12-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul. Hours are Tuesday–Friday 17:00–24:00 and Saturday–Sunday 15:00–24:00, closed every Monday. Weekday group bookings run 00:00–24:00, and during weekday daytime hours the place only operates with one group booking a day (8 people or more).

It's such a cozy space that I was surprised they take group bookings? But it seemed like a nice size for a small party with friends, or a light event. If you're looking for a group gathering spot in Euljiro, this could be worth considering — max capacity 22.

Hey Jinny's quiet second floor: a calm table in noisy Euljiro

In a neighborhood that can get pretty loud, this place was impressively quiet. I've reached the age where that chaotic-market vibe feels like too much, so I find myself drawn to quiet spots like this Euljiro 3-ga wine bar. Great for conversation, and there are seats where you can sit side by side and look out at the street.

The basic pickles arrive.

White wine by the glass at Hey Jinny

Since we were done with work — and since it was only Wednesday, meaning two more days of grinding ahead — and above all since the atmosphere at this Euljiro 3-ga wine bar was so good, we both ordered a glass of white wine each. Red is available by the glass too, of course, and the bottles were reasonably priced as well.

Osaka niboshi shrimp oil pasta

The Osaka niboshi shrimp oil pasta, a dish recreating a flavor the owner fell in love with in Osaka, is one of Hey Jinny's signature menu items. I love noodles and pasta of all kinds, so the unfamiliar name and look had me really curious. The noodles looked like pasta but also kind of like yakisoba — strange and intriguing.

When the dish arrives you mix it well before eating, and wow, I immediately understood why the owner fell in love with it. There's garlic, chives, shrimp, cream sauce, and anchovy. It sounds like it shouldn't work together at all, but once well mixed it's pure deliciousness. The anchovy brings a savory, salty depth while the cream keeps things soft and nutty. A pasta hard to find anywhere else, and it pairs incredibly well with wine. Finished the whole bowl.

Homemade fondue gnocchi

I'm a total gnocchi addict, so a sauce made with Emmental and Gouda plus handmade potato gnocchi is just impossible to resist. From the moment it arrives you can feel the warmth of the dish, and the nutty smell of cheese gets your appetite going. Golden-brown potato gnocchi sit soaked in sauce, covered like a cheese blanket — the visual alone is insane. This Euljiro 3-ga wine bar,, turns out to be a bar-snack heaven too.

Scoop up the sauce and gnocchi together and the cheese stretches endlessly. You have to scrape the bowl clean to the very bottom. It's a wine bar great for a blind date, but honestly, I couldn't hold back here. The rich flavor clings to your mouth, and the gnocchi has this faintly crisp exterior that gives way to something soft inside — so good.

Crispy eggplant with a Sichuan-pepper kick

Another of Hey Jinny's signature dishes, one that adds crunch to a table of soft, saucy plates: the crispy eggplant. I'm a person who dislikes eggplant, but I also live by the theory that fried, even a shoe would taste good.

And eggplant, fried, is delicious — and here they fry it really, really well. Fried eggplant is common enough, but this dish has its own distinct charm. First, it comes piled up like a mountain, grabbing your attention instantly. Straight out of the fryer, still so hot you need to blow on it, it's insanely crispy. There's an actual crunching sound, and inside the eggplant is soft, while the sauce is spicy-sweet — I thought, this would make a great beer snack too.

Every single dish was delicious, and on top of wine you can enjoy highballs, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks too — that's what made this Euljiro wine bar, Hey Jinny, so great. Perfect for a light dinner-and-drinks date, a second stop, or a blind date — highly recommend ❤️🔥