Hongdae ochazuke restaurant: eel bowl, no ginger, extra broth, Ochaya

Why I went to Ochaya in Hongdae for my first ochazuke

Ochaya is an ochazuke restaurant (Japanese rice with broth or tea poured over) I found while walking around Hongdae. It's gotten really hot lately, hasn't it? Yes, it has. I'm so hot... I'm between jobs right now, so I've just been sitting at home with the AC on 😓

If I stay home all day I get lazy and just order delivery, so I came out for a light walk. Walking around Hongdae today, I noticed how many Japanese restaurants there are. I love Japanese food, and there's one dish I still haven't had a chance to try: ochazuke 💚

What is ochazuke?

Ochazuke combines "ocha" (お茶, tea) and "zuke" (漬け, to soak), so it literally means rice soaked in tea. In actual cooking, though, versions with dashi (stock) or a clear broth poured over are also broadly called chazuke or ochazuke. These days it's one of the home-style dishes many people eat in Korea too.

I live alone, and buying the ingredients once leaves far too much left over, so I never dared try making it. That's how I found Ochaya! 🎶

Ochaya opening hours and the entrance

Ochaya is open daily 11:30–20:30, with last order at 19:50. It's on the second floor, so you have to climb the stairs.

Helpfully, there are signs posted along the stairs :)

They say the high oil price relief payment can be used here too ☺️

When you walk in, the owner greets you warmly and you see the kiosk right away! The space inside isn't very big, and a lot of the customers were solo diners or couples.

What are the main dishes at Ochaya?

Ochaya's mains are six kinds of ochazuke. The toppings on the nutritious rice 🍚 differ from bowl to bowl, and you can add more of the main ingredient if you want!

• Butanogakuni: ochazuke topped with a strip of softly simmered pork belly
• Salmon ochazuke: topped with salmon cured the kombu-jime way
• Eel ochazuke: topped with eel glazed in a sweet sauce and charred flavor, plus egg strips
• Kaisen chazuke: seafood ochazuke with finely chopped tuna, octopus and shrimp over the nutritious rice
• John Dory (matou dai) ochazuke: topped with chewy John Dory
• Cod roe ochazuke: topped with salty cod roe

I ordered the eel ochazuke (unagi chazuke) and a Coke Zero. After ordering I wanted to photograph the interior, but it was busy with customers, so I couldn't get a full shot.

What is the seating like at Ochaya?

Seating is split into tables for 4–6 people for bigger groups, and tables for 1–2 if you're a pair or dining solo. Bamboo is the signature touch in the seats and decor! The bamboo 🎋 seats have cushions, so sitting there doesn't hurt.

When you sit down, soy sauce, a wooden spoon and chopsticks are already set out.

Ochaya's eel ochazuke set and how the nutritious rice tastes

The staff bring the food to your table, and it comes as a full tray set. The rice portion is average, with mushrooms 🍄‍🟫, corn 🌽 and several grains mixed in, so it's very nutritious, and it feels moist rather than fluffy 🧡

Three side dishes come with it, like this!

On the eel ochazuke, egg strips, eel and chopped scallion go on top of the nutritious rice, in that order. I still have a kid's palate, so I left out the ginger and poured in the broth. Nom nom nom 😋

How should you eat ochazuke? No ginger, extra broth

The owner recommends eating about half like a rice bowl (donburi) and pouring the broth over the rest. Personally, I liked pouring in plenty of broth and eating it like gukbap (rice soup). The broth is mild enough for all ages, which I loved 🥰

As a review event, you get matcha 🍵 ice cream if you write a Naver review. I meant to get it, but they looked busy, so I just wrote the review and left.

Want to try a different kind of Japanese restaurant in Yeonnam? I recommend Ochaya!