Yeonnam-dong Chinese restaurant Ttasijia: shrimp gukbap, cucumber

Ttasijia Yeonnam My husband and I went on a Yeonnam-dong date after a long while. Back when we were dating, we used to wander around Hongdae and Yeonnam, hit up good restaurants, eat sweet desserts, drink wine, and just enjoy quality time together. But after getting married and settling into daily life, it's not so easy to head out to Hongdae together on our days off. The scorching heat had finally eased off and the weather was so nice and cool that my husband suggested Yeonnam-dong on a whim, so we grabbed our stuff and rushed out. ^o^

What kind of restaurant is Ttasijia Yeonnam?

Ttasijia (대식가 / 大食家, meaning "big eater") is apparently a restaurant that has been selected for the Michelin Guide Singapore six years in a row. Ttasijia is how "big eater" is pronounced in Chinese.

While thinking about what to eat today, I remembered a Michelin-recognized shrimp noodle restaurant from Singapore I'd seen on Sung Si-kyung's YouTube channel a while back, and that it had just opened its first Korean location in Hongdae. I quickly looked it up.

How to walk to Ttasijia Yeonnam from Hongik University Station

About a 6-8 minute walk from Hongik University Station Exit 3, this Gyeongui Line Forest Park-area restaurant is tucked in an alley, but its huge Chinese-style gate exterior makes it easy to spot from a distance. The small bamboo grove and Merlion statue at the entrance gave off such an exotic vibe, like we'd traveled abroad, and the interior — decorated with tables and chairs that felt straight out of a local Singaporean eatery — really completed that travel feeling.

Ttasijia Yeonnam hours, break time and parking

Closed for Chuseok holiday. Please check Naver Place for updates.

• Hours: Daily 11:30-22:00 (last order 21:00)
• Break time: 15:00-17:00 (no break on weekends)
• Address: 1F, 13-1 Donggyo-ro 38-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• Parking: As is typical in Yeonnam-dong, there's no dedicated lot for the restaurant, so use a nearby public or private parking lot.

Inside Ttasijia Yeonnam: atmosphere and seating

Ttasijia Yeonnam's dining hall is split into two sections. Going in to the right, there's a space that seems perfect for small private gatherings. As the weather cools down, outdoor seating is now an option too.

The interior is so pretty that I lost count of how many photos I took. ^^ In the afternoon the mood shifts again, so this seems like a hugely popular Yeonnam-dong date spot too. During the day it's great for lunch with shrimp noodles, fried noodles, or gukbap, and in the evening it's the perfect spot for a drink with the side dishes.

What the couple ordered at Ttasijia Yeonnam, and the prices

There's a wide variety of menu items — shrimp fried noodles, gukbap, black vinegar guobaorou, fried rice, and more. We ordered three things: shrimp gukbap, chili clams with fried mantou, and cucumber salad.

[Coupon] Get a free apple juice worth ₩6,000. * 10% off for wedding invitation groups * Free 100% pressed apple juice for photo reviews

• Jumbo shrimp gukbap: ₩16,500
• Chili clams with fried mantou: ₩16,500
• Cucumber salad: ₩6,000

FYI, Sung Si-kyung's pick shrimp broth fried noodles (jumbo shrimp) is limited to 15 servings a day.

How does the jumbo shrimp gukbap taste?

The dish both my husband and I were most looking forward to: shrimp gukbap (jumbo shrimp). The gorgeous, glistening bowl topped with plump, appetizing shrimp was stunning enough, but the deeply infused broth aroma was the real twist. One slurp of the broth and it was deep and refreshing all through my mouth — the perfect rice-stealer that totally hit the spot. Highly recommend it as a hangover cure too!

Why cucumber salad pairs well with shrimp gukbap

The cucumber salad, tossed crisply in a Chinese-style sauce, refreshingly cleansed the palate and boosted our appetite, pairing so well with the gukbap that we cleaned the plate without leaving a single piece.

Chili clams with fried mantou at Ttasijia Yeonnam

The chili clams with fried mantou (steamed flower bread) is a great combo of clam meat and crispy fried mantou in a savory-sweet, salty chili sauce! The sauce is exactly my taste — so good! Dipping the mantou into the spicy-sweet sauce kept us coming back for more without getting tired of it. There was plenty of sauce left over, so we ordered extra mantou. : )

Is Ttasijia Yeonnam a good Yeonnam-dong date spot?

This was both our first time trying Singaporean food, and our first try was completely satisfying. Next time I want to come back to try the hawker bites menu with a drink. A place where you can experience Singaporean atmosphere and food right here in Korea! If you're looking for a unique Yeonnam-dong date spot in this cool weather, or a hearty Yeonnam-dong lunch restaurant, have a great time at Ttasijia Yeonnam.