Yeonnam-dong pasta restaurant, 5pm weekend wait: Hey Joji

I went at 5pm and there was still a wait at this Yeonnam-dong pasta restaurant.

This is Jina, on another food date. Looking for a pasta restaurant with good vibes in Hongdae or Yeonnam-dong, or somewhere nice to go with a friend?

Then how about Hey Joji in Yeonnam-dong?

I ordered the jambalaya risotto and the garlic squid oil pasta, and since they went in completely different flavor directions, they were perfect to alternate between — I was happy with both. I went with my college friend's younger sibling on a weekend afternoon, and even though 5pm is kind of an awkward time slot, there was a wait, haha.

After eating I totally understood why it's so popular. Let me honestly share what I noticed during the visit.

Hey Joji at a glance: location, hours and prices

• 🍽️ Hey Joji (American comfort-food pasta and risotto in Yeonnam-dong)
• 📍 Location: 42-24 Donggyo-ro 46-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• 🚇 Subway: Hongik University Station Line 2 → walk toward Yeonnam-dong
• 🕒 Hours: Daily 12:00-21:00 (last order 20:00)
• 💰 Price range: Pasta from ₩16,000, risotto from ₩17,000, sides from ₩8,000

Finding Hey Joji, an American comfort-food restaurant in a Yeonnam-dong alley 🏠

Walking from Hongik University Station toward Yeonnam-dong, the first thing that catches your eye is a green awning with a sign reading "HEY GEORGE."

There are small potted plants and lantern lighting by the entrance, plus a "Hey Joji OPEN" sign, so it wasn't hard to spot even tucked in the alley.

Even from the outside, the restaurant vibes were strong.

Inside Hey Joji: a vintage American house feel 🎨

The moment I walked into Hey Joji, the deep green walls immediately caught my eye ( ˶°ㅁ°˶)

The walls are covered with framed American vintage cartoon posters — Tom and Jerry, Snoopy, 101 Dalmatians — and several antique chandeliers hang from the ceiling.

The floor's overall vintage look matches the space really well too.

Above and around the open kitchen, wine bottles are displayed, giving it a cozy feel.

One wall has vinyl records and a wooden shutter mirror,

and the round side table in the middle has wine bottles set on top, so there was a lot to look at everywhere. Orders are placed through a table QR code.

It being a weekend afternoon, nearly all the tables were full — lots of friend groups and couples.

Hey Joji's full menu and what we ordered 🗒️

Hey Joji's menu is pretty varied, covering pasta, risotto, mains, sides, and drinks.

It's divided into Pasta / Risotto & Mains / Sides / Drinks, and for my order I ended up with 2 mains, 1 side, and 2 drinks!

Jambalaya rosé risotto ₩17,000: thick, creamy and full of sausage 🍚

One of my orders was the jambalaya rosé risotto for ₩17,000. The visual alone was different from anything I'd seen before.

Round-cut sausage slices formed a ring on top, with deep orange risotto filling the plate. Arugula, cherry tomatoes, and parmesan cheese were sprinkled on, building anticipation before the first bite.

Taking a spoonful, it was rosé-flavored but much richer than I expected. Creamy without being heavy — the first taste brought a savory note, followed by a slight kick and an exotic spice flavor.

The sausage blended really well with the risotto sauce instead of standing apart. It had juicy bite and a salty edge that balanced the richness nicely. There was shrimp mixed in too, which I fished out — the sauce had soaked in well enough that it was delicious on its own (๑´ڡ`๑)

Since the flavor itself was so rich, the portion didn't feel small either. For two people, one risotto plus one pasta was just the right amount.

Garlic squid oil pasta ₩16,000: plenty of squid and a light finish 🍝

My other main was the garlic squid oil pasta for ₩16,000.

Along with the spaghetti noodles, there were short chewy noodles mixed in, topped with squid, mushrooms, arugula, cherry tomatoes, and lemon slices.

Lifting it with a fork you could see the glossy oil coating, and the first thing you taste is garlic, followed by the characteristic lightness of an oil-based sauce.

Since it wasn't a cream or rosé sauce, I could keep eating without feeling weighed down, and every so often a hint of lemon juice made it feel even lighter.

There was quite a lot of squid, so it was easy to eat bite by bite, and the chewy texture paired well with the noodles.

Since the jambalaya rosé risotto was rich and heavy, alternating with this pasta kept things from getting monotonous. My friend's sibling said she actually liked this pasta better, and we both ate well (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)

Sweet potato fries ₩8,000: chili mayo on top, still not heavy 🍟

Since my friend's sibling wanted it, we added the sweet potato fries for ₩8,000. They came piled high in a cup-shaped bowl, with chili mayo sauce drizzled generously over the top.

Grated parmesan cheese was scattered on top too, so it looked delicious even before I tried it ꉂꉂ(˃▿˂๑)

Even with the chili mayo sauce, it wasn't as greasy as I expected. Since the sweet potato itself is naturally sweet, it actually paired well with the sauce. Crispy outside, fluffy inside. Grabbing a fry now and then between bites of the jambalaya rosé risotto felt like a nice palate reset, so I was glad we added it as a side.

₩47,000 for two: why Hey Joji is worth a return trip to Yeonnam-dong

The total for two came to ₩47,000, which wasn't a big burden for two people. The rich taste of the jambalaya risotto is what stuck with me most.

Even at an odd hour like 5pm there was a wait, so if you're visiting on a weekend, it's better to go with some extra time or be prepared to wait. This feels like a place I'll think of again for a Yeonnam-dong hangout with friends or a date.

Who Hey Joji is best for

• Anyone looking for a good-vibes pasta restaurant in Hongdae or Yeonnam-dong
• Anyone wanting to try something different like jambalaya risotto
• Anyone looking for a spot for a Yeonnam-dong friend meetup or couple date
• Anyone who loves vintage retro interiors
• Anyone who wants a combo of two dishes to share