Round-two bar in Hoegi with seafood okonomiyaki and soju: Hamaru Hoegi

We ate solidly at a Korean BBQ spot and were debating where to go for round two in Hoegi with friends, so we decided on my favorite izakaya ✨ It's a place I've revisited many times for its great anju (drinking snacks), and with such good value it's perfect for a second-round bar ><

Where is Hamaru Hoegi and how do you get there?

Hamaru Hoegi is an izakaya on Kyunghee-daero 1-gil in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, about a 10-minute walk from Hoegi Station Exit 1. It's much easier to get to if you take the Dongdaemun 01 bus right in front of Exit 1.

What the outside and inside of Hamaru Hoegi look like

Hamaru Hoegi sits right on the bar street in front of Kyung Hee University's main gate, so it's easy to find. With the weather cooling down these days, having a drink at the outdoor patio tables looks really nice too.

The interior has that full Japanese izakaya feel ✨💕 There are about 7–8 tables, plus seats set up at the bar table too.

What to order from the Hamaru Hoegi menu

Once we sat down they brought us the menu. You order with staff! Yakitori is the main lineup, but there's also a variety of teppanyaki and hot pot dishes, so it's fun picking your anju. The chicken karaage here is genuinely so, so good — I really want to recommend it ><

The basic side dish is cabbage drizzled with sauce, and it's really delicious haha. Even cabbage I'd normally skip disappears in no time when it's served like this.

Since this was our second round after Korean BBQ, we ordered two anju.

• Okonomiyaki ₩17,000
• Pork belly bean sprout stir-fry ₩16,000

Handmade-batter seafood okonomiyaki, 17,000 won

The anju at Hamaru Hoegi took about 15 minutes, and the handmade-batter seafood okonomiyaki came out first. They draw such a cute character on top that I feel a bit guilty every time I cut into it hahahahaha. They're so good at drawing it that I'm always amazed while eating.

To celebrate the food arriving, we immediately clinked a shot of soju. The draft beer here is genuinely excellent, but since we'd already eaten pretty full by then, we kept going with soju instead. If you happen to come here for your first round, definitely try the draft beer — it's a refreshing taste that wipes away all your fatigue 😆

They cut the cute okonomiyaki up neatly. It's a shame the drawing gets messed up, but the feel of cutting into it is really satisfying hahahahahaha. Even the crunchy sound of the cabbage tastes delicious~

The bonito flakes served alongside are meant to be sprinkled on top. Put them on right when it's freshly made and hot, and the bonito flakes dance on top of the okonomiyaki 🤤

Pork belly bean sprout stir-fry, 16,000 won: how big is the portion?

The second anju, pork belly bean sprout stir-fry, arrived! I was shocked at how big the portion was for such a low price ㄷㄷㄷ Looking closer, there was so much pork belly packed in that it couldn't not be delicious.

It was hot, so we scooped some onto our plates, mixed it up evenly, and ate it in one bite. It's seasoned nice and salty, perfect as anju. The bean sprouts were crunchy, and the cabbage added even more texture on top, so it was really delicious 💕 If you're looking for a healthier anju, I think this dish is a great fit haha.

Is Hamaru Hoegi worth it for a second round?

A Kyung Hee izakaya with varied, delicious anju and great atmosphere

Among izakayas near Kyung Hee University, Hamaru Hoegi is number one at delivering both value and flavor like this. The yakitori I had on a previous visit was so delicious, but I didn't get to have it this time, so I'll definitely need to come back ><. It's an izakaya anyone would be satisfied with regardless of who you go with, so if you're looking for a good-value izakaya to enjoy with a group in Hoegi, I highly recommend this place 👍