Yeonnam-dong American eatery, syrup waffle chicken date: Hey Joji

It had been a while since my last Yeonnam-dong food date, so I went hunting for a great pasta place, and I found one I just have to recommend!

It's Hey Joji (헤이죠지), with a real American vibe. I loved everything from the look of the food to the taste to the prices, so let me share it 🩷

Where is Hey Joji in Yeonnam-dong?

Hey Joji is a Western restaurant with a green sign, tucked a little way into a Yeonnam-dong alley off Donggyo-ro 46-gil. You might not spot it at a glance, but the green sign is actually pretty big!

Hey Joji basics: directions, hours and parking

Stroll from Hongik Univ. Station toward Yeonnam-dong Café Street and you'll find it in no time! It's open daily 12:00–21:00.

Like most good restaurants in Yeonnam-dong, Hey Joji has no parking of its own T_T If you're driving, I recommend the nearby Yeonnam-dong roadside public parking lot (연남동 노상 공영주차장)!

Is Hey Joji a good date restaurant?

Inside, Hey Joji is bigger than you'd expect and full of cute little props, so it feels different from how it looks outside! You can tell how carefully each prop was placed, and the owner's sense and interior detailing really show~!

It's cozy and great for quiet chats, so I thought it would be perfect as a Yeonnam-dong date course or even a first-meeting blind date spot!

How do you order at Hey Joji?

Hey Joji serves homemade-style American Western food, and you order via the QR code on the table.

The QR ordering screen has no menu photos, so I looked at pictures on Naver Place before ordering~~ There was so much I wanted to try that I agonized for ages, then went with Hey Joji's signature dishes and the combination with the best reviews!

Shrimp rosé pasta: a spicy finish cuts the richness

Hey Joji's shrimp rosé pasta is a rosé pasta with big shrimp, and its slightly spicy finish makes the cream less heavy. It's a must-order at any Yeonnam-dong pasta place. The savory smell the moment it arrived and the look of it passed with flying colors!!! I especially wanted rosé, and it lived up to my expectations~

It has big, plump shrimp packed with meat, so the chew was great too!! That slightly spicy finish wipes away the cream's typical heaviness, so I enjoyed it right down to the last bite without getting tired of it~

Since Hey Joji aims for American homemade dining, the food is generally well seasoned with rich flavor! I absolutely love that kind of food, but if you only pick cream or cheese dishes, it can feel a bit heavy toward the end, so try the combination I'm recommending today!!

Duck steak cream risotto: the best dish of the day

Hey Joji's duck steak cream risotto is a smooth, nutty cream risotto topped with a duck breast steak grilled crispy outside and juicy inside. Honestly I hesitated before ordering it, but I would have regretted skipping it so much! It took the title of the day's number one!!

The seasoning is just right, the rice grains keep their texture, and you can taste the deep cream flavor, so it's a strongly recommended dish to order with pasta and share!!

Waffle chicken: add syrup and dessert is sorted

Hey Joji's waffle chicken is a sweet-and-salty dish of crispy fried chicken on a soft waffle, and apparently it's American Southern cooking!! At first I wondered what waffle chicken even was, haha. But it's the textbook example of sweet-and-salty.

At first "chicken and waffles?" might sound unfamiliar, but one bite and you'll be surprised by the unexpected pairing! Personally, after finishing almost everything, I drizzled syrup over the waffle and it took care of dessert too!!

Does Hey Joji take reservations? Tips to avoid the wait

Hey Joji doesn't take reservations, and at weekend lunch and dinner peak times there's often a wait, as you'd expect from a Yeonnam-dong hot spot. We went as walk-ins, but if you can, avoid the busy hours or aim for opening time!

Personally, it was the most satisfying pasta place I've been to recently, with great atmosphere and great taste: Hey Joji in Yeonnam! If you're looking for a good pasta place near Yeonnam or Hongdae, or planning a date, definitely give it a visit.