Hoegi date izakaya: clear motsunabe with extra chili, tsukune, Hamaru

Today I'm writing about my visit to Hamaru Hoegi (하마루 회기점), a Kyung Hee University drinking spot and Hoegi izakaya!

Is Hamaru Hoegi a good date spot near Hoegi Station?

Hamaru Hoegi is an izakaya near Hoegi Station with tasty food and a great atmosphere. To start with the conclusion: the food was good and I loved the mood, so I'd happily go again.

Delicious food matters, but I feel like taking your time on a date somewhere with a nice atmosphere matters even more. This time I was out on a date in Hoegi and stopped by Hamaru Hoegi, which had a good vibe and decent reviews.

Hamaru Hoegi menu and prices

The Hamaru Hoegi menu is split into teppanyaki (hotplate dishes), main dishes, nabe (hot pots), sides and yakitori (skewers). There's a lot of variety.

Teppanyaki

• Flat iron steak ₩25,000
• Butter-grilled shrimp and scallops ₩20,000
• Handmade-batter seafood okonomiyaki ₩17,000 (extra cheese ₩3,000)
• Seafood yakisoba ₩16,000
• Hotplate fried rice ₩13,000

À la carte dishes

• Chicken karaage ₩18,000
• Octopus karaage ₩16,000
• Stir-fried pork belly with bean sprouts ₩16,000
• Mentaiko (pollock roe) and cheese rolled omelet ₩16,000
• Butter-grilled mentaiko ₩14,000
• Handmade cream cheese crackers ₩12,000

Nabe (hot pots)

• Motsunabe (Korean beef intestine hot pot) ₩28,000 (extra intestine ₩10,000)
• Nagasaki champon ₩20,000
• Kansai oden soup ₩17,000
• Steamed rice ₩2,000
• Udon noodles ₩2,000

Sides

• Handmade mochiri tofu ₩9,000
• Cucumber tataki ₩8,000
• Tako wasabi (raw octopus with wasabi) ₩8,000
• Pineapple sherbet ₩8,000
• Handmade cream cheese crackers, half portion ₩7,000

Yakitori (skewers)

• 8 kinds ₩26,000
• 5 kinds ₩17,000
• There are lots of other skewers too ><

Hamaru Hoegi has group seating too~ I'd recommend it as a meeting spot for Kyung Hee University groups!

Is the motsunabe broth at Hamaru Hoegi spicy?

The motsunabe at Hamaru Hoegi (₩28,000) isn't a spicy broth, it's a clear one. If you like spicy food, ask the staff for extra Cheongyang chili (Korean hot green chili) and you can enjoy it just the way you like.

The hot pot had plenty of intestine, and it was plumper and more generous than I expected. It wasn't tough, and the rich, nutty flavor really came through, so it went well with the broth. The broth was clean and not greasy, which made it a great dish to eat with drinks. After a sip of alcohol and a spoonful of hot broth, I understood why so many people go for hot pots.

I'd assumed it would be a spicy broth, but it turned out to be clear, contrary to my expectations. My first bite felt refreshing and clean.

We usually like spicy broth, so we asked the staff for a little more Cheongyang chili, and it suited our taste much better. Eating garlic chives together with the intestine is sooo good.

It's packed with vegetables too.

Seafood okonomiyaki at Hamaru Hoegi, made right in front of you

The seafood okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake, ₩17,000) at Hamaru Hoegi was the most memorable dish of the day. You can watch it being made right in front of you, and when it's done they draw a cute character on top with sauce.

We could watch the whole process, and it takes a lot more work than I expected. Adding the ingredients one by one and shaping it was delicate, and it was impressive to see it made with such care right through to the final touches.

It was so cute I almost didn't want to eat it! The character drawn in sauce on the finished okonomiyaki was quietly fun to look at. I ended up taking a photo, of course. Little touches like this really lift the mood on a date.

House sake and service at Hamaru Hoegi

We had the house sake at Hamaru Hoegi too~ The aroma was a bit softer and the taste deeper than the Cheongha (a common Korean sake brand) you usually drink, so it went well with the food and made the okonomiyaki and the hot pot even better.

The main reason I recommend Hamaru is that the staff were so kind that I felt good the whole meal. They took care of anything we needed right away and were easygoing to deal with, which made it even more satisfying. Food flavor matters, but good service like this is what makes you come back.

Which skewers to order at Hamaru Hoegi

To finish at Hamaru Hoegi, we ordered chicken tenderloin (mentaiko/cheese), tomato pork belly skewers and tsukune (chicken meatball skewers). Of these, I especially recommend trying the tsukune.

After we'd eaten almost everything, there was still some drink left, so we ordered a few more skewers. First, the chicken tenderloin with mentaiko/cheese. It wasn't heavy and went nicely with drinks. We ordered other skewers too, and overall the food quality felt solid.

I had the tomato pork belly skewer, and the freshness of the tomato went well with the salty bacon, so it was easy and light to eat.

And last, the tsukune! Please do try it~ Eating it dipped in the egg made me think, "Wait, am I in Japan?" I highly recommend it as a Hoegi izakaya!

Why Hamaru Hoegi works for a Hoegi date

If you're looking for a date spot with a good atmosphere in Hoegi, I think Hamaru Hoegi will more than satisfy you. The Japanese-feeling interior, the carefully made food and the relaxed mood all come together well, so we had a lovely time.

The okonomiyaki in particular was my personal favorite, and I'd order it first on my next visit too. If you're planning a date with a tasty dinner in Hoegi, it's worth stopping by.