Mala cream chicken bar near Hapjeong Station, Mapo: Hogye

SponsoredBy JaeinWritten Sep 7, 2026

In short

Hogye Hapjeong Main Branch is a fried-chicken-and-drinks bar between Hapjeong and Sangsu stations in Mapo, Seoul. The mala cream chicken (₩28,500) comes on a warming brazier with crispy fried dough, tofu skin, and glass noodles, and the crust of nurungji (crispy scorched rice) soaking in the broth is scooped up like risotto. The quiet atmosphere also makes it a solid pick for a blind date or dinner date near Hongdae.

Crispy nurungji soaked in broth at the bottom of the pot

Good to know

Hours: Tue–Thu, Sun 16:00–24:00 (last order 23:00); Fri–Sat 16:00–01:00 (last order 23:30)
Closed: Every Monday; also closed Fri, Sep 25, 2026 for Chuseok
Mala cream chicken: ₩28,500
Terra draft beer: ₩6,000 per glass
Ordering & payment: Order via table QR code; pay at the counter by the entrance after eating
Reservations: Available via Naver Reservations (recommended due to waiting)
Drinks: Terra and Tsingtao draft, Chinese/Taiwanese beers, gaoliang highballs, and more

as written by the visitor on Sep 7, 2026

Hogye Hapjeong Main Branch hours and closed days

Closed every Monday
Tue–Thu, Sun 16:00–24:00 (last order 23:00)
Fri–Sat 16:00–01:00 (last order 23:30)
⭐️2026 Chuseok closure: closed Friday, September 25!!⭐️

I came here last winter on a date and it was so, so good, so this time I came back with a coworker to Hogye Hapjeong Main Branch, one of the go-to fried chicken spots near Hongdae!! I remember there being a wait last time, so we booked ahead on Naver haha. If you're planning to visit this bar near Hapjeong Station, I'd recommend booking on Naver in advance! :-)

Sign for Hogye, a bar near Hapjeong Station

Hogye, the fried chicken spot near Hapjeong Station, reportedly uses domestic Harim No. 9 chicken known for its tender meat. Maybe that's why... even the usually dry breast meat is really moist and tender here (seriously).

Sign noting domestic Harim No. 9 chicken is used

Hehe.. we'd already decided to order the mala cream chicken before we even walked in, so we went in with high expectations!!!

Entrance passage to the basement level of Hogye Hapjeong Main Branch

What's the atmosphere like?

Thanks to the interior and lighting, Hogye Hapjeong Main Branch near Hapjeong Station kind of gives off Hong Kong vibes haha. Cozy, and honestly... doesn't it just smell like a good restaurant?

Cozy interior with a Hong Kong-like atmosphere

Also, the place isn't loud or rowdy, so I'd actually recommend it as a blind-date spot between Hapjeong and Sangsu stations!!!! Last time I visited, the people at the next table were literally on a blind date lol.

How to order and pay

You'll be shown to your seat first! Order using the QR code on the table haha. Pay after you're done eating, at the counter by the entrance!!

Fried chicken menu board at Hogye Hapjeong Main Branch

Drinks menu at Hogye Hapjeong Main Branch

Menu with table QR ordering instructions

Terra draft beer, ₩6,000 a glass

Fried chicken calls for draft beer, of course haha. We ordered Terra draft! There's also Tsingtao draft, Chinese/Taiwanese beers, gaoliang highballs and more, so there's plenty to suit your taste 😊

Mala cream chicken, ₩28,500 — not spicy, and so tender

The mala cream chicken we'd been looking forward to since we made the plan!!! It looked even better than I imagined, and the toppings were so generous I was genuinely surprised lol. The mala flavor came through gently, and with the cream sauce it was so not-spicy and smooth to eat, in a good way ㅠㅠ

They also lit the brazier under it so we could keep eating it warm until we were done — such a nice touch!! Doesn't Hogye Hapjeong Main Branch just have great attention to detail haha. There's bok choy and corn in there too... so many different toppings, it was a treat for the eyes and the mouth the whole meal.

Mala cream chicken topped with bok choy and corn

Youtiao, fuzhu, and glass noodle toppings

Is it called youtiao? There's this crispy fried bread-like thing in there too, and dipping it in the mala cream broth was seriously so good lol. There's also fuzhu (dried tofu skin), wood ear mushrooms, and Chinese glass noodles!! so I really got the full mala experience 😍 Highly recommend for a date or a work dinner near Hapjeong...

Fuzhu, wood ear mushrooms, and glass noodle toppings

Nurungji electric chicken — don't skip the crispy rice at the bottom

Last time I had the (signature) morning glory chicken, and honestly that was also so good (really...). Oh!!! Also, Hogye's specialty is nurungji-electric chicken, so make sure to eat the nurungji (crispy scorched rice) at the bottom along with the chicken.......

Especially with this mala cream chicken, the nurungji gets soaked soft and thick in the broth......... it's basically a mala cream risotto at that point, seriously ridiculously good, so I just kept scooping it up haha 😌🥵 Recommend if you're looking for a bar near Hapjeong Station, a chicken place near Sangsu Station, or a date spot in Mapo. If you're tired of the usual go-tos, how about mala cream chicken at Hogye Hapjeong Main Branch haha. It was so good I'm already planning to come back on a date soon!!! Highly recommend as a place to eat near Hapjeong Station~!!