Newly opened Jongno Tower food court Korean lunch sets: Bonghyejane

I thought I'd been to just about every spot around Jonggak Station by now, but I found a new one. This was a company lunch trip — a brand new place in the basement 2 food court of Jongno Tower called Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch. They told me it's only been open for a month!

Where is Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch, and what are its hours?

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is located at B206, B207, basement 2, Jongno Tower, 51 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul. It's right in front of Jonggak Station Exit 3 / 3-1 in the tower basement, so it's easy to find.

• Location: basement 2 of Jongno Tower, right in front of Jonggak Station Exit 3 / 3-1
• Hours: 11:00–21:00 (break time 15:00–16:30)
• Closed on Sep 25 for Chuseok

Honestly, I've eaten around Jonggak Station plenty of times but this was my first time actually going inside Jongno Tower. The sign is big and the interior is neatly decorated, so it should be easy to find. I went early worrying about crowds, and sure enough, seats filled up fast once lunchtime hit!

What is on the menu, and what we ordered

The menu at Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is full of exactly the kind of lunch dishes office workers around Gwanghwamun and Jonggak love — stir-fried octopus set, pork cutlet, stir-fried pork set, charcoal bulgogi set, and more. The stir-fried octopus seemed to be the signature item.

Everything looked so good it took me a while to decide. In the end I ordered the charcoal bulgogi set (₩14,000) and my coworker got the stir-fried pork set (₩15,000)!

The speed was impressive too — the food came out not long after we ordered. Everything was plated so neatly and prettily that it felt like exactly the kind of tidy spread women would love the moment it landed on the table. Of course, I loved it too, haha.

Charcoal bulgogi set, 14,000 won

The charcoal bulgogi set is ₩14,000 and came with the main charcoal-grilled bulgogi alongside mukbap (acorn jelly noodle soup), pumpkin porridge, seasoned seaweed, stir-fried kidney beans, and white kimchi. The meat had that real charcoal-grilled aroma and was sliced thin enough to go down soft and easy. It's cooked with zucchini, carrot, cabbage and onion mixed in, which made it even better to eat together.

Having the mukbap on the side made for a clean finish to the meal, which I liked. And stir-fried kidney beans on top of that — my personal favorite!

Stir-fried pork set, 15,000 won, with adjustable spice

The stir-fried pork set is ₩15,000, and you can choose your spice level when ordering. My coworker's set was also full of that charcoal aroma — the kind of dish anyone, any age, would enjoy. It looked really spicy at first glance, but it was coated in a glossy layer of pork fat that made the color look almost radiant.

The portion of meat was just right, and it comes with a nourishing perilla soup — the nuttiness of the perilla cuts through the spiciness perfectly when eaten together. Both sets finish with pumpkin porridge.

How does it work as a weekday office lunch near Jonggak?

After eating here once, I don't think there's a better lunch spot for office workers around. The portions are just right, the side dishes are solid, and above all, the food comes out fast enough that you actually have time to grab a coffee before heading back for lunch break. Some places have mediocre food and endless waits... but Bonghyejane served us quickly and the food was genuinely good too.

I'd really recommend office workers in the area give this a try at least once, and next time I'll come back with a review of the pork cutlet or the spicy stir-fried octopus set.

By the way, there's an event where you get a free drink or bottle of alcohol for writing a Naver review, so make sure to write one and grab your drink!