Sesame oil rice bowl lunch at a Jonggak Korean restaurant: Bonghyejane
In short
Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is a Korean set-meal restaurant on basement level 2 of Jongno Tower in Jongno, Seoul, a one-minute walk from Jonggak Station exit 3-1. The octopus stir-fry set (16,000 won) and pork stir-fry set (15,000 won) begin with sweet pumpkin porridge and mushroom perilla soup, then arrive as a bowl of rice, lettuce and seaweed flakes topped with octopus or flame-grilled pork, mixed with a drizzle of the 100% cold-pressed sesame oil kept on every table. It is a filling, well-priced spread that suits a Jonggak office lunch, solo diners and group dinners alike.
Good to know
- Location
- B206 & B207, Basement level 2, Jongno Tower, 51 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul (1-minute walk from Jonggak Station exit 3-1, connected underground)
- Hours (Mon–Fri)
- 11:00–21:00, break 15:00–16:30, last order 20:00
- Hours (Sat–Sun)
- 11:00–20:00, last order 19:00
- What we ordered
- Octopus stir-fry set 16,000 won, pork stir-fry set 15,000 won
- Included with the set
- Sweet pumpkin porridge, mushroom perilla soup, Daecheon seaweed, side dishes, and a bowl of rice with lettuce and seaweed flakes
- Good to know
- Tablet ordering at each table, ultrasonic sanitizing of dishes, solo and group seating, 100% cold-pressed sesame oil on every table
- Promotion
- One free bottle of beer, soju or a soft drink for writing a receipt review (as shown on the tablet at the time of the visit)
- Price reference
- ₩16,000 ≈ $12 · ₩15,000 ≈ $11 (2026-09-23)
as written by the visitor on Sep 23, 2026
What kind of restaurant is Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch?
Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is a Korean set-meal restaurant on basement level 2 of Jongno Tower. It's a one-minute walk from Jonggak Station exit 3-1, connected straight through the underground passage, so you won't get wet even if it's raining. Wandering around looking for good food, today I'm introducing the best Jonggak lunch hotspot that's really won over the local office workers. It's a genuine Jonggak Korean restaurant where you can taste the care of a cozy countryside table alongside charcoal-grilled dishes full of smoky flavor!
A feast of charcoal-grilled octopus and pork stir-fry finished with a drizzle of 100% cold-pressed sesame oil, all within the warmth of a neat, cozy countryside table — the perfect healing, nourishing meal for Jonggak office workers
Getting there underground from Jonggak Station, and the countryside-style interior
Walk in through the underground passage from Jonggak Station exit 3-1, pass a lush indoor garden, and the ornate yet old-fashioned entrance of Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch welcomes you right on the right.
Step inside and a wide-open space unfolds in warm, bright wood tones — it feels like being treated to a meal at grandma's countryside house.
Pretty patterned tile floors and dainty lace accents add coziness, and the restaurant is fully equipped with solo seating and group tables, making it just as good for a busy solo lunch as for an evening group dinner.
On top of that, it's a hygiene-conscious restaurant that uses an ultrasonic sanitizing washer, which really built my confidence in the cleanliness.
Tablet ordering and menu prices at Bonghyejane
You can order conveniently from the tablet installed at every table!
The set-meal lineup is packed, from the charcoal signature set onward, and we picked the popular octopus stir-fry set (₩16,000) and pork stir-fry set (₩15,000).
On the tablet screen, there's also a generous event running where you get a free drink or alcoholic beverage for writing a receipt review — definitely a tip worth grabbing!
The set spread: sweet pumpkin porridge and mushroom perilla soup first
Order a set meal at Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch and a neat basic spread arrives first.
A soft, sweet golden pumpkin porridge gently soothes an empty stomach, and then the mushroom perilla soup, bubbling white in a stone pot, shows up.
The thick, savory perilla broth rich in omega-3 melts you the moment it hits your mouth — the relief is instant and a little sigh of admiration just comes out. Alongside it, Daecheon seaweed and neat side dishes arrive too, making this a Jonggak Korean restaurant that rivals a full Korean course in tidiness.
Flame-grilled octopus and pork over rice with a drizzle of sesame oil
Finally, today's stars arrive: the charcoal-grilled octopus stir-fry set and pork stir-fry set!
Glossy red sauce and fresh chives on top — not an artificially punchy flavor, but a slightly spicy, health-conscious clean savoriness that's excellent.
A wide bowl of rice, lettuce and seaweed flakes comes as the base, and once they pile on plump octopus and smoky charcoal-grilled pork, a perfect Jonggak rice bowl is complete!
And here's the restaurant's secret weapon — the 100% cold-pressed sesame oil sitting on every table. Drizzle it on generously and mix everything together, and the nutty aroma fills your mouth, making you think there's no more perfect nourishing meal than this — the best rice bowl in Jonggak.
Is the Jonggak sesame oil rice bowl lunch worth it? Final verdict
Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is the perfect healing lunch spot for Jonggak office workers. True to a slogan about connecting people's stories, the warmth and care were evident in every single dish.
It's the perfect Jonggak lunch spot for when you want a proper meal to fill up on energy in the middle of a busy day. If you want to experience the best Jonggak rice bowl, packed with meat, seafood and nutty sesame oil, plus deeply flavored Jonggak Korean food, don't hesitate — head straight to Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch!
Where it is
51 Jongno, Basement level 2, B206 & B207, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 종로구 종로 51 지하2층 B206, B207호
