Gongdeok brunch restaurant for salmon tofu salad: HEOD Gongdeok

On a nice weekend it always feels like a waste to just stay home. The sun was pretty warm that morning too, so I headed out toward Daeheung Station and decided to take a slow walk along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail. As I walked, I got hungry faster than expected and started craving a coffee too, so I looked for somewhere I could stop along the way — and found HEOD.

What HEOD Gongdeok looks like inside, and what seats it has

HEOD Gongdeok sits on Gwangseong-ro 6-gil, the street that runs from Daeheung Station into the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, so it's a brunch spot you can walk straight into without breaking your route. The Gyeongui Line Forest Trail is the kind of place where just walking on a good day lifts your mood. The catch is that after a good stretch of walking, you start wanting to sit down. I'd meant to walk a bit longer that day too, but once my stomach spoke up, my plans changed fast. Looking for a Daeheung Station brunch spot I could reach without going far out of my way, I headed to HEOD.

Why HEOD Gongdeok suits a stop after a Gyeongui Line Forest Trail walk

Walking in, the first thing I noticed was the floor-to-ceiling windows. The sunlit window seats were great for a daytime meal, and there was also a bar table, so dining solo wouldn't feel awkward at all. There's group seating too for several people, which made it feel like a solid pick for a weekend outing with friends.

Since I'd been walking non-stop, wandering around any longer felt like a bit much, so I really appreciated being able to rest right there along my route. If you're walking the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail on a weekend and looking for somewhere to eat, this is worth adding to your Daeheung Station brunch list.

The overall vibe wasn't too heavy either. During the day, the natural light made the space feel that much more relaxed, and sitting by the window let me take in the scene outside while eating at a leisurely pace. A trip doesn't have to mean going somewhere far. Even within Seoul, picking one walking course and following it up with a good meal makes for a pretty satisfying half-day.

How much salmon is in the HEOD Gongdeok salmon tofu salad?

The salmon tofu salad, piled high with salmon

What I ordered that day at HEOD Gongdeok was the salmon tofu salad and an iced Americano. I wanted something for brunch that wasn't too heavy but would still properly fill me up, and this hit the mark perfectly. The amount of salmon actually surprised me a little. I'd expected it to be more of a garnish on the salad, but on the plate the salmon had real presence.

The first bite brought that soft, moist texture salmon has, and eating it with the light, clean vegetables made everything feel refreshing. Tofu was mixed in throughout too, so the texture never got monotonous. On top of that, the sweet, soft cream cheese added a subtle sweetness that wove through the salmon's savory saltiness.

What I especially liked were the cabbage pickle and the olives. Eating a crunchy bite of cabbage pickle in between cleaned the palate of whatever flavor lingered, and the olives brought a salty, weighty aroma that paired well with the salmon. The flavor kept shifting direction throughout the plate, so it never got boring, even by the last bite.

I'd assumed brunch here meant bread and desserts, but with salmon and tofu in the mix, the dish felt properly filling too. If you want to eat light but a plain salad feels underwhelming, this is a solid pick for a Daeheung Station brunch menu.

A nutty iced Americano to finish the meal

The iced Americano I ordered alongside the meal paired well too. The bean's nutty aroma came through clearly, and rather than a bright acidity hitting you from the first sip, it was on the easier, more comfortable side to drink.

After the salmon and olives, a sip of coffee cleared whatever lingered and left my palate clean again. Personally, when I'm having brunch, I prefer nutty coffee that flows naturally with the food over something with a sharp acidity, so this was satisfying.

The space itself was comfortable enough that I ended up sipping the coffee slowly too. It felt less like a quick in-and-out meal and more like a place to sit and rest a while on a weekend, which made it easy to pair with the walk. If you usually search for Gongdeok pasta restaurants when picking a place to eat, it's worth also checking out spots like HEOD that have a brunch menu — it widens your options.

HEOD Gongdeok menu and what else to order

Verdict: HEOD Gongdeok as a Seoul weekend outing stop

HEOD Gongdeok has a nice range of seating — floor-to-ceiling window seats, a bar table, and group tables — so there's a good option no matter your group size, and the salmon tofu salad I had turned out to be far more generously loaded with salmon than I expected. Adding an iced Americano took care of both the hunger and thirst left over from the walk.

When you're not sure where to go in Seoul on a weekend, it's fine not to plan anything elaborate — just start with a walk on the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail. Walk until you're hungry, have a good meal, then sit with a coffee and let the day fill itself in.

It's a spot worth keeping in mind especially if you're searching for Gongdeok pasta restaurants but also want to check out the brunch options alongside the pasta. It's good for a light meal, and it also worked well for meeting a friend and chatting after a weekend walk.

If you've walked the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail and aren't sure where to eat, search for Daeheung Station brunch spots and put HEOD on your shortlist. Sitting down a little tired from the walk and digging into a hearty salmon tofu salad with a nutty coffee — that's when the weekend finally started to feel like a weekend.

Next time I'd like to visit with a bit more time and try other menu items too. Especially on days I'm out hunting for Gongdeok pasta restaurants, I want to check out the pasta menu here and properly enjoy a full course. Pairing a walk on the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail with a meal like this made for a Seoul weekend outing worth remembering.

How to get to HEOD Gongdeok

HEOD Gongdeok is at 24 Gwangseong-ro 6-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's within walking distance of Daeheung Station and the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail.