Yongsan instant tteokbokki, mild for two with yakimandu: Hyeonseonine

I went to Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch, famous as a tteokbokki spot near Yongsan Station, haha. I usually just order the combo set, so this was my first time trying the instant tteokbokki — it brought back childhood memories and it was delicious.

Hyeonseonine Tteokbokki started as a street cart in 2004 and now runs 8 directly-operated branches. From their signature spicy tteokbokki to the nostalgic mild version everyone can enjoy, to instant tteokbokki that gets richer the longer it simmers, plus handmade mini gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), handmade sundae (blood sausage), crispy fritters, and warming fish cake broth — this place is all about no-frills, traditional bunsik. Let's get into the review!! 💜

What does Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch look like inside and out?

The Hyeonseonine Tteokbokki sign is classic and pretty, haha. I like how simple it is~

Soy sauce and salt are individually packed and ready to go. There's also frying batter and pickled radish at the self-serve bar, so just scoop out as much as you need. There are ladles too, so I recommend grabbing whatever dishware you need and bringing it to the table, haha.

We ordered the instant menu — the two-person set and fried rice!! It's mild, so it's a spice level even little kids can enjoy comfortably. Apparently the spicy version is their signature. I could never handle that one lol.

The space is spacious and comfortable, which I love~ I've been to other branches too, and the Yongsan Main Branch is by far the biggest and most comfortable, haha. There's also a restroom inside, so you don't need to step outside — a nice bonus.

Instant tteokbokki for two with yakimandu and fried rice

The two-person instant tteokbokki, along with the yakimandu and fried rice, arrived, haha. A boiled egg is always delicious no matter when you eat it~ Dipped in the tteokbokki sauce, it's exactly that taste. I used to go eat instant tteokbokki with friends all the time back in school, then stopped once I grew up — so I went in with a lot of anticipation this time, haha.

The yakimandu (fried dumplings) were crispy on the outside, and the glass noodle filling inside was nutty and mild — it all came together perfectly in my mouth, a real flavor bomb. I love crispy things so I dipped them in the tteokbokki sauce. Yep, that's the taste~~ There was a generous amount of cabbage too, which felt healthy, and overall the ingredients weren't skimped on at all — a generous, varied portion that couldn't possibly taste bad~

Induction heat settings for instant tteokbokki: 2000, 800, 400

A tip from this Yongsan spot for instant tteokbokki! Start it bubbling at heat level 2000, then turn it down to 800 once it's boiling. Once everything's cooked through at 800, turn off the power~

• Boil at 2000
• Once it's bubbling, turn down to 800
• Once cooked through at 800, turn off the power
• For the fried rice, stir-fry at 400 leaving a little sauce, then turn off the power

Of course, you have to stir it well!! Otherwise everything sticks to the pot and you end up with a dishwashing nightmare and less to eat 🥺

How spicy is the mild option at Hyeonseonine?

Wow~~ the visuals are amazing, haha. For those of us who can't handle spice, I really recommend the mild version, haha. This is exactly the taste!! Not spicy at all, sweet, savory, and moreish — you keep reaching for more! There's also a generous amount of fish cake and rice cake, so it's really delicious~

The papaya slushie I got through a receipt review event~ It's always delicious no matter when I drink it, haha. Sweet and refreshing, the kind of taste that gets your appetite going? I want to drink it again~ Maybe it's the kind of flavor that whets your appetite? I think it's only available at the Yongsan branch 👍🏻 A must-visit Yongsan tteokbokki spot, Hyeonseonine Tteokbokki Yongsan branch 💜

Adding jjolmyeon noodles and extra rice cakes

Jjolmyeon (chewy cold noodles) and rice cake sari (extra rice cakes)! The jjolmyeon is bouncy and chewy, haha, better than ramen noodles as an add-on~ The rice cakes soak up the broth, and the chewy wheat rice cakes meeting the sweet sauce make for a perfect combo!! Ah, I'm drooling just thinking about it?? Isn't tteokbokki basically every woman's favorite food~ Honestly, as much as I love instant tteokbokki, the pre-simmered version that comes out already cooked has an even sweeter finish, so my personal favorite is actually the regular mild tteokbokki. I'll have to come back for that next time, haha.

How was the fried rice finish?

The yakimandu was crispy and nutty, haha, so good. As for the fried rice, mixing and frying it in the leftover tteokbokki sauce brought together the sweetness of the gochujang (red chili paste) and the nutty sesame oil aroma of the fried rice — so delicious~ The combo of corn kernels and dried seaweed flakes was the best, haha. Always delicious no matter when you eat it!! Let's just say we finished every last bite — no secret there. I was already full but kept scooping more with my spoon. Thanks to that, I ended up with quite the round belly, ugh.

After eating, we went for dessert to What's Your Bread's Yongsan branch café. Since it's a hotspot on Yongridan-gil in Yongsan, there are tons of great restaurants, cafés, and bars nearby, making it perfect for spending an entire afternoon into the evening there. Celebrities, influencers, foreign actors and other cool people are said to frequent this popular Yongridan-gil spot — come visit Hyeonseonine Tteokbokki Yongsan Main Branch, said to be one of Seoul's top three tteokbokki restaurants~

Hyeonseonine Yongsan Main Branch: address, hours and parking

• Address: 2-13 Hangangdae-ro 39-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00–24:00
• Break time: Weekdays 14:30–16:00 / none on weekends
• Parking: Not available