Yeouido Korean snack restaurant after fireworks: Hyeonseonine

On the day of the Yeouido fireworks festival, we enjoyed grilled fish and skewers at an izakaya for our first stop, then wondered where to go for round two and ended up here. Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch, on B2 of Yeouido IFC Mall, stood out from afar with its neat yet lively atmosphere.

Maybe because it was the day of the fireworks festival, the restaurant was absolutely packed, with every seat taken and even a waiting line. Still, since Korean snack food turns tables quickly, I was happy that we got in much sooner than expected.

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch: Basic Information

Here is some basic information that may be helpful before your visit.

• Location: Hyeonseonine Premium, B2, IFC Mall, 10 Gukjegeumyung-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 영등포구 국제금융로 10 IFC몰 지하 2층)
• Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–21:00 / Sat–Sun 12:00–21:00
• Last order: 20:40
• Parking and conveniences: IFC Mall parking is available, and shared restrooms are near the restaurant

Inside, all kinds of people were enjoying their meals, from solo diners to couples on dates and families. The solo diners seemed to be having ramen or rice bowls.

The Hyeonseonine Set and Kiosk Ordering

Once seated, I ordered at the kiosk. One interesting option was the Beer Set, which you can enjoy with beer!

What I ordered: Hyeonseonine Set + Zero Cider Mild tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) + sundae (Korean blood sausage) + assorted fried snacks + DIY rice balls

There were some sold-out items that day because there were so many customers. A staff member told us that the food might take a while because the restaurant was busy, but it actually arrived faster than expected, which made me so happy. The owner was moving around incredibly busily.

All the food we had been waiting for was set out at once, and just looking at it made my mouth water.

Mild Tteokbokki and Fried Snacks Together

First, I tried tteokbokki, the signature main dish. I ordered the mild version because I was worried I might not handle the heat, but it was slightly sweet and gentle for my taste, so I think the regular spice level would be just right next time. It was a tiny bit disappointing, but it had an appealing flavor that was easy to keep eating without feeling overwhelmed.

Next, I tried the fried snacks and sundae. The crisp fried meat dumplings, vegetable fritters, and gim-mari (seaweed-wrapped glass noodles) were amazing dipped in the tteokbokki sauce.

The sundae was also chewy and clean-tasting, without any unpleasant smell, so I kept reaching for it. I liked that it came with both liver and lung. You can also ask for those not to be included when ordering!

It tasted much cleaner with danmuji (pickled radish), soy sauce, and salt that I served myself from the self-service bar.

The Savory Rice Balls I Finished All by Myself

The rice balls that came last were generously topped with mayonnaise, a special soy sauce, and crumbled seaweed. I put on the disposable gloves, mixed everything thoroughly, and rolled it into cute little balls. My companions had already eaten fish at our first stop and said they were full, so they did not eat any of the rice balls. In the end, I finished these savory rice balls all by myself. They were salty and nutty, a special treat I just could not stop eating.

I was also pleased with the self-service bar system, where you can comfortably help yourself to basics like water and pickled radish. When things could have started to feel a little greasy, sipping the warm odeng (fish cake) broth made everything feel refreshed again. Thanks to the owner, who was kind even in the middle of such a busy rush, I was able to finish the meal in a great mood.

Honestly, being able to enjoy such a varied and substantial spread for this price in the middle of Yeouido at IFC Mall feels like unbelievably good value. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for clean, good-value Korean snack food near Yeouido or an easygoing date course. I am planning to come back for the regular-spice tteokbokki!