Daeheung Station brunch café you can book on Naver: HEOD Gongdeok

(My beloved go-to brunch spot 🫶🏼)

A cheerful yellow sign that catches your eye from far away. For a delicious and relaxed meal, I headed to HEOD Gongdeok (해옫 마포), a brunch café in Mapo.

Where is HEOD Gongdeok, and how do you book it?

• Location: 85-9 Sinsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul / near Daeheung Station Exit 4
• Hours: 11:00–21:00
• Parking: Not available; nearby public parking lots recommended
• Events: Various review events
• Visit tip: There's often a wait, so a Naver reservation is recommended

Honestly, I'm a longtime regular who's visited HEOD's other branches countless times. I'm familiar enough with the brand that I could order with my eyes closed, but I was especially curious about the cozy vibe unique to the Mapo location, so this was my first time stopping by.

Since this place is so word-of-mouth famous, I'd heard the wait can get long, so I booked a (Naver) reservation ahead of time. ✨Recommended✨

Floor-to-ceiling windows and green street views inside HEOD Gongdeok

Warm wood-tone interiors, cute little fruit decorations, and lush greenery catch your eye first. Rather than going for flashy decor, the space impresses with a comfortable, natural mood.

But the biggest charm of this place is definitely the wide-open floor-to-ceiling windows. (Every HEOD branch has this amazing openness.) The green trees swaying beyond the windows and the warm sunlight pouring deep into the café come together so that even without a window seat, the whole space feels relaxed. The cozy-yet-open feeling unique to the Mapo branch was really appealing.

Tomato shrimp oil pasta: clean, savory, true to the basics 🍝

First up was the 'tomato shrimp oil pasta.' Even though it's oil-based, it's not greasy or heavy — the dish really brings out a clean, light flavor. Cherry tomatoes add freshness, and a subtle spicy note lingers to keep the finish crisp.

Plump, springy shrimp, and (to my taste) the pasta was cooked to a perfect al dente. With no fancy tricks, just solid savory basics, it was hard to put down the fork until the plate was clean.

Signature butter French toast: crisp outside, soft inside 🍞

If you visit HEOD, there's one dish you must order even if you're already full: the 'butter French toast.' ♥️♥️♥️ (There was a time I came here once a week just for this... two thumbs up 👍)

The thick, golden-toasted bread dusted with snow-like powdered sugar is always mouthwatering to look at. Drizzle plenty of maple syrup on top, and the toast soaks it all up, becoming even more glossy.

The moment you cut in with a knife and take a bite, the contrast between the crisp coating and the soft interior that melts like pudding is perfect. No matter how many times I've had it, I'm always impressed enough to close my eyes 🙏 Adding a generous scoop of the chewy cream and fragrant cinnamon powder on the side of the plate doubles the flavor. ☕️☕️☕️

Just as the sweetness fills your mouth, a sip of the smooth, sourness-free iced Americano washes away the excess sugar, completing the perfect pairing.

Why the Mapo branch won over a longtime HEOD regular

Even though I'm already familiar with this brand's flavors, eating at a new branch gave me a whole new sense of freshness. The reliably great food combined with the visual comfort of the open windows made for a truly perfect brunch time. I totally understand now why so many people are willing to wait and book a reservation just to come here. The taste, the atmosphere, the emotional feel of the space — none of it feels forced, it just seeps in naturally. If you want to enjoy a relaxed brunch around Mapo, I'd recommend this place without hesitation. (My beloved go-to brunch spot 🫶🏼)