IFC Mall tteokbokki after a CGV movie in Yeouido: Hyeonseonine

I watched Odyssey at CGV Yeouido and debated whether to just go home or grab something simple for dinner — but as always, I ended up craving something spicy and savory, so tteokbokki (spicy rice cake stew) 🔥. When it comes to tteokbokki near IFC Yeouido, Hyeonseonine is the place that comes to mind, so that's where I went!

Where is Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch, and when is it open?

"Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch"

• Location: Hyeonseonine Premium, B2 IFC Mall, 10 Gukjegeumyung-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00–21:00 / Sat-Sun 12:00–21:00
• Last order: 20:40
• Parking: not available

You can find it quickly by taking the moving walkway near Exit 3 of Yeouido Station — the underground passage toward The Hyundai! I thought there wouldn't be too many people since it was the weekend, but the roughly 10 indoor tables were nearly full and even the outdoor tables were packed. We came for an early dinner since the movie ended early — if we'd come later we might have had to wait!

Since instant tteokbokki needs to be cooked while you eat, it's only available at indoor tables, but already-cooked dishes can be eaten at the outdoor tables too.

Just help yourself from the neatly organized self-bar!

What we ordered: instant set for two 22,000 won, tuna mayo rice bowl 6,000 won

Here's the menu at Hyeonseonine, a tteokbokki spot near Yeouido. Instant 2-person set 22,000 won, tuna mayo rice bowl 6,000 won. We ordered the instant tteokbokki that's fun to cook as you eat, plus the tuna mayo rice bowl. And one fish cake skewer too ~ 🍢

I noticed other tables split about evenly between the instant tteokbokki and the regular pre-cooked tteokbokki. I had the regular version last time and it was delicious too!

I went back and forth between the tuna mayo rice bowl and the mini gimbap (seaweed rice roll), but the mini gimbap was sold out ( ˃̣̣̣̣o˂̣̣̣̣ ). I thought it would've gone so well with the tteokbokki broth — guess it's popular enough to sell out.

What comes in the instant tteokbokki, and how does it taste?

Hyeonseonine's instant tteokbokki comes with rice cakes, fish cakes, egg, vegetables, jjolmyeon (chewy cold noodles), and yakimandu (fried dumplings). Fairly generous — two eggs and I think about four dumplings.

Before eating, we fill up on the fish cake broth first, hehe.

First off — plenty of broth, so it passes! Personally I love how the broth changes and gets tastier the more it reduces, hehe. If there's too little broth at the start, it just sticks to the pot later and that's no good.

And above all, the rice cakes were incredibly chewy. Beyond just chewy — like extra chewy. Even as it kept reducing, the rice cakes never lost that chewiness!

How spicy is the medium level at Hyeonseonine?

Hyeonseonine's tteokbokki comes in mild, medium, or spicy, and I went with medium — it was a little kick with sweetness, just about right. The spicy level might have you sniffling a bit!

I also love crumbling the egg into the reduced broth and mixing it all together — did that again today. The egg was plump and tasty too. And the yakimandu with glass noodles inside started off crispy, then soaked up the broth so well by the end that it was perfectly seasoned — I wanted to order more!

Instant tteokbokki alone felt like it needed a little more, so we finished with the tuna mayo rice ball, pickled radish, and the broth.

Back at Hyeonseonine in Yeouido: mini gimbap next time

I'd come here before as takeout to eat at Hangang Park, and this was my return visit!! That time it was the regular tteokbokki, this time the instant version — both were delicious. We ate until we were stuffed, haha. Whenever I want a simple, tasty tteokbokki, this is the place that comes to mind, so I'll be back. Next time, I'm going in for the mini gimbap!!