Yeonnam-dong ochazuke restaurant: solo salmon tray lunch, Ochaya

A proper ochazuke spot in Hongdae: Ochaya Yeonnam

Ochaya Yeonnam (오차야 연남점) is an ochazuke specialist in Yeonnam-dong, Hongdae. Ochazuke is one of the foods I always made sure to eat on trips to Japan. It's filling yet gentle and warm, so I'd recommend it to just about anyone. I heard there's a place in Yeonnam-dong, Hongdae, that does it properly, so I went off excitedly, haha. It was tasty and the atmosphere was clean and neat, so I recommend it for a Hongdae lunch!

Where is Ochaya Yeonnam, and what are the hours?

Ochaya Yeonnam is at 38 Donggyo-ro 38-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd floor. It's close to Hongik Univ. Station, so you can get there on foot.

It's open daily 11:30-20:30. There's no break time, so you can go whenever the craving hits. Nice!

Ochaya Yeonnam's atmosphere: is it comfortable for eating alone?

The shop is calm and clean, done in wood tones. There's a big window at the front, which gives it an open feel and makes the whole place look bright, which I liked. The tables are spaced well, and the seating works whether you come alone or with a group. It was lunchtime and fairly busy, but it never felt crowded, and I could eat comfortably.

Ochaya Yeonnam's menu: what I ordered

Ochaya Yeonnam serves only ochazuke. Places with a wide menu are fine, but I think a restaurant that does one thing properly is the real deal 👍 I was curious about the other dishes too, but I love salmon 💛 so I ordered the salmon ochazuke.

Sake chazuke (salmon) for ₩15,000: how did it taste?

I ordered the sake chazuke (salmon) for ₩15,000. It arrives as a neat set 💛 with simple side dishes, warm broth, and salmon on top of multigrain rice. It looks healthy and warming just from the sight of it.

The rice portion isn't small either. The salmon isn't fishy at all and the texture is great 👍 Scooped up as is with the multigrain rice, it's delicious. The atmosphere is quiet, so you can eat good food slowly, and that's why I recommend this place.

Put the side dishes on top, or wrap it all in seaweed, and it's 💛even more heavenly💛

How to eat ochazuke at Ochaya Yeonnam, and refills

With ochazuke you pour warm broth over the rice. At Ochaya Yeonnam the multigrain rice, side dishes and broth can all be refilled, so you can eat your fill. Great!

Pouring warm broth over the rice is the true taste of ochazuke 👍 It's easy on the stomach and gentle, which makes it even better. The multigrain rice and the broth at Ochaya Yeonnam are both good, so I'd also recommend it as a family meal that people of all ages can enjoy.

Why I recommend Ochaya Yeonnam for eating alone in Hongdae

With ochazuke you can pick toppings to suit your own taste, which makes the meal even better. At Ochaya Yeonnam the food comes neatly on a one-person tray, so eating alone feels easy. The salmon ochazuke especially, with warm broth pairing well with the tender salmon, stayed gentle and filling to the very end, and I'd want to eat it again.

The price isn't a big burden yet the meal is satisfying, so it was a comfortable solo meal for the first time in a while. If you want a warm Japanese home-style meal (Japanese 가정식, Gajeong-sik) in Hongdae, I recommend the ochazuke at Ochaya Yeonnam, with its calm atmosphere and good taste!