Jonggak Korean restaurant at 4:30pm: makgeolli set meals, Bonghyejane

Wondering where to go for a hearty, satisfying Korean meal right in the middle of Jongno? This new Jonggak restaurant tucked in the basement of Jongno Tower, right next to Jonggak Station, is a great pick for lunch in the area.

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch, a Korean restaurant in the basement of Jongno Tower — one of those 'top Korean restaurants in Seoul' spots.

Where Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is, plus hours and parking

• Hours 11:00–21:00 (Sat–Sun until 20:00), break time 15:00–16:30
• How to get there: 75m from Jonggak Station Exit 3-1, basement 2nd floor of Jongno Tower
• Parking available: 90 minutes free
• Corkage available: free (up to 2 bottles)

If you're out exploring Bukchon and Seochon in Jongno, or wandering over from Gwanghwamun, chances are you'll end up walking toward Jonggak. The basement of Jongno Tower near Jonggak Station is packed with restaurants and cafés — weekday office workers and weekend visitors alike stop by. And honestly, driving in the middle of Jongno usually means a parking headache, so the fact that this place offers 90 minutes of free parking is a huge plus! Going down to B2, one new spot really caught my eye: a sign reading 'Bonghyeja's specialty kitchen.'

I timed my visit for 4:30pm, right when break time ends!

What the dining room feels like

A bright, cheerful entrance to this Jonggak restaurant 🥰 Bright and cheerful, right?🥰🥰 Since I got there right as break time ended, I took my time photographing the space before other customers arrived.

The ceiling opens up so much that you can actually see the Ediya Coffee on the floor above haha! The antique lighting fixtures were so pretty😍

The menu at Bonghyejane Jubang, and the Hyeja Feast Set for groups

For anyone looking for a Jongno dinner spot for a work gathering, the Hyeja Feast Set looks perfect! It comes with whole octopus or baby octopus stir-fry, mushroom perilla soup, sample bossam, mook noodle soup, whole fried flounder, and sweet pumpkin porridge with jjolmyeon noodles on top👍 Anyone looking for a solid Korean menu near Jonggak will be satisfied.

The generous specialty table set up seemed to be the most popular menu at Bonghyejane Jubang. Watching other diners later, most of them had ordered something similar.

If you're coming with kids, the king pork cutlet or hamburg steak would also work well, making this a good spot for a Jongno family meal.

It was a bit of a letdown that they didn't have draft makgeolli, but since corkage is free, you can bring whatever drink suits your taste😍

Order placed: octopus stir-fry set, pork stir-fry set, and Sunhui makgeolli! By the way, you can adjust the spice level — just let them know if you want it mild, medium, or spicy🥰

Octopus stir-fry set: mild, and a rice-stealer once mixed in

The dishes I ordered arrived >< Just looking at this neat spread made my mouth water.

The rice comes hidden under the octopus stir-fry plate haha. The octopus stir-fry set includes 2 side dishes plus seaweed, pumpkin porridge, mushroom perilla soup, rice for mixing, and the octopus stir-fry itself.

Add sesame oil and the octopus stir-fry to this rice and mix it all together. The sesame oil was so nutty that I poured in plenty ><

I went with the mild option, and it was just right. If you're eating with kids, definitely go mild haha! The octopus was springy and tender with great texture. Mixed into the rice with the seasoning, it was so savory and delicious. This is truly a rice-stealer ╰(*°▽°*)╯

Mushroom perilla soup and pumpkin porridge with every set

The mushroom perilla soup had rice cake pieces in it and a thick, nutty broth packed with perilla flavor — I really enjoyed it. Next time I visit, I'm ordering the mushroom perilla soup set on its own to get a bigger portion haha.

I think parents would love this perilla soup too! With the mornings and evenings turning cool, it's the perfect dish for this season🥰 The pumpkin porridge that came with the set had a rich flavor that left my stomach feeling comfortable.

Pork stir-fry set: big pieces of meat and vegetables with a spicy kick

Apart from the main dish, the pork stir-fry set had the exact same composition as the octopus stir-fry set.

Big chunks of meat and vegetables stir-fried with a spicy kick. If you love meat, definitely order this one! haha Eating such tasty Korean food, I naturally started craving makgeolli ><

With the octopus stir-fry as anchu (drinking snack), I enjoyed a cool glass of makgeolli too, making for a really satisfying weekend lunch-dinner ╰(*°▽°*)╯

If you're looking for a proper, hearty meal in the busy downtown, a Jongno Korean dish that will genuinely nourish you, I recommend Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch. Between the spicy charcoal-fired octopus and pork stir-fries to blow off stress, and the savory perilla soup to warm you from the inside, it was a really satisfying course!