Solo brunch café by Gyeongui Line Forest Trail in Mapo: HEOD Gongdeok

I was looking for a place to enjoy a relaxed brunch and ended up here. HEOD Mapo just opened near Daeheung and Gongdeok. It's that famous French toast place that started in Jumunjin, Gangneung and became a hit in Hapjeong and Yeonnam-dong — and now with a Gyeongui Line Forest Trail view added on top, the vibe is insane!! Writing this up for anyone hunting for a good brunch spot near Daeheung or Gongdeok station.

Where is HEOD Mapo, and what are its hours?

Name: HEOD Mapo (a name change from HEOD Gongdeok is planned)

Address: 24 Gwangseong-ro 6-gil, 1F, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (293m from Daeheung Station Exit 4. Walkable from Daeheung or Seogang University stations.)

How to find it: look for the olive green sign

Hours: Daily 11:00 - 21:00 (break time 15:30 - 17:00, last order 19:50)

Regular holidays: Open year-round

Amenities: reservations, takeout/delivery, kids menu, high chairs, pet-friendly, corkage allowed (excluding soju/beer, ₩20,000 per bottle), birthday/anniversary perks

Parking: not available (use Sinsu public parking lot or the Modu Parking app, ₩2,400 per 30 minutes)

This place's main menu is Western-style food — French toast, salads, pasta, gnocchi, steak, and more.

What kind of brunch restaurant is HEOD?

"HEOD" is short for "the sun is rising" in Korean. Like the warm sun rising above the clouds, they wanted every visitor to feel warmth and spend a comfortable time — the name itself feels cozy.

It became famous for French toast in Jumunjin, Gangneung in 2022, then opened in Hapjeong in 2023, Yeonnam-dong in 2024, and now Daeheung-dong this time. Rooted in both Korean and Western cooking, it serves fusion dishes that people of all ages enjoy. French toast, pasta, risotto, omelets, and salads — all made with ingredients sourced fresh daily. That's how it built a reputation as a brunch spot with long waits in Hapjeong.

Waiting before the 11am opening: why reservations are essential

This place opens at 11, and I actually got there a bit early. But I was surprised — people were already waiting outside. I wondered if it was really this popular already.

I'd recommend booking ahead through Naver Reservations. I left around 11:40, and by then the place was already full, with many people turning away because they hadn't booked. It seemed like even walk-in waiting wasn't possible because of reserved guests. That's how popular this place is.

Window seats with a Gyeongui Line Forest Trail view

First off, the vibe is insane. The Gyeongui Line Forest Trail is right in front, so the view is amazing. Lush green scenery spreads out through the window. The weather's been nice lately so everything was open — the breeze, the view, everything was perfect. Looking out while having a solo brunch made me genuinely happy!

Birthday, anniversary and photo review perks at HEOD Mapo

The perks here are really thoughtful. Show proof of your birthday and get a mini cake; show proof of an anniversary and get a coupon for a lettering plate.

Also, writing a photo review gets you an orange juice or iced Americano, and coming with a child gets you an orange juice coupon too. Looks like a lot of parents come with kids — with a kids menu and high chairs available, it seems great for family visits.

Seafood salad for 18,000 won and a milk tea

The milk tea I ordered first came out. They said they use both tea bags and a concentrate. It wasn't just sweet — it had a subtle milk tea flavor that balanced well with the salad I ordered.

After a lot of agonizing over pasta versus French toast, I went with something lighter — the seafood salad. It's ₩18,000.

Worried I wouldn't be full, I added noodles. That's ₩2,000. FYI, you can also add bread, mashed potato, rice, or sausage.

There's also a set menu, but it's only available weekdays 11am-1pm and you can't swap the coffee!

The seafood salad has a variety of seafood plus mango and cherry tomatoes, and the sauce is really refreshing.

The kicker here is the celery. I actually really dislike celery. But here, celery is a must-have ingredient. I never knew celery could taste this good.

The shrimp were plump and the baby octopus was blanched to a nice chewy texture. With fruit thrown in too, I almost wanted to steal the recipe.

Why the noodle add-on beats bread with this salad

One tip: this dish has a lot of sauce, so I'd strongly recommend adding noodles instead of bread. Noodles over bread. Trust my instinct and add the noodles!

Final verdict on brunch at HEOD Mapo

If you're looking for a good brunch spot in Gongdeok, I recommend HEOD Mapo. As a French toast place proven in Gangneung, then Hapjeong and Yeonnam-dong, the brunch quality is solid, and the refreshing seafood salad is a strong recommend too.

With the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail view plus that new-opening energy, the atmosphere is perfect, and the birthday/anniversary/photo review perks are a really nice touch. Great for solo brunch, dates, family gatherings, or bringing your dog — if you're in Daeheung or Gongdeok looking for brunch, book ahead and go. There were so many menu items I wanted to try that I'm planning to come back with two or three friends next time~!