Italian restaurant in Hongdae, Seoul for a quiet early dinner: MELA

Hongdae is always crowded and busy, but step off the main street and there are some surprisingly quiet, well-designed spots.

In the alley between Hongdae and Hapjeong there's a restaurant called MELA, and the vibe there was seriously great.

MELA serves Italian home-style brunch, pasta, and full meal dishes all together.

MELA Hongdae opening hours: last closing at 6:30pm

MELA Hongdae opens early at 9am, so it's great for brunch, but in the evening it closes at 6:30pm — if you're going for dinner, go early.

A great-vibe restaurant, MELA

What is MELA Hongdae like in the early evening?

MELA had a really great atmosphere.

Bright, warm lighting, wide open windows, all kinds of little props, and pops of color — it had a lot of personality.

It was early evening, close to closing time, so there weren't many people, which made for a relaxed meal.

A restaurant with a wide range of Italian home-style dishes

What is on the menu at MELA Hongdae?

MELA builds its menu around recipes developed by a chef trained at ICIF, an Italian culinary school.

The menu was pretty varied, with plenty of dishes that looked both visually appealing and delicious.

One of the signature dishes is MELA's chuck flap steak. It's a signature dish made with tender chuck flap, and looked like a juicy, medium-rare steak. Among the pasta dishes, the minari (water dropwort) vongole stood out — a regular vongole with clams and hard clams, given a fragrant lift with minari. People who like minari would probably love this one.

The tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) was unusual too — it combines Italian ragu sauce with Korean tteokbokki, a pairing you don't often come across. I liked how they reinterpret various dishes in MELA's own way to create something new — it felt distinctive.

For brunch, there's also Victoria French toast and eggs Benedict. The French toast in particular is said to have a soft, moist texture, so it should suit anyone who likes a sweet brunch. Eggs Benedict is also the classic brunch dish that comes to mind, good as a hearty brunch-lunch. With such a wide menu, it's great for going with a group since everyone can order to their own taste.

Baby potato basil cream gnocchi Pistachio jalapeño pizza Mini salad

The three dishes ordered at MELA Hongdae

I ordered the baby potato basil cream gnocchi, the pistachio jalapeño pizza, and a mini salad.

The combination of pizza, gnocchi, and salad was truly perfect.

Baby potato basil cream gnocchi

I really love basil cream tteokbokki, and you can think of this as the gnocchi version.

The rich cream with chewy gnocchi was seriously delicious.

The portion was really generous too.

There were also baby potatoes on top, and they didn't taste like the baby potatoes I usually eat.

There was no dry, mealy texture that catches in your throat at all — they were chewy and soft. This was my first time with baby potatoes like this, so it was surprising.

Pistachio jalapeño pastry pizza

The pistachio jalapeño pizza was also a first-time flavor for me.

I thought the most unusual thing about this pizza would be the pistachio-jalapeño combo, but the freshest surprise was that the crust was pastry dough!

The pastry crust was seriously delicious. It wasn't heavy with butter or oil, so it felt clean.

Pistachio powder was scattered over the top of the pizza, giving it a nutty flavor with a kick of spice.

With the jalapeño mixed in, it was quite spicy, so it's good to eat alongside the gnocchi or salad.

It was truly a flavor of pizza I'd never tasted before — really compelling and delicious, and I'd love to have it again next time.

Mini salad

The mini salad was just right to eat alongside the main dishes.

The vegetables were super fresh, and the dressing was delicious too.

A refreshing feel that goes perfectly with the gnocchi or pizza!

The portion was just right as a side, which I liked.

Groups, parking and facilities at MELA Hongdae

The restaurant is really spacious, so it can accommodate groups, and reservations, takeout, and delivery are all available.

Wi-Fi is available, and you can use the shared building restroom. The men's and women's restrooms are separated, and you access them with a code. High chairs are provided too, so it's good for going with family.

Parking is available in the building's parking lot, and the first hour is free. After that, it's ₩2,000 for the first 30 minutes, with ₩800 added every 10 minutes after that.

MELA Hongdae birthday event: a free slice of honey cake

MELA Hongdae also has a birthday event. When ordering, mention that you booked because of the birthday event and show an ID that confirms your birthday, and they'll give you a free slice of honey cake. The event may change, so it's best to check in advance.

If you want a relaxed meal away from the crowds of Hongdae, MELA Hongdae is recommended!