Daeheung Station brunch spot for torched tofu seafood risotto: HEOD

What kind of place is HEOD Gongdeok, a Gyeongui Line Forest Trail brunch spot?

HEOD Gongdeok is a brunch restaurant sitting along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, which runs from Gongdeok through Hongdae all the way to Yeonnam-dong. With the cool autumn weather perfect for walking these days, more and more good brunch spots, pizza places, and cafés are popping up near the forest trail.

There's a certain fun in checking off newly opened forest trail restaurants one by one, and this time I'm introducing HEOD, a spot with great brunch along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail in Mapo, Gongdeok.

HEOD is famous for its Yeonnam-dong branch's brunch!! Apparently it originally started as a brunch restaurant in Gangneung, Gangwon-do. After the Yeonnam and Hapjeong branches, I revisited the newly opened HEOD Mapo branch.

How to find HEOD Gongdeok

To find HEOD Gongdeok, just walk along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail and look for the mint-green sign — it's also easy to access since it's right across from Sogang University. Even though it hasn't been open long, this popular brunch spot fills up even on weekday afternoons!

It's a great spot for people on dates in Hongdae, and I also saw nearby office workers coming in for brunch. It also had a great atmosphere for brunch gatherings with friends. These days, with the nice weather, they've added extra outdoor terrace seats, so you can enjoy good brunch with a good vibe too — a real Gongdeok brunch gem.

Seating at HEOD Gongdeok: solo seats, terrace, group tables

HEOD Gongdeok is mostly 2-person tables, but you could also split tables and sit outside. Near the entrance there were window solo-dining seats, and there was also group seating — reserve ahead and you can have a fun group meal there too.

The menu at HEOD Gongdeok

HEOD Gongdeok's menu ranges from pasta to risotto to various salads, and the toast menu was popular too. The French toast in particular was impressive — cooked fresh right after ordering — and since it's an open kitchen, delicious smells drifted through the whole space.

With a view of the lush green street trees while you eat, HEOD Mapo Gongdeok felt like a brunch spot near Gongdeok with a really great atmosphere, surrounded by nature.

HEOD Mapo Gongdeok also had upgraded fusion brunch menu items, including a pasta with aged kimchi and pork jowl, and a risotto with soft tofu. Since I really enjoyed the seafood soft tofu risotto last time, I ordered the seafood soft tofu risotto again this time.

And since participating in the review event got me a free drink, I chose an americano this time. Visiting for weekday lunch, there was also a weekday brunch set menu that gives a small discount when you order a drink together with a meal.

They first brought out the americano and a cabbage pickle, and the neat setup was satisfying. It was crowded, but the staff were impressively quick getting things out.

How does the soft tofu seafood risotto at HEOD Gongdeok taste?

The soft tofu seafood risotto at HEOD Gongdeok came out after about a 10-minute wait, and with soft tofu, plump shrimp, and fresh mussels all together, the flavor combination was really great.

It reminded me a bit of the seafood paella I had in Spain — probably because it uses seafood broth, it had a savory depth combined with rich sauce flavor, making it a really delicious seafood risotto. The tofu was torched, so it was soft with a slight smoky char, which I loved, and the combination of the deep, savory seafood broth base with the tofu worked really well.

Being a newly opened brunch spot, HEOD Mapo Gongdeok had an impressively clean, tidy look, and beyond the usual brunch menu items, there were special dishes too, making it fun to try something new.

Coffee in hand after the meal: a Gyeongui Line Forest Trail walk

The americano I ordered alongside my meal at HEOD Gongdeok was also quite good — café-quality coffee, which was very satisfying. After eating, I asked for it in a takeout cup, and they gave me a pretty one, so I got to enjoy coffee time walking the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail after the meal — a really great meal course.

That was my visit to HEOD Gongdeok, a brunch spot near Daeheung Station worth stopping by while strolling the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail. Thanks for the meal.