Jongno Tower basement Korean restaurant: octopus set, Bonghyejane

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch, where the octopus stir-fry is amazing!

I heard that the basement-2 dining floor of Jongno Tower had been renovated and a bunch of new Jongno restaurants had popped up, so I went straight out to check it out. Lately there have been more and more good spots opening near Jonggak Station, which made me happy. This one is especially accessible since it's on B2 of Jongno Tower, connected right to Line 1's Jonggak Station.

Today I visited a place famous for its octopus stir-fry — Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch.

Bong (peak), Hye (grace), Ja (generous) — the meaning behind the name Bonghyejane

How to reach Bonghyejane Jubang from Jonggak Station Exit 3-1

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is on B2 of Jongno Tower, reached by following Exit 3-1 of Jonggak Station. Get off at Jonggak and follow Exit 3-1, and you'll see Jongno Bookstore on B2 of Jongno Tower. Go in through this entrance, turn right past the café corner, and you'll find Bonghyeja's specialty restaurant right there.

Bonghyejane Jubang opening hours and afternoon break time

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is open daily from 11:00 to 22:00.

• Daily 11:00–22:00
• Last order: 21:00
• Break time: 15:00–17:00

Why the Bonghyejane set meal suits family lunches and group bookings

The Jongno area draws a lot of older folks too, so when setting up a get-together, a Korean menu feels like the right choice. Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch impressed me with a hearty Korean set-meal lineup that people of any age would enjoy. Bonghyeja Jubang is originally known as a Jonggak Korean restaurant famous for its octopus stir-fry, but they also offer other set menus like charcoal-grilled beef bulgogi set and spicy seafood sundubu set, making it a solid Jonggak lunch spot for a filling meal.

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is a Jongno Korean restaurant with a retro vibe. Bonghyeja's specialty restaurant is also famous as a place visited by Jung Joon-ha and Hebab.

The tables were neatly arranged, and there were quite a lot of them, so it looked well set up for group meals too — it was nice seeing older diners enjoying their food together so cheerfully.

What is on the menu at Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower

• Charcoal octopus rice bowl set
• Charcoal pork stir-fry rice bowl set
• Boiled pork bossam set
• Bulgogi set
• Spicy seafood sundubu set

Taking in the retro atmosphere that's Bonghyeja Jubang's trademark.

I ordered the signature octopus stir-fry set along with the zucchini pancake side dish.

Spoons and wet wipes were kept neatly in a side drawer, and the staff came over and kindly explained everything, so I could eat in a relaxed atmosphere.

How spicy is the nakji-bokkeum octopus set?

The octopus stir-fry (nakji-bokkeum) at Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch had a strong char flavor from being cooked over direct flame, and the spice level was about on par with Shin Ramyun — just mildly spicy. The look of the dish was gorgeous. The rice came in a wide bowl topped lightly with salad vegetables, which was mouthwatering just to look at. There was sweet cabbage mixed in too, and tossing it with the octopus stir-fry sauce made for a delicious bite.

Since it comes as a full Korean set meal, they also served sweet pumpkin porridge as a kind of appetizer, plus a cute little bowl of mushroom perilla soup — altogether a generous, filling spread.

Perilla dumpling soup: the spice-cooling side at Bonghyejane

I drizzled on plenty of the sesame oil they provided, and the nutty aroma made everything even tastier. While eating the octopus stir-fry, I also tried the perilla dumpling soup (deulkkae sujebi-tang) they gave to help tone down the spice — and it was great! The perilla gave the broth a deep flavor while still letting the natural taste of the ingredients come through, and it even had jorangi tteok (twisted rice cakes) in it, so it was nice to eat something warm alongside the spicy dish.

What does the zucchini pancake taste like?

The zucchini pancake (aehobak-jeon) had not just zucchini but sweet potato and carrot mixed in too, so I got to enjoy a variety of vegetables — and since it's cooked somewhere between a pan-fry and a deep-fry, it had that appealing texture that's both fluffy and crisp.

That wraps up my satisfying visit to Bonghyejane, a Jonggak Station restaurant and Jongno Korean spot known for its delicious octopus stir-fry. Thanks for a great meal today.