Hapjeong brunch café for salmon Benedict: Seowon Angil

I’ve had a few occasions to spend time alone in Hapjeong lately, but once you get there, quite a few places feel awkward for staying long by yourself because the seats are packed together or the cafés are small. This time, I went to Seowon Angil Hapjeong for a solo brunch and coffee. To give you the conclusion first, the genuinely spacious setting was a huge plus here.

I’ve been to lots of cafés in Hapjeong, but big cafés with this much breathing room are surprisingly uncommon, so I liked it more than I expected as soon as I walked in.

Seowon Angil Hapjeong location and opening information

It is on the first and second floors at 34 Jandari-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, about 218 m from Hapjeong Station Exit 3. It is open 09:00–20:00 on weekdays and 11:00–21:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Last orders on weekdays are 19:00 for drinks and 18:30 for food, while the weekend last order is 20:00.

The second floor is open 11:00–18:00, and reservations, group visits, takeout, Wi-Fi, and pets are all welcome. Since it is in the Seogyo-dong area, it was in a great spot when I wanted to do brunch and a café visit in Hapjeong all in one go.

What was it like staying alone for a while?

My very first thought walking in was, “Wow, it’s really bigger than I expected.” Hapjeong has plenty of pretty independent cafés, but once you look for somewhere with lots of seats and room to sit comfortably, the options shrink fast.

Because Seowon Angil itself is so spacious, I did not feel self-conscious sitting alone at all. When I visited, there was a mix of solo guests, couples on dates, and people chatting. It also looked like a comfortable place for anyone bringing a laptop to work or looking for a meeting spot for several people.

More than anything, the staff were genuinely kind. When I go to a café alone, I sometimes get awkward while ordering for no reason, haha, but they made the interaction so easy that I felt good from the start.

A varied menu, from brunch to pasta

Looking at the menu, it felt closer to a real brunch café where you can have a proper meal than a café that only sells coffee. There were quite a few choices, including salads, open sandwiches, pasta, and plate dishes. Since I was eating alone, I chose something brunch-like rather than anything too heavy.

That day I ordered the Creamy Salmon Poached Egg Benedict for ₩13,500, matcha milk ice cream for ₩7,300, and an Americano for ₩6,000. ₩26,800 in total. I came alone but properly did brunch and dessert too, haha.

A few things to look at here and there!

Matcha milk ice cream taste

The Americano and matcha milk ice cream came out first after I ordered. Those two arrived before the food, followed by the Creamy Salmon Poached Egg Benedict. Honestly, the matcha milk ice cream was better than I expected, which surprised me.

The milk ice cream was soft and sweet on its own, and little bits of chocolate appeared as you ate it, making it even tastier. I was more satisfied than I expected, so if you like desserts, I kind of want to recommend this one. I ordered an iced Americano too, so I was already properly enjoying the café before brunch arrived, haha.

Poached egg Benedict with plenty of fresh salmon

Then came the Creamy Salmon Poached Egg Benedict. The first thing I liked as soon as it arrived was the amount of salmon. What I especially loved was that it came with fresh salmon rather than smoked salmon.

I personally like fresh salmon far more than smoked salmon, so I was already drawn to this menu before even tasting it. There was a generous amount of fresh salmon on the bread, topped with a poached egg.

The open sandwich uses house-made sourdough, apparently. When I ate it, it did not have the heavy, butter-loaded bread feel I had imagined, which I liked. Diet-friendly vibes, hehe.

It was not just the main dish on its own; it also came with carrot râpée and salad. It could have felt a little rich, but eating the carrot râpée and vegetables in between made it much fresher. So for anyone watching what they eat but still having a brunch appointment out, this kind of plate seems like a good option!!!

Brunch and café time in one stop in Seogyo-dong

At first, I came simply because I was looking for a café to visit alone in Hapjeong, but once I got there, it felt closer to a café that can handle everything from brunch to a full meal than one where you only drink coffee. So among people looking for a good café in Seogyo-dong, I think it would be especially convenient for anyone who cannot be bothered to eat and then move again to find another café. Brunch, coffee, and dessert all in one place 🥹🩵

My honest thoughts after visiting alone

I visited alone this time, and more than the food, what I liked most was simply how spacious and comfortable it was 😇 When you go to a café alone in Hapjeong, small places can make you feel like you should not stay too long, but I barely got that feeling here. The staff were also so, so kind that it really felt like I had come to relax comfortably.

I think I will remember it again on days when I need a Hapjeong café to work alone, or when I am looking for a large Hapjeong café for a brunch date or a friends’ gathering.