Shell-on shrimp oil pasta in Hapjeong, Seoul: Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza

Where is Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza? The alley between Hapjeong and Sangsu Stations

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza is a wood-fired pizza restaurant 433m from Hapjeong Station Exit 6, at 1F, 5 Dokmak-ro 7-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It's open 11:30–22:00, closed every Tuesday, with a break time from 15:30–16:30. It appeared on Saengsaeng Jeongbotong episode 648, allows corkage, accepts Zero Pay, and offers takeout and delivery.

This time I visited Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza — the name is so plain and literal it made me laugh at first haha, but once I actually got there it turned out to be a pretty old spot that wood-fired pizza fans keep coming back to?! It sits between Hapjeong and Sangsu Stations, so it's walkable from either one!!

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza near Hapjeong Station

The restaurant is tucked inside an alley, so the first time you go you might think 'wait, is this really it?' — but once you find it, it feels even better, like a hidden gem tucked away in a spot like this!!

Is Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza a good date spot in Hapjeong?

The interior of Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza is fairly cozy with wood tones and soft lighting, making it a good place to reserve for a date or blind date. With cute little details and even a photo from 2012 on the wall, it definitely gave off that feeling of an old, established wood-fired pizza place in Hapjeong.

The overall vibe is very warm thanks to the wood tones, and the soft lighting made it cozier than I expected. Above all, the staff member who seemed to be the owner was really kind.

It's not so much a super fancy restaurant vibe, more like a comfortable place to sit and enjoy pizza and pasta?! So it seemed fine for a date, and also fine for dinner with friends.

With the cute interior and plenty of celebrity visits, it really had that vibe of an old, well-loved wood-fired pizza spot in Hapjeong!! There was even a photo from 2012 hanging up.

Book it as a date or blind date spot and you might score some bonus points?! Hahahaha

What we ordered at Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza and what it cost

• Gamberi e Rucola Oil Pasta — ₩19,500
• Quattro Stagioni Pizza — ₩26,000

You order directly at the table kiosk, which was nice because it also showed menu descriptions. And for pizza, half-and-half is possible, so check that option.

The water even came in a retro wine bottle-style container?! Be careful not to break it!!

The basic setup includes pickles, and since we ordered pizza they gave us a little dish of honey to dip it in!!

Gamberi e rucola oil pasta: shrimp you eat shell and all

The Gamberi e Rucola Oil Pasta is ₩19,500, an oil pasta with shell-on shrimp, cherry tomatoes, and arugula (rucola). It had plenty of shrimp pan-fried crispy with the shell still on, giving off a savory flavor quite different from fried shrimp.

The name felt unfamiliar so I looked up the menu description — apparently it's an oil pasta with crispy pan-fried shell-on shrimp, cherry tomatoes, and fresh arugula, brightened up with white wine vinegar.

They say a pasta that looks good also tastes good, and indeed the oil aroma and the ocean scent of the shrimp hit right away.

There's a generous amount of shrimp like this, and eating it shell and all made it crispy and savory — a totally different flavor from fried shrimp.

I thought the oil might make it a bit heavy, but eating it together with the tomato and arugula kept it from feeling greasy at all — it was delicious!!

Being an oil pasta it might feel a bit rich alongside pizza, but it was tasty enough to be a completely satisfying pick!! Twirl that pasta~~~~

Quattro Stagioni pizza: four best-selling flavors on one pie

The Quattro Stagioni Pizza is ₩26,000, combining Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza's best menu items — Quattro Formaggi, Croccante, Margherita, and Diavola — all on one pizza. I picked it because I couldn't decide what to order and this way I could enjoy all four flavors.

Torn between choices, I ended up going with the Quattro Stagioni Pizza so I could enjoy four flavors at once.

According to the menu description, it's a pizza that lets you taste Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza's best menu items all at once — Quattro Formaggi, Croccante, Margherita, and Diavola.

Look at that cheese stretch — this pizza could give the fanciest cheese pull videos a run for their money. If you're into cheese-heavy pizza, I'd especially recommend the Quattro Formaggi side — the rich, savory cheese flavor really comes through with the wood-fired dough, cheese lovers will go crazy over it~~ On the flip side, the tomato-sauce flavors are relatively light and refreshing, so alternating between bites of the cheese slices and these kept a nice balance.

How does the wood-fired dough taste and feel?

The best part of wood-fired pizza has to be the dough, right? Thin yet soft in the center, and chewy toward the edges — a texture that's clearly different from typical chain pizzas!!

Especially fresh out of the oven, the cheese stretched beautifully and you could pick up on the subtle wood-fire aroma. Personally I usually leave the crust behind when eating pizza, but here the dough was surprisingly delicious so I kept eating all the way to the edge haha.

How big are the portions at Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza?

Also, the pizza portion isn't huge, so bigger eaters might find just the pizza a bit lacking. One pasta and one pizza is plenty for two people, but sharing one pizza among three might leave you a little short on food.

Final verdict: who should visit Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza

• Anyone looking for wood-fired pizza near Hapjeong Station
• Anyone who loves chewy Neapolitan-style dough
• Anyone who wants to try several pizza flavors at once
• Anyone looking for a good date spot in Hapjeong
• Anyone who wants to enjoy pizza and pasta together

If you fall into any of those categories, it seems worth a visit at least once!! Next time I go I'll probably try a different pizza. Whenever I crave pizza around Hapjeong, I don't think I'll bother going far — I'll probably keep coming back here first :) If you're craving pasta for a date near Hongdae or Hapjeong Station, I recommend Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza!!!

That said, parking isn't easy here, so if you're driving, it's best to check nearby parking lots in advance.