# Private room seats and king pork cutlet, a Jonggak eatery: Bonghyejane - By Dohee (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-kitchen-stops/) - Written Sep 22, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Jongno, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written after a sponsored visit to the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-kitchen-stops/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-kitchen-stops/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/index.md) ## In short Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is a Korean restaurant on basement level 2 of Jongno Tower in Jongno, Seoul. At lunch the octopus stir-fry set hid its rice under a second tier of the bowl, the king pork cutlet stayed crisp to the last bite, and a separate hidden seating area at the back of Bonghyejane worked like a private room. The seasoning runs strong, but the plump octopus and sesame-oil bibimbap made this a solid Jonggak lunch. ## Good to know - **Location**: Basement 2, Jongno Tower (B206, B207, 51 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul) - **Hyeja feast table**: Whole octopus stir-fry set 42,000 won / Spicy baby octopus stir-fry set 40,000 won - **Feast table includes**: Whole octopus stir-fry or spicy baby octopus stir-fry + tasting bossam or mushroom perilla soup, acorn jelly soup, sweet and sour whole flounder, sweet pumpkin porridge, jjolmyeon noodles, rice - **Dish table includes**: Whole octopus stir-fry or spicy baby octopus stir-fry + acorn jelly soup, sweet and sour whole flounder, sweet pumpkin porridge, jjolmyeon noodles (rice ordered separately) - **Spice level**: Mildly spicy by default; non-spicy available on request - **Hours**: Weekdays 11:00-21:00, weekends 11:00-20:00 / Break 15:00-16:30 / Closed on Lunar New Year's Day and Chuseok - **Parking**: First 90 minutes free, then 3,600 won per 30 minutes - **Review event**: One free bottle of alcohol or a soft drink - **Price reference**: ₩42,000 ≈ $30.5 · ₩40,000 ≈ $29 (2026-09-22) *as written by the visitor on Sep 22, 2026* ## Where is Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch, and which entrance do you use? ![Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch on basement level 2](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-01-z4cl0-810.webp) Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch, a Jonggak lunch spot, is on the basement 2nd floor of Jongno Tower. ![Bonghyejane entrance accessible from inside Jongno Tower](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-02-a7q5h-900.webp) There are two entrances. This one is easiest if you're coming in from inside Jongno Tower, ![Bonghyejane entrance easy to reach from Jonggak Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-03-1wr44-900.webp) and this one is the easiest entrance if you're coming from Jonggak Station. I knew about the Mokdong 41 Tower branch of Bonghyejane, but I had no idea there was a Jongno Tower branch — apparently it just opened. ![Sign noting visits by Jung Joon-ha and Hibab to this Bonghyejane specialty restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-04-12mji-m-900.webp) Jung Joon-ha and Hibab have visited this Bonghyejane specialty restaurant. ![Sign for the signature whole octopus stir-fry dish](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-05-j6o0a-900.webp) The signature whole octopus stir-fry, cooked directly over flame for a rich smoky-spicy flavor. This is the dish Jung Joon-ha and Hibab both had. ![Interior tables at Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-06-qye8n-900.webp) ## The hidden, fully separated seating at the back of Bonghyejane The tables inside Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch. Plenty spacious already — but that's not all. ![Passage leading to a hidden space toward the back of the restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-07-v4ccj-900.webp) There's also a hidden space like this. ![A separated hidden seating area](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-08-1xlx9-900.webp) It's a fully separated spot, so you get it all to yourselves. ![A private, separated seat for just our group](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-09-1fo3p-900.webp) ## Solo diners at lunch and how quiet Bonghyejane gets around 2pm When we went at lunchtime, it was packed, true to its reputation as a Jonggak lunch favorite. Solo diners in particular were everywhere. But as it got closer to 2pm, the crowd thinned out — which meant I could snap photos of the place to my heart's content. ![The restaurant grows quieter after the lunch crowd clears](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-10-1uk4f-900.webp) I know better now, but the first time I saw the name "Bonghyejane," I thought it was a person's name — the same way I once assumed Gobongmin Gimbap was named after someone. The characters in Bonghyejane mean peak, grace, and generosity — maybe it means grace and generosity as high as a mountain peak? ![Bonghyejane's menu board](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-11-1yv0t-900.webp) ## Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch menu and prices The menu at this Bonghyejane, said to be one of Seoul's top three restaurants — you can also check it on the kiosk. ![Menu listing showing the octopus stir-fry set](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-12-1okv2-900.webp) We ordered the octopus stir-fry set, the recommended dish at this Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch, a Jonggak favorite. ![Contents and pricing of the Hyeja Jjanchisang set](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-13-ql3mo-900.webp) The Hyeja Jjanchisang set comes with whole octopus stir-fry or spicy baby octopus stir-fry, plus a bossam/mushroom perilla soup tasting, mukguksu (acorn jelly noodle soup), whole flounder sweet and sour, pumpkin porridge, jjolmyeon noodles, and rice. The whole octopus set is ₩42,000, the spicy baby octopus set is ₩40,000. ![Contents of the Hyeja Yorisang set](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-14-10juc-900.webp) The Hyeja Yorisang comes with whole octopus stir-fry or spicy baby octopus stir-fry plus mukguksu, whole flounder sweet and sour, pumpkin porridge, and jjolmyeon noodles — rice must be ordered separately. Mild is the default spice level, and you can also order it non-spicy. We also ordered the hyeja king pork cutlet. ## Octopus stir-fry set: the rice is hiding on the second tier ![The full spread of Bonghyejane's octopus stir-fry set](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-15-pdbrw-1200.webp) The Bonghyejane octopus stir-fry set. Wait — where's the rice? The octopus stir-fry bowl was sitting unusually high. Turns out it was on a second level, and once we lifted it off, ![Rice hidden on a second level beneath the octopus stir-fry](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-16-1woud-900.webp) there was the rice, hiding underneath. The pumpkin porridge was nicely thin, good for soothing an empty stomach, and not too sweet — also great on an empty stomach. The perilla soup had a strong perilla flavor and was a bit heavily seasoned, which made it good with rice. The octopus was so plump it was almost chewy, and the juices burst out with every bite — I loved it. ![Octopus stir-fry rice mixed with sesame oil](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-17-1nrv3-900.webp) Mixing just the octopus into the rice is already tasty, but add Bonghyejane's thick 100% whole sesame oil, cold-pressed, and mix it all together — it disappears in a flash, that's how good it is. ## The king pork cutlet is thin, but the portion is enormous ![A plate of the surprisingly huge hyeja king pork cutlet](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-18-tf269-900.webp) Whoa!!! I was shocked by the size the moment it arrived — I made such a fuss that other diners turned to look. (A little embarrassing.) ![The thin king pork cutlet extending underneath the cabbage salad](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-19-2lipo-900.webp) Ah, so it's big because it's thin — I figured the actual amount of meat would be about the same as a regular pork cutlet. Totally wrong. It was genuinely huge. I was even surprised to find pork cutlet underneath the cabbage salad — I assumed only cabbage was left and the cutlet was long gone, but no, there was still more. I surrender. Because the cutlet is thin, the meat flavor came through more, and it was wonderfully crispy in texture. The parts without sauce were crunchy like a cracker, and even the parts with sauce stayed crispy. Aside from being a touch moist in places, I was amazed it could stay this crispy all the way through. Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch's seasoning runs strong overall, but it was delicious. ![Homemade zucchini pancake made at home instead](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-20-1gn0b-900.webp) I was too full to order the zucchini pancake, so I ended up making it at home instead — delicious. Next time I want to go back for the flounder sweet and sour, which I also missed out on. ![Sign about the review event offering a free bottle of alcohol or drink](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu-21-hslxq-900.webp) ## Hours, parking and the review event at Bonghyejane The review event at Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch, this Jonggak lunch spot, gets you a free bottle of alcohol or a drink. - Hours: weekdays 11am-9pm, weekends 11am-8pm - Break time 3pm-4:30pm - Closed on Lunar New Year and Chuseok - Free parking available — first 90 minutes free, then ₩3,600 per 30 minutes ## Where it is - Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch (봉혜자네주방 종로타워점) - 51 Jongno, B2 B206, B207, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 종로구 종로 51 지하2층 B206, B207호 - 37.5707534, 126.9836385 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%B4%89%ED%98%9C%EC%9E%90%EB%84%A4%EC%A3%BC%EB%B0%A9%20%EC%A2%85%EB%A1%9C%ED%83%80%EC%9B%8C%EC%A0%90/@37.5707534,126.9836385,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-kitchen-stops/jongno-tower-bonghyeja-private-room-donkatsu/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt