Yeonnam-dong pasta restaurant after a makeup session: Hey Joji

A pasta spot I found after getting makeup done in Yeonnam-dong: Hey Joji

After getting my makeup done in Yeonnam-dong, I went off to eat some really good pasta.

The place I went to that day was

Hey Joji, a well-known pasta restaurant in Yeonnam-dong. I visited because I heard it was famous, and it wasn't just the food: the atmosphere of the place left an impression too.

The first thing I felt when I walked in was how warm and cozy it was.

Personally, it felt like stepping into someone's home somewhere in Europe. The wood tones and the little props dotted around blended together, so I felt relaxed throughout the meal.

Maybe because of that vibe, I thought it would suit a special day or a date better than a place where you just eat and leave.

Where is Hey Joji, and what about parking?

Hey Joji is at 42-24 Donggyo-ro 46-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 1st floor. You can walk there from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3, so it's easy to stop by while wandering around Yeonnam-dong. The distance felt very manageable while looking around the neighborhood.

There's no private parking lot, so if you're coming by car, it's best to check nearby paid parking in advance.

Inside Hey Joji: wood tones like a European home

Step inside Hey Joji and your eyes go straight to the warm wood tones and all the small props.

To me, it felt less like an American home-cooking concept restaurant and more like being invited into a cozy home somewhere in Europe. So it seemed like a place for eating slowly and chatting, not for wolfing down food and leaving.

Yeonnam-dong has plenty of cafés and little prop shops to browse on a date, right? So this was a great place to drop in for pasta or risotto in the middle of a Yeonnam-dong date.

How to order at Hey Joji: QR code at the table

At Hey Joji you check the menu and order through the QR code on the table. Looking through the menu, there was a wide range: not just pasta and risotto, but steak, chicken, sides and salads.

The QR menu doesn't always show photos right away, so if you want to see pictures, it's worth checking the menu photos posted on Naver Map too. Cabbage pickles come as a basic side to eat alongside.

Hey Joji menu and prices

Here is the Hey Joji menu.

• Garlic Squid Aglio e Olio (garlic squid oil pasta) ₩16,000
• Jambong Butter Cheddar Pasta (Korean-style ham, butter and cheddar) ₩16,000
• Cajun Shrimp Rosé Pasta ₩17,000
• White Ragu Truffle Cream Pasta ₩16,000
• Bocconcini Meat Chili Tomato Pasta ₩17,000
• Jambalaya Rosé Risotto ₩17,000
• Duck Steak Cream Risotto ₩17,000
• Waffle Chicken ₩15,000
• House Steak ₩31,000
• Fried Sweet Potato with Chili Mayo ₩8,000
• Corn Rib ₩6,000
• Chicken Tender Caesar Salad ₩13,000

With so many pasta options, it's easy to pick to your taste, and with risotto and steak on the menu too, a group could each choose what they want and share.

Garlic squid oil pasta vs jambalaya rosé risotto: which was tastier?

What I ordered at Hey Joji that day was the garlic squid oil pasta and the jambalaya rosé risotto. At first I liked the jambalaya rosé risotto more. With all kinds of ingredients in it, you got lots of different flavors in a single plate, and with things like shrimp in there, it was fun to eat too.

But after trying both together, the one that suited my taste best in the end was the garlic squid oil pasta. I tend to like oil-based pasta, so the flavor of the oil just worked better for me.

I enjoyed the jambalaya rosé risotto more at first, but as I kept eating, my hand went to the garlic squid oil pasta more and more. The two dishes are so different in style, so with one as a rosé risotto and the other as an oil pasta, I could compare two different flavors as I ate.

Why Hey Joji also works as a Yeonnam-dong date spot

Hey Joji felt like a place where you enjoy the space too, not somewhere you just eat and leave. To me, the warm, cozy mood like a European home seemed like it would suit couples well.

Yeonnam-dong especially is a great date neighborhood, with cafés, prop shops and lots to see on a stroll. So after walking around Yeonnam-dong, it seemed like a good stop when you want to chat over pasta or risotto in a place with atmosphere. It's comfortable for a casual meal with friends too, but if you're looking for a Yeonnam-dong date restaurant, it's worth going for the atmosphere as well.

The day I went to Hey Joji after makeup in Yeonnam-dong

Maybe because I came to Hey Joji right after getting my makeup done in Yeonnam-dong, it felt like eating out on a slightly more special day than usual.

Heading off to a good meal after finishing my makeup felt different from an ordinary meal. If you have plans in Yeonnam-dong or are on a date and looking for somewhere to eat, I think it's worth adding to your route.

Hey Joji basic info

• Address: 42-24 Donggyo-ro 46-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor
• Hours: daily 12:00–21:00
• Last order: 20:00
• Ordering: QR code at the table
• Parking: no private lot
• Location: about 10 minutes on foot from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3

Reservations are possible, but how they work may vary depending on timing and date, so it's best to check before you visit.

Above all, it wasn't only the food: the warm, cozy atmosphere stuck with me, and it was a good place for a day when you want to enjoy a meal and a mood together in Yeonnam-dong. If you're looking for a good Yeonnam-dong restaurant or date spot, check out the menu, from pasta and risotto to steak and sides, before you go.