Haebangchon pizzeria for group gatherings of up to 50: TPM hbc

For this weekend's date, head straight to TPM hbc, the hot spot on every Haebangchon date-course list! It's been all over Instagram lately, so I went in with huge expectations! And once I got there, I understood right away why everyone raves about the vibes ✨

What are TPM hbc's hours and parking?

TPM hbc (더피제리아마켓 해방촌) is at 30 Sinheung-ro (Yongsan-dong 2-ga), 1st floor, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays it's open 17:00–22:00; on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays it splits into lunch (12:00–15:00) and dinner (16:30–22:00). It's closed every Monday.

• Tue, Thu, Fri: 17:00–22:00
• Wed, Sat, Sun: lunch 12:00–15:00 / dinner 16:30–22:00
• Closed every Monday
• Last order is 1 hour before closing
• Parking: the nearby Yongsan 2-ga-dong mechanical public car park or the Myeongsan Building car park is recommended!

Do you have to climb the Haebangchon hill?

TPM hbc is at the entrance of the alley, so you don't have to climb the Haebangchon hill. It's also a good spot to reach by public transport.

Say "Haebangchon" and everyone thinks of that notorious hill, which is kind of a burden on a date 🥲 But this place is right at the start of the alley, so no hiking required. Total lucky break 🍀 It's also easy to get to by public transport, so I give it full marks for access 📸

What's the interior like, and is there group seating?

The inside of TPM hbc has wood-toned décor with bar seats and tables, and it reportedly holds up to 50 people. They'll apparently rearrange the tables if you book ahead, so it works well as a Haebangchon spot for group gatherings.

The weather was a bit chilly that day, so we picked an indoor seat instead of the terrace! The moment we walked in, warm wood tones and hip pop music were playing, and the mood was just wow.. I felt all soft and fluffy inside 🎵

From the bar seats to the tables, it's nicely put together, so it's perfect as a Haebangchon date spot when you want atmosphere. Perfectly balanced, adorable space 💘 Plus the room is quite big and holds up to 50 people! If you book ahead they'll even rearrange the tables, so I highly recommend it if you're looking for a Haebangchon group gathering spot 👍

How does the sweet corn and taleggio pizza taste?

The pizza I ordered was TPM hbc's summer-only "Chodang corn and taleggio" (초당 옥수수와 탈레지오). It uses a lactic-fermented chodang sweet corn purée as the base sauce, topped with taleggio cheese, and the sweet-salty savory flavor was unmistakable.

The concept here is New York style as a base, with Korea's seasonal ingredients reworked innovatively! Isn't that cool? 😎 As a pizza lover, I could never walk past a place like this. It felt like a neighborhood mill!

Maybe because the base sauce is a purée of lactic-fermented sweet corn, the deep savory flavor pops right off the dough 💥 Then taleggio cheese with a faint fruity note wraps around it... the sweet-and-salty thing was like an orchestra playing in my mouth 😆 And the dough was crisp outside, moist and chewy inside!

Lactic-fermented pickles and wine pairing at TPM hbc

The pickles at TPM hbc are "lactic-fermented pickles" of dolsan mustard greens (dolsan-gat) and celery, fermented in nothing but salt water, with no additives. Having them with the pizza, oolong tea and red wine cleanly cut the richness.

Lots of you can't eat pizza without pickles, right? Even the pickles here refuse to be ordinary 🙅‍♀️ Fresh dolsan mustard greens and celery are fermented only in salt water, no additives, and served as "lactic-fermented pickles", and they're seriously sneaky good! The crunch and cool, refreshing flavor reset the greasiness of the pizza, so warning: you may inhale them nonstop 🚨

Add a bittersweet, clean oolong tea and a glass of full-bodied red wine, and the mood is the ultimate. Ta-da 🥂

Before you go, Q&A: waiting, dogs, private bookings

Is the wait bad at weekend peak times?

It's a real hot spot with lines even on weekday evenings, so on weekends there can definitely be a wait! A tip: I recommend, like a million times, reserving ahead on Catch Table before you go!

Can I bring my pet?

Yes! TPM hbc is a very kind, dog-friendly place 🐶 Just note that you need to order a drink or alcohol when using the restaurant!

Are group gatherings or private bookings possible?

Yes, it holds up to 50 people, so it's great for group reservations or private events in Haebangchon! For details, call the restaurant and they'll kindly work it out with you.

Verdict: how is it for a Haebangchon date or group pizza night?

For a special day with your partner, trying pizza made with unusual seasonal ingredients in a hip mood, I don't think anywhere beats TPM hbc 🥰 The taste and the looks both fill you with Instagram vibes, so I'm 200% coming back, done deal! If you're planning a Haebangchon date course full of vibes, save TPM hbc to your list 📌