Hongdae grilled clam set with cheese tteokbokki for two: Hawaii Clam

Not written by AI, no script — this is Sujjangi writing it out by hand, one word at a time.

• 🍽 Menu: Hawaii Clam Grill for two
• ⏳ Wait time: none
• 📌 Location: 9-minute walk from Exit 9, Hongik University Station

• Hawaii Clam Grill for two ₩53,800
• Soju 1 bottle ₩6,000
• Canned drinks x2 ₩4,000

Grilled clams in Hongdae when the weather turns cold: Hawaii Clam Hongdae Branch

I'd been wanting grilled clams for a while but kept putting it off because of the heat, and before I knew it the cold wind had arrived, so I finally made it to Hawaii Clam Hongdae Branch.

Indoor tables or outdoor tables at Hawaii Clam Hongdae Branch?

The inside was huge — easily more than 40 four-person tables. The outdoor tables were tempting too, but the built-in burners at the indoor tables looked like they had strong heat, so I sat inside.

Each table has a tablet for ordering, and everything you'd need for eating clams — chopstick holder, soy sauce, chojang (vinegar chili sauce), cups and bowls — was already there, so it was easy to settle in. They're also running a review event with a 5–10% discount, so it's worth joining if you visit.

After ordering, they bring out the bucket of clams along with the basic side dishes — kimchi, jalapeños, and olives.

What comes with the 53,800 won Hawaii Clam Grill for two?

The Hawaii Clam set for two comes out in two rounds — the first round is set up ready to eat, and while it's cooking, the second round arrives.

The first round was cheese tteokbokki (rice cakes), cheese scallops, seasoned scallops, squid, and clams. The tteokbokki had a curry-ish flavor with cheese on top, so it almost felt like eating Sinjeon tteokbokki, and the scallops came topped with either seasoning or cheese, so it was fun tasting them one by one.

The burner runs so hot that the squid basically turned into charcoal-grilled squid the moment I looked away. Still, it had its own nutty, charred flavor that was pretty good on its own.

While I was working through the squid, the second round showed up — corn cheese, cheese spaghetti, cheese cheonggangari (Korean scallops), sausage, and scallops.

Boiling ramen in broth made from the clams' own juices

With grilled clams, the shells open as they cook and release a pretty salty broth. Instead of throwing it away, I usually pour it into the little dish on the left — like a mussel soup dish — to make a stock.

Boiling ramen in that stock gives it a really strong, refreshing flavor — genuinely delicious.

A lot of grilled clam places have you rolling the dice with weak burners, so cooking takes forever, but here the heat was seriously strong. You have to watch it carefully. And since the ramen refills are unlimited, you can eat as much ramen as you want, which is great.

The heat was so intense that even the cheonggangari shell cracked, so I asked for a bowl, and even after moving it to the bowl it still burned fast. Still, eating it piping hot like that made for a great side dish with drinks.

I cut up the sausage and threw it into the ramen too. A bite of grilled clam, a shot of soju, and then a refreshing sip of ramen broth — it felt like drinking and curing a hangover all in one sitting.

Can you see how plump the scallop meat is? Good dipped in soy sauce, good dipped in chojang too. I think I ate my fill of clams that day.

Is Hawaii Clam Hongdae Branch worth it?

For ₩53,800 for two, you get a varied menu and a generous amount of food, plus unlimited ramen, so it seems like a great spot to keep drinking at. Once the weather cools down a bit more, having grilled clams and a drink outside in the cool breeze sounds especially nice.

It's hard to find good value in the Hongdae commercial district, but this place felt like a solid option. If you're craving drinks or grilled clams in Hongdae, I'd recommend a visit..!