Boneless cheese jjimdak at Hongdae Station Exit 9: Ongdarae Jjimdak

Is it just me, or does this colder weather make you crave something hot and salty-sweet!? Today I'm sharing an honest review of Ongdarae Jjimdak, a jjimdak (braised chicken) spot I stumbled on while out and about in Mapo.

Where is Ongdarae Jjimdak? Near Hongdae Station Exit 9

Ongdarae Jjimdak is at 122 Yanghwa-ro, 1F, Mapo-gu, Seoul, close to Exit 9 of Hongdae Station. The exterior alone was impressive — the word jjimdak was written in big letters. You could tell right away this was a place you could trust. Let's head inside~

What we ordered at Ongdarae Jjimdak: boneless cheese jjimdak S, regular spice, plus Ongbap

At Ongdarae Jjimdak, we ordered the boneless cheese jjimdak in S size, regular spice level, along with Ongbap (crispy scorched-rice bowl).

• Boneless cheese jjimdak S size
• Regular spice level
• Ongbap (crispy scorched-rice bowl)

We started with a salad bursting with yuzu fragrance and radish pickles with a lively kick of spice. Then out came the boneless cheese jjimdak, with a great balance between the savory mozzarella cheese and the sweet-salty sauce.

How much cheese is on the boneless cheese jjimdak, and how does it eat?

The moment the food arrived, the first thing that made me gasp was the sheer amount of cheese. Savory cheese blanketed the entire dish like a thick duvet, leaving no gaps. When I lifted a piece of chicken with my chopsticks, the cheese stretched heavily and continuously without breaking. That melt-in-your-mouth softness was such a good moment.

It was 100% boneless meat, moist and tender with no dry bits, so the texture was really delicate. When I rolled it up in cheese and took a bite, the juicy broth and the flavor of the cheese hit first. Right after came the deep umami of the soy sauce that had soaked in — I wanted to give it five stars.

How spicy is the regular spice level?

With the regular spice level, a pleasant, subtle heat kicked in right at the end. It perfectly cut through what could otherwise have gotten a bit rich.

The wide flat noodles and potatoes

Instead of round glass noodles, flat noodles were used — they stayed chewy without going soggy and soaked up the sauce beautifully. The well-cooked, mealy potatoes and vegetables also paired wonderfully with the sauce.

Why order Ongbap (scorched-rice bowl) instead of plain rice?

Quick tip..! Instead of plain steamed rice, you absolutely have to order the Ongbap. It comes with a golden, freshly-scorched crispy rice base, neatly topped with roasted seaweed flakes, chopped kimchi, and perilla leaves.

Even after I was already full, I couldn't stop eating with my spoon. The texture is completely different from regular fried rice, and it stayed good until the very last bite.

Overall, this isn't a dish that leans on strong artificial seasoning — the sauce itself has a solid balance, so I never got sick of it and finished every bite happily. If you're around the Hongdae/Mapo area and want a satisfying meal with well-made jjimdak plus a unique crispy-rice fried rice, why not stop by?

You can adjust the spice level to your taste, so even people who aren't great with spicy food can give it a try. With carrots, onions, potatoes, and other vegetables mixed in, it seems good for nutrition too~

The food came out super quickly right after ordering, and it stayed hot the whole time. I think it tasted even better because it was oven-baked.

Of course, the final course for any Korean meal has to be rice! With some sauce eaten and plenty of rich sweet-salty broth left over, we plopped the Ongbap in and mixed it all together — done! The sauce soaked moistly into every grain of rice, while the crispy-rice texture stayed alive with a satisfying crunch — really fun to chew.

Inside Ongdarae Jjimdak: good for a date or a wedding-invitation get-together

Thanks to the stylish wine display wall filling one side of the room and the modern wood-tone interior, it was also a great spot to visit as a date course. It was also a wonderful space near Mapo for a tidy get-together or a wedding-invitation meetup.

The overall atmosphere was very cozy and well put together. There was none of the messiness or chaos typical of restaurants in busy areas, so as soon as we sat down, we could calmly focus on the meal with a real sense of stability.

It was different from the casual, cluttered vibe you'd usually picture at a jjimdak restaurant. The interior was as clean and tidy as a wine bar, so we enjoyed the meal in a good mood from the moment we walked in.

Free snacks, tea, coffee and home-baked scones

And the part that touched me the most..! The owner prepared snacks, tea, and coffee for us completely free. T_T Giving us all this — isn't that basically an angel?

The homemade scones were nutty and light, and I wanted to come back just for them. The generous service made me feel warm inside too.

The facilities were kept spotless, but above all, the owner was truly kind! I'll definitely come back with friends or family.

Even the floor and the corners were spotless without a speck of dust, and you could immediately feel how much attention went into the overall hygiene management of the place.

I heard a lot of celebrities have visited too — and now I completely understand why~~