Napoli pizza in Hongdae, Seoul: Croccante at Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza

A record of my visit to Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza, famous as a Hapjeong-area Hongdae pizza spot. I'd bookmarked it as a place to get Napoli pizza, and finally made it back after a while to enjoy a proper pizza feast. Let me introduce this Hongdae wood-fired pizza restaurant.

Where is Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza, and what are the hours?

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza is open 11:30–22:00, with a weekday break from 15:30 to 16:30, and is closed every Tuesday. It's close to Sangsu Station Exit 1 or Hapjeong Station Exit 6, and about a 15-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 9.

At the entrance there's a sign explaining, with text and illustrations, how the pizza is made. They say they use only five ingredients — fresh flour, Italian salt, water, natural yeast, and olive oil — and the dough is cold-fermented for 16 to 24 hours before being fired in an oven above 400 degrees. Because it's baked Napoli-style at over 400 degrees in a short time, the texture was crisp outside and chewy inside, exactly right. It's a Hapjeong restaurant where the dough is hand-kneaded instead of machine-made, and the sauce and toppings are also made in-house.

Menu, prices and how half-and-half pizza works

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza's signature items are pizza and pasta. Gorgonzola is 21,500 won, Quattro Formaggi is 24,500 won, and Manjo Pizza is 25,000 won — there's a wide range of Hapjeong pizza options, plus pasta that pairs well alongside.

Quattro Stagioni lets you try four popular flavors at once: Quattro Formaggi + Croccante + Margherita + Diavola, 26,000 won.

Half-and-half is also possible!! You can order any two menus split down the middle, and I liked that the price difference isn't big.

Let me also introduce their signature Hapjeong pasta. Gamberi Crema, a shrimp cream pasta, is 18,500 won. It's a wood-fired cream pasta with a spicy cream sauce given extra aroma from shrimp and mushrooms, with cheese melted in the oven's heat for added flavor — you can choose penne or spaghetti.

Inside Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza: seating and atmosphere

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza is a cozy space centered around its wood-fired oven. The atmosphere is nice enough that it's also a well-known Hapjeong date spot.

There are tables for two and for four, plus a restroom toward the back.

Quattro Formaggi + Croccante and Patata Dolce + Funghi Prosciutto

Since half-and-half was an option, I could try a variety of flavors. Part of me wanted a whole pie each of my favorite Quattro Formaggi and Croccante, but curiosity about other flavors won out, so after some thought I also ordered one with sweet potato and mushroom.

Top: Patata Dolce + Funghi Prosciutto, 24,500 won with a 500-won add-on. Bottom: Croccante + Quattro Formaggi, 24,500 won with no extra charge.

The sweet potato was less sweet than I expected — not the sugary sweet-potato mousse I know, but more like a steamed sweet potato feel. The Funghi Prosciutto was topped with two kinds of mushroom, king oyster and oyster mushroom, finished with salty prosciutto!! Both were mild and clean-tasting rather than intense.

I paired them with honey and tangy pickles.

Why the Croccante was the best pizza of the four

The tastiest thing I ate at Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza was the Croccante!! It had a slight kick of spice that worked in harmony, and combined with the texture of the shrimp and garlic chip topping, the overall balance was great and it really suited my taste.

The reliable Quattro Cheese pairs well with honey, much like Gorgonzola, but eaten plain it showed off the cheese's clean, savory flavor best. The dough was chewy and springy in a really appealing way, so I ate all the way down to the crust.

If you're craving Napoli pizza around Hongdae, Hapjeong, or Sangsu, how about a Hapjeong pizza date at Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza?