Jung-gu Korean restaurant for Friday-night snacks: Hyeonseoni-ne

An evening snack stop near Euljiro intersection

Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch (현선이네 청계즉석점) is easy to reach from Euljiro intersection. I used to come here often for lunch because it is an instant tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) spot, so I was excited to see what the evening atmosphere would be like.

Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch comes into view as soon as you cross at the intersection. It is normally packed with office workers, so I was looking forward to my first visit during the evening hours.

Checking the menu and ordering

You can check the menu at the entrance. There are individual dishes as well as satisfying set menus, making the selection nicely varied. It may be bunsik (Korean casual snack food), but Hyeonseoni-ne offers plenty to enjoy even as a full meal.

Ordering is simple at the kiosk set up outside.

An old-school Friday-night atmosphere

It has the feel of an old pojangmacha (street food tent), and it seemed just as popular on a Friday night, with every seat full.

You can order beer at Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch, too. Being able to have a beer with bunsik probably helps explain why it is so popular on Fridays.

For dining in or taking away

If you ask for takeaway, Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch packs everything up neatly, which I really liked. The old-school atmosphere makes it great to eat on-site, while the tidy takeaway makes it equally good to share with family.

It is also perfect for picking up for dinner after work.

A set menu with a little of everything

This was the set menu I ordered. It is one I would recommend because you can try several items in one satisfying order. It is especially nice when several people are eating together and want to enjoy a variety of dishes.

Crispy fried snacks are a must-order

Hyeonseoni-ne would not be complete without its assortment of crispy fried snacks. I used to go to the Yongsan main branch just for these, and they are still wonderfully crisp here. The fried items feel like a must-order at Hyeonseoni-ne.

Even medium tteokbokki is quite spicy

The portions are generous and you can choose the spice level, making Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch easy to enjoy together. I do not handle spicy food well, and even though I ordered medium, it still felt quite hot. Keep the spice levels in mind when ordering.

The gimbap (seaweed rice roll) is another specialty here. It was a great accompaniment to the spicy tteokbokki.

I prefer sundae (Korean blood sausage) with lots of offal, so I asked for an offal-heavy serving and was very happy with it at Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch. The tteokbokki rice cakes appear to include both wheat-based and rice-based cakes.

If you are looking for old-school Euljiro tteokbokki or bunsik near Cheonggyecheon Stream, I recommend visiting Hyeonseoni-ne Cheonggye Instant Branch. It is a good place to drop by anytime for an easy, unfussy meal.