# Pre-theater dinner in Daehangno: cauldron octopus with noodles at - By Dasol (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-stairway-days/) - Written Sep 7, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Jongno, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written as part of a sponsored store visit. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-stairway-days/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-stairway-days/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/index.md) ## In short Hyehwahwa is a straw-fire Korean restaurant and bar on Daemyeong-gil near Hyehwa Station in Jongno, Seoul. Before an evening play, a window-side bar seat delivered a cauldron of straw-fire seared octopus with knife-cut noodles mixed in, plus beef tartare and aged kimchi egg sushi, alongside cold beer — two octopuses and two plates of tartare, generous portions all around. A solid pick for combining dinner and drinks before or after a Daehangno show. ## Good to know - **Location**: 29-3 Daemyeong-gil, 2nd floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea - **Hours**: 17:00–01:00 - **Closed**: Every Monday - **Reservations**: Available via Naver Reservation - **Parking**: Not available (check nearby lots separately) - **Ordering**: Table QR code ordering - **Seating**: Window-view bar seats, table seats - **Ordered**: Straw-fire seared cauldron octopus, beef tartare & aged kimchi egg sushi, beer - **Basic side dishes**: Tofu, baek-kimchi (white kimchi) *as written by the visitor on Sep 7, 2026* When I head to Hyehwa for a play, eating something good before or after is non-negotiable haha. I had an evening show booked and figured I'd be starving after it ended. But I didn't want anything too heavy right before curtain either — I wanted good bar food and a beer to put me in the mood, so I went looking for a Hyehwa restaurant-bar. That's how I found Hyehwahwa (혜火화), a straw-fire Korean restaurant and bar. Even the signature menu names weren't ordinary — straw-fire seared cauldron octopus, beef tartare & aged kimchi egg sushi... how could I not order after seeing that on the menu? lol ![Straw-fire seared cauldron octopus table setting at Hyehwahwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-01-9uv4a-1200.webp) Bottom line first: great atmosphere, generous portions, a proper Daehangno restaurant-bar to fill up at before the show. Especially recommended to anyone who wants Korean bar food with a drink in Hyehwa. Let me walk you through it :) ![Interior atmosphere at Hyehwahwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-02-yoahp-966.webp) ![Food on the table at Hyehwahwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-03-11hh9-m-966.webp) ## A straw-fire Korean restaurant close to Hyehwa Station - Location: 29-3 Daemyeong-gil, 2nd floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea - Hours: 17:00–01:00 (closed every Monday) - Reservations: available via Naver Reservation Hyehwahwa is close to Hyehwa Station, an easy spot to hit before or after a play or performance in Daehangno — perfect for people like me who plan a meal around a show. I visited before my play and moving from the restaurant back to the theater was easy. The sign outside is large and bright-colored, so it wasn't hard to find even on a first visit. Parking isn't available though, so if you're driving, check nearby lots separately. Hyehwa itself is easy to get around by public transport, so if you're combining it with a play I'd recommend the subway. If you want a show plus tasty Korean bar food and a drink, this makes a great Daehangno restaurant-bar combo. ![Hyehwahwa building exterior and sign on Daemyeong-gil](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-04-it9yz-966.webp) ![Stairs leading up to the second-floor Hyehwahwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-05-bh6j5-966.webp) ![Straw-themed decor on the stairwell](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-06-j8vg4-966.webp) ![Wood-interior dining room at Hyehwahwa](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-07-4a3rq-966.webp) ## The straw-fire vibe starts on the way up The Hyehwahwa mood was already there on the walk up to the restaurant. True to a name with '火' (fire) in it, and a menu built around straw-fire cooking, the stairwell had straw-inspired decor that caught my eye. Step inside and the atmosphere shifts again! It's all warm wood interior throughout, with a mix of bar seats and table seats. It felt like a mix of the cozy warmth of a typical Korean tavern and the polished feel of a trendy modern bar — I think it would suit couples looking for a Hyehwa Korean restaurant-bar for a date too. ![Bar seat by the large window](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-08-guclw-966.webp) ![Window seat with an outdoor view](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-09-1o0uc-966.webp) ## That window-view bar seat, I loved it so much~~ I got lucky and landed a bar seat right by the window with an outdoor view! The weather was great that day, and having that outside scenery made the whole vibe even better. Great for chatting side-by-side with a friend or partner, and perfect for sipping a beer while looking out the window! If you're dating in Hyehwa and want a good-atmosphere Hyehwa restaurant-bar, I'd recommend a seat like this. Sitting at the window-view seat on a nice day, I was already in a good mood before the food even arrived haha. ![QR ordering instructions and basic table setting](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-10-1oa8o-966.webp) ### Easy ordering with a QR code! Instead of flagging down staff, you order by scanning the QR code at each table. A lot of places do QR ordering now, and I like it because you can take your time browsing the menu and add on easily. The table already had spoons, chopsticks, water cups, small plates — everything set up. Sat down and started browsing the menu right away~~ ![Hyehwahwa menu screen](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-11-14gbd-966.webp) ![Menu list of bar dishes and meal items](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-12-jg81b-966.webp) ## So many menu items, wow True to a Korean restaurant-bar, Hyehwahwa has a really wide range of dishes made to go with drinks. Highlights include straw-fire spicy rice cake and gopchang (beef intestine) stew, straw-fired gopchang hotpot, straw-fire seared cauldron octopus, beef tartare & aged kimchi egg sushi, and straw-grilled garlic pork jowl barbecue. On top of that — plump shrimp kkangjeong (glazed fried shrimp), hearty fried chili peppers, spicy scallop-and-clam soup, cheese-loaded beef brisket kimchi fried rice, and meat-loaded yukjeon (pan-fried beef patties)! It's not just one or two signature items — spicy dishes, grilled items, hotpots, tartare, fried food, rice dishes, it's all there, great for a group ordering a spread. Looking at the menu, I got why people come here for drinks in Daehangno lol. After much deliberation, I ended up ordering mostly the signatures. ### What did we order? What I ordered: straw-fire seared cauldron octopus, beef tartare & aged kimchi egg sushi, and beer! It's fine to have one beer before a play, right? lol Honestly, with food like this in front of me, not ordering a drink was harder... Coming to a Hyehwa Korean restaurant-bar, you gotta pair the Korean bar food with a cold beer! ![Basic side dishes: tofu and baek-kimchi](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-13-1ykki-966.webp) ![Cold beer set at the window seat](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-14-1ukw0-966.webp) ### Tofu and baek-kimchi to whet the appetite first After ordering, tofu and baek-kimchi (white kimchi) came out as basic side dishes. Perfect for picking at before the mains arrive. And then the beer I'd been waiting for showed up! Aahh~~~~ why does a cold beer before a play taste this good? haha Watching the outside view through the window while sipping a beer, it felt like the day's fatigue was melting away! This is exactly why people go looking for good-atmosphere Daehangno restaurant-bars, right? ![Beef tartare & aged kimchi egg sushi served in a ceramic bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-15-q00jo-966.webp) ![Tartare plate with the lid removed](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-16-1wxvi-966.webp) ![Two plates of tartare and aged kimchi egg sushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-17-17elm-966.webp) ## Striking from the first look: beef tartare & aged kimchi egg sushi And finally, the first dish! Beef tartare & aged kimchi egg sushi. The moment it arrived, the dish itself stole the show lol. It came served neatly in a bowl that looked like an antique jewelry box, and there was even the fun of lifting the lid to see what's inside. And the portion... a whopping two plates!! Beautiful presentation and generous portions, ready to properly dig in ♡ ![Cross-section of egg sushi tucked inside aged kimchi](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-18-1yr9e-966.webp) ### Egg sushi tucked inside the aged kimchi! It wasn't just plain aged kimchi — tucked inside was a generous piece of egg sushi. A fragrant whiff of sesame oil too~~ Even just eating the kimchi and egg sushi together, the salty-savory combo was great. But that's not the end. Top it with a bite of beef tartare! Wow... this combo is pure magic lol. The umami of the aged kimchi and the soft egg, plus the tartare on top — better together than eaten separately. Getting to enjoy a Korean dish in a slightly different way like this was part of the charm of Hyehwahwa. ### Piling on lots of tartare is pure bliss! I'm greedy, so I piled the tartare on generously lol. One bite and you get a bunch of textures and flavors at once — a perfect match with drinks too. Having a dish like this in front of me started shaking my plan to just have one beer... > Wouldn't one more drink be fine...? But I had a play to get to, so I held back lol. I'd recommend this as a Daehangno restaurant-bar menu item for anyone wanting to try something a bit special on a date. ![Straw-fire seared octopus served in a cauldron](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-19-vomgo-966.webp) ![Cooking scene showing the smoky char being added to the octopus](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-20-3049a-966.webp) ## Proper smoky char! Straw-fire seared cauldron octopus And then the signature dish I was really looking forward to that day! The straw-fire seared cauldron octopus arrived. With a name like that, how could it not be good? They really lock in that smoky char during cooking, and watching it happen already had me excited! Coming to a straw-fire Korean restaurant, you've got to try something with this much smoky flavor haha. It came out heaped in a cauldron, and the visual alone was striking. ![Two plump octopuses in the cauldron](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-21-1havb-966.webp) ![Spicy sauced octopus cut into pieces with scissors](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-22-5lu1s-966.webp) ### A whopping two octopuses! And looking closer... not just one octopus but two!! Look at how plump they are ???? Big, fat octopus pieces, cut into bite-sized pieces with scissors for us. The signature chewy texture of octopus was great, and with the spicy sauce plus that smoky char, my chopsticks kept going back for more. I personally love smoky-flavored food, so I enjoyed this even more. If you're after spicy, smoky food with a drink, this dish is worth checking out at a Hyehwa Korean restaurant-bar! ![Knife-cut noodles added to the octopus](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-23-5h4fr-966.webp) ![Knife-cut noodles mixed with the spicy sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub-24-1d8zg-966.webp) ### Shake-shake with the knife-cut noodles too~~ You can't just eat the octopus and stop there! You have to mix in the knife-cut noodle sarai (extra noodle serving) properly lol. Shake it up so the sauce coats everything~~ The spicy sauce clinging to the noodles is a whole other delicacy. A bite of chewy octopus, a bite of sauce-coated noodles! Throw in a cold beer between bites and it's the perfect combo ♡ This would suit anyone looking for a Daehangno restaurant-bar where you can handle dinner and drinks in one go. ## Why it was a good spot to visit before the play Hyehwa means Daehangno shows, of course. Plenty of people, like me, come to Hyehwa for a play, and it's often hard to figure out where to eat when the pre-show window is tight. Hyehwahwa is close to Hyehwa Station so it was easy to build into the schedule around the show, and with such a wide menu it worked well as dinner plus drinks. Especially before an evening show, you can fill up on good food and head straight to the theater — great logistics! So I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a Hyehwa or Daehangno restaurant-bar to pair with a play. Just a tip: if you're drinking before a show like I was, keep it light so it doesn't mess with your evening haha. ## A Hyehwa Korean restaurant-bar good for dates I personally liked the atmosphere too. The wood interior and straw accents gave it a slightly different feel from a typical bar, and the window-view bar seat I had was especially good for chatting while looking outside. If you're after a Hyehwa Korean restaurant-bar where you can talk over good food rather than a loud, noisy vibe, this suits well! Especially for a blind date or a date with a partner where atmosphere matters as much as the food, the window seats are worth requesting haha. ## Why I'd recommend Hyehwahwa Visiting in person, what I liked most was the distinct personality of both the atmosphere and the menu. Hyehwa has tons of restaurants and bars, but a lot of them have similar menus. Hyehwahwa, though, had a range of dishes that make you curious just from the name — straw-fire dishes, cauldron octopus, beef tartare with aged kimchi egg sushi. Beyond what we ate, there's also rice cake-gopchang stew, gopchang hotpot, garlic pork jowl barbecue, yukjeon, shrimp kkangjeong — plenty more to try, so it'd be great for a group ordering a variety. I'd recommend it as a Hyehwa Korean restaurant-bar for a night out with friends who love Korean food. And for anyone looking for a Daehangno restaurant-bar before or after a play, the location and menu lineup were solid. ### Next time I want to try other menu items too! This time, just the two of us went and had the octopus plus tartare & aged kimchi egg sushi, but looking at the menu I kept thinking about all the dishes I hadn't tried lol. Especially the straw-fire spicy rice cake-gopchang stew and the straw-grilled garlic pork jowl barbecue... Next time I want to bring a bigger group of friends and order a spread. And finishing with the cheese-loaded beef brisket kimchi fried rice sounds perfect lol. This is the kind of place that makes me want to come back and try more, so I'm filing it away as a Daehangno restaurant-bar to return to! ## Hyehwahwa overall review I visited Hyehwahwa, a straw-fire Korean restaurant, wanting to fill up before an evening play! Being close to Hyehwa Station made it easy to visit before or after a show, and the large, eye-catching sign made it easy to find even on a first visit. Parking isn't available, worth keeping in mind, but being near Hyehwa Station made it convenient by public transport. Inside, the wood and straw decor made for a nice atmosphere, with a mix of bar seats and table seats. I got lucky with a window-view bar seat, and having a beer while looking outside on a nice day made the atmosphere complete~~ And most of all, the food! The beef tartare & aged kimchi egg sushi — piling tartare on the egg sushi tucked inside the aged kimchi — was genuinely delicious, and coming in two generous plates was a plus. And the signature straw-fire seared cauldron octopus had two whole plump octopuses, packed with smoky char! Finishing by shake-mixing the knife-cut noodles into the sauce made for a satisfying, full meal. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a Daehangno restaurant-bar to visit before or after a play or show, or anyone wanting Korean bar food and drinks in a good-atmosphere Hyehwa Korean restaurant-bar. If you want something a bit different from the usual in Hyehwa, check out Hyehwahwa :) ## Where it is - Hyehwahwa (혜화화) - 29-3 Daemyeong-gil, 2nd floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 종로구 대명길 29-3 2층 - 37.5830578, 127.0001101 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%ED%98%9C%ED%99%94%ED%99%94/@37.5830578,127.0001101,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-stairway-days/hyehwa-jipbul-kalnakji-hanwoo-yukhoe-pub/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt