Seoul Chinese restaurant lunch of mapo tofu rice and beef noodles

I had plans with a friend in Seoul today and ended up near City Hall Station, where I found a brand-new restaurant worth writing up! I was looking for somewhere for lunch and heard there was a hot new spot, so I went straight there — and it was totally my type, a City Hall Station find I just have to share haha. It's a modern Asian Chinese izakaya called

Huhugwan

!

Three reasons to eat at Huhugwan

• 1 minute walk from Exit 10 of City Hall Station — unbeatable access
• Green and red interior that feels like you've traveled abroad
• Great Chinese food — mapo tofu rice, beef noodle soup, and fried eggplant all delicious

Rice house by day, bar by night: what the name Huhugwan means

Huhugwan has this concept where it's a hearty meal spot during the day and transforms into a moody, dim-lit bar at night. I looked up why it's called 'Huhu,' and apparently it's a witty play on the moment you blow "hoo-hoo" on hot food, combined with the hanja meaning "to hold warm, gentle energy." Knowing the story made it feel even more endearing haha.

One minute from City Hall Station Exit 10: inside Huhugwan on Menchiro's 2nd floor

Huhugwan is on the 2nd floor of Menchiro, so it was super easy to find — and the moment I got up the stairs, the view totally surprised me!!

The green and red interior gave off a Taiwan or Hong Kong travel vibe, and finding this exotic atmosphere so close to Deoksugung Palace felt like a fun surprise~~!

There's everything from bar seats to group tables, so it seemed like a comfortable spot whether you're eating solo or with a crowd.

Book Huhugwan on Naver and skip the wait

I reserved ahead on Naver, and since a table was set aside for me, I could sit down right away without waiting!

Once you sit down, you check the menu via a QR code on the table — and if you leave a review, they give you a free drink or Chinese-style boiled dumplings, so definitely grab that haha.

What we ordered at Huhugwan and what it cost

We ordered these 3 dishes!

• Mapo tofu rice ₩18,000 — soft tofu reimagined with Sichuan pepper oil and a special sauce
• Beef noodle soup ₩15,000 — Taiwanese-style beef noodle soup with a light beef tenderloin broth and shank meat
• Fried eggplant ₩18,000 — juicy eggplant fried crispy and finished with a sweet-and-sour sauce

The complimentary egg soup that arrives first

Right after ordering, an egg soup came out first — and this alone was genuinely delicious!

Mapo tofu rice: generous tofu and deep savory flavor

Next came the mapo tofu rice, and the amount of tofu was really generous with a sauce that just exploded with savory flavor. They served the rice separately, so we split it and mixed it into our own plates — totally delicious.

Fried eggplant: tender inside, crisp outside

The fried eggplant was generous in portion and mouthwatering just to look at — one bite and the inside was tender while the outside was crispy, making my mouth so happy 😆

Finishing with Huhugwan's beef noodle soup

Last up was the beef noodle soup, and the broth was genuinely deep, pairing well with everything we'd already eaten — perfect way to finish!! The bok choy and noodles went so well together haha.

It's rare to find a place this well-rounded that works as both a Deoksugung spot and a solid Chinese restaurant, so I really want to recommend it to anyone looking for good food near City Hall Station!

Huhugwan hours, closing days, corkage and parking

• Hours: 11:00–23:00 (break time 16:00–17:00 / last order 22:30)
• Regular closed days: every Saturday and Sunday
• Planned closures Sep 24–26 (Chuseok), Oct 3 (National Foundation Day), Oct 9 (Hangeul Day) — check before visiting!
• Corkage available (fee applies) / no dedicated parking lot
• 1 minute walk straight from Exit 10 of City Hall Station (across from Goryeo Samgyetang), then head up to the 2nd floor!

If you've been looking for good food near both City Hall Station and Deoksugung Palace, I really recommend Huhugwan! It has such a different charm by day and by night that I already want to go back for a drinking session in the evening haha.