# Seoul Chinese restaurant lunch of mapo tofu rice and beef noodles - By Doyeon Ha (https://superchart.com/en/@sillim-narrow-counter/) - Written Sep 19, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Jung-gu, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written after a sponsored store visit. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@sillim-narrow-counter/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@sillim-narrow-counter/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/index.md) ## In short Huhugwan is a modern Asian Chinese izakaya in Jung-gu, Seoul, one minute on foot from Exit 10 of City Hall Station, on the 2nd floor of the Menchiro building on Seosomun-ro. Visiting with a friend after booking on Naver, the writer ordered mapo tofu rice for 18,000 won, beef noodle soup for 15,000 won and fried eggplant for 18,000 won, and even the complimentary egg soup was satisfying. With its exotic green-and-red interior, Huhugwan is a lunch spot worth recommending near Deoksugung Palace. ## Good to know - **Location**: 2nd floor, 2 Seosomun-ro 11-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (above Menchiro) - **Getting there**: Less than a 1-minute walk straight from Exit 10 of City Hall Station, across from Goryeo Samgyetang - **Mapo tofu rice**: 18,000 won - **Beef noodle soup**: 15,000 won - **Fried eggplant**: 18,000 won - **Hours**: 11:00–23:00 (break 16:00–17:00, last order 22:30) - **Regular closing days**: Every Saturday and Sunday - **Temporary closures**: Sep 24–26 for the Chuseok holiday, Oct 3 National Foundation Day, Oct 9 Hangeul Day - **Corkage**: Allowed (fee applies) - **Parking**: No dedicated parking lot - **Seating**: Bar seats, tables, group seating - **How to order**: Check the menu by table QR code; write a review for a free drink or Chinese-style boiled dumplings *as written by the visitor on Sep 19, 2026* ![Food photo from Huhugwan, a Chinese izakaya near City Hall Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-01-vcoyo-900.webp) ![Chinese dishes laid out on a table at Huhugwan](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-02-qumse-900.webp) 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 ![Huhugwan's entrance and sign on Seosomun-ro](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-03-1cuaf-900.webp) ![Exterior of the building housing Huhugwan](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-04-s4439-900.webp) ## 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. ![Stairs leading up to Huhugwan on the 2nd floor of Menchiro](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-05-1mdge-900.webp) ## 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!! ![Interior of Huhugwan with a green and red color scheme](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-06-1yb9h-900.webp) ![Interior of Huhugwan with a Hong Kong-style vibe](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-07-1fpcj-900.webp) 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~~! ![Bar and table seating at Huhugwan](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-08-w47hr-900.webp) 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. ![Group seating table at Huhugwan](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-09-134ln-900.webp) ![Table reserved through Naver at Huhugwan](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-10-22tpv-900.webp) ### 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! ![QR code menu guide on a table at Huhugwan](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-11-9cya0-900.webp) ![Table setting at Huhugwan](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-12-1xjno-900.webp) 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 ![Mapo tofu rice, beef noodle soup, and fried eggplant served at Huhugwan](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-13-j2c60-900.webp) ![Table view while waiting for the order at Huhugwan](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-14-7qey6-900.webp) ### The complimentary egg soup that arrives first Right after ordering, an egg soup came out first — and this alone was genuinely delicious! ![Egg soup served first at Huhugwan](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-15-wtv9v-1200.webp) ![A bowl of egg soup at Huhugwan](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-16-plqz6-900.webp) ### 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. ![Mapo tofu rice with generous tofu at Huhugwan](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-17-aj8ea-900.webp) ![Mapo tofu rice mixed on a small plate](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-18-1f204-900.webp) ### 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 😆 ![Fried eggplant topped with sweet-and-sour sauce at Huhugwan](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-19-1vsyg-900.webp) ![Cross-section of the crispy fried eggplant](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-20-2pqjw-900.webp) ![Taiwanese-style beef noodle soup topped with bok choy at Huhugwan](https://img.superchart.com/images/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch-21-12haf-900.webp) ### 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. ## Where it is - Huhugwan (후후관) - 2nd floor, 2 Seosomun-ro 11-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 중구 서소문로11길 2 2층 - 37.5630265, 126.9731305 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%ED%9B%84%ED%9B%84%EA%B4%80/@37.5630265,126.9731305,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@sillim-narrow-counter/huhugwan-city-hall-chinese-lunch/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt