Incheon Nonhyeon sushi set and thick pork katsu: Hongdae Gureume

Today I'm introducing a spot in Incheon Nonhyeon I visited for lunch with my parents. This time it was Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch, near Incheon Nonhyeon Station!

This wasn't my first visit to Hongdae Gureume — I'd been once before, paying out of my own pocket. Back then I was curious about the bowl-style sushi and ordered it, and it was fun to eat and tasted pretty good too. This time I came back as part of a sponsored visit, with my parents in tow~ Since it was my second visit, it was fun comparing it to last time.

Where is Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch, and where do you park?

Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch is on the 2nd floor of the iFlex Building at 17 Nongogae-ro 123beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea. It's close to Incheon Nonhyeon Station, so it's convenient by public transit, and also easy to reach by car like we did.

The iFlex building itself is fairly large, so the underground parking lot was spacious and parking wasn't difficult at all. When eating out with parents, finding a place with easy parking matters, and this checked that box too.

Hongdae Gureume opening hours and how long you wait

The restaurant is open daily from 11:30 to 21:30, with last order at 21:00! There's no break time either, which makes it easy to plan your visit.

We went without a reservation, timed to open, and a few parties were already ahead of us — we were maybe the fourth to be seated. Still, we got in without waiting. If you're worried about a wait, aiming for opening time seems like a good strategy~

Inside Hongdae Gureume: Japanese-style interior and seating

Walking into Hongdae Gureume, the interior is cute yet has a distinct Japanese feel. There were solo-dining seats as well as tables for groups, so it seemed to work well for both a family meal and a date. Toward the back there were waiting seats, and up top there was plenty to read while you waited.

There was everything from an explanation of how ramen varies by region in Japan, to how to eat bowl-style sushi, to an intro to Hongdae Gureume's head chef. It was surprisingly fun reading through it all while waiting for the food haha.

Seeing the note about how ramen characteristics differ by region, I checked the menu and found the ramen selection was so varied I wondered if this was actually a ramen specialty spot. Last time I'd only tried the basic ramen, so this time I wanted to try other types.

But both my parents just aren't really into Japanese ramen in general, so we skipped it entirely this time. I was curious about the other ramens too, so it was a bit of a shame not to try them. Next time I'll come with a friend and try some different ramen haha.

The three dishes ordered at Hongdae Gureume this time

Besides ramen, Hongdae Gureume also has sushi, katsu, and even bowl-style sushi, so the menu is quite varied.

We ordered three things: the premium mixed sushi set, the pork katsu set, and the salmon+tuna bowl sushi!

Last time, my dad also tried the ramen but it wasn't quite to his taste, so this time he chose the pork katsu instead. Since everyone can pick a different dish based on their own preference, it's a good place to visit with parents.

Premium mixed sushi set: heavy on salmon

My dad usually likes sushi, so I ordered the premium mixed sushi set too. But compared to last time, the composition was different, and this time it leaned heavily toward salmon.

Of all things, my dad loves sushi but doesn't like salmon, so that part was a bit disappointing. I like salmon so I ate it happily haha. Since the mixed sushi composition can vary, it's worth keeping in mind if you dislike a particular type of fish.

The thick pork katsu set at Hongdae Gureume

What surprised me more than expected this visit was the pork katsu set! The moment I saw it, what caught my eye was the thickness of the meat.

The meat was genuinely thick~ It wasn't just a thick coating — the actual meat inside was substantial, so it had a nice bite and was really tasty. Compared to last time's ramen, this katsu seemed to suit my dad's taste a bit better haha.

Even if Japanese ramen isn't your thing, there's plenty of choice with dishes like katsu or sushi.

Salmon and tuna bowl sushi, ordered again

And the one I really wanted to eat again this time — the salmon+tuna bowl sushi! This dish is actually the reason I remembered Hongdae Gureume at all.

On my first self-paid visit, I was curious about this bowl-style sushi concept and ordered it — true to its name, you scoop it up little by little, which made it fun to eat and it tasted good too. This time I got to have both salmon and tuna together, alternating between the two~

The restaurant even has a guide posted on how to best enjoy the bowl sushi, so if you're ordering it for the first time, it's worth a read.

It was great on my first visit, and just as much my taste the second time around haha. If you want to try something a bit different from regular sushi, I'd recommend this one!

The lucky box draw over 30,000 won

After eating our fill, we finished up by trying the lucky box draw. It's an event you can join if your bill comes to over ₩30,000, so we gave it a go.

What I drew was a soda coupon! Apparently it can be used if you come back within a month. Next time I'll try the other ramens I missed and use the coupon too haha.

Is Hongdae Gureume worth it in Incheon Nonhyeon?

This visit to Hongdae Gureume was sponsored, but since I'd been there before on my own dime, my second visit had the added fun of comparing it to the first. The bowl sushi was still delicious, and the katsu was hearty thanks to its thick meat.

As for the premium mixed sushi, since it leaned toward salmon this time, my dad — who isn't a salmon fan — was a bit let down, but I loved it since I like salmon.^^ Still, with ramen, sushi, katsu, and bowl sushi all on offer, it's a great place for a family to each pick according to their own taste.

The parking lot is fairly spacious and it's close to Incheon Nonhyeon Station, so accessibility was good too. If you're looking for a place to eat with your parents in Incheon Nonhyeon, or somewhere with a variety of Japanese dishes to choose from, give Hongdae Gureume Incheon Nonhyeon Branch a try~

Next time I visit, I'll have to try the ramen I missed this time. And remember to use that soda coupon too haha.