Hyehwa pasta lunch pairing bacon cream pasta with spicy risotto: Omil

Saturday afternoon on the Hyehwa Daehangno street, 4:30 pm. Couples, families, friends — it felt even more crowded than usual since it was the weekend. I stopped by Omil Hyehwa Daehangno for an early dinner.

A university-area restaurant — but does it suit grown-up tastes too?

Restaurants near university areas often skew their menus toward students, ending up a bit more intense in flavor, almost like something made for a kid's palate. Not exactly what adults are looking for. Call me old-fashioned if you want, but that's just been my personal experience, haha. Omil felt different, though. Instead of relying on punchy seasoning, it built flavor from good ingredients.

Just look at the bacon. Instead of the usual thin bacon, they use bacon made from thick pork belly. Using fresh, quality ingredients like that is probably exactly why this place has become a hotspot that everyone — from babies to parents' generation — can enjoy.

Omil Hyehwa Daehangno location and basic info

• Address: 2nd floor, 35 Daemyeong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (about 2 minutes on foot from Hyehwa Station Exit 4)
• Hours: Daily 11:30–21:15
• Break time: 15:15–16:30 / Last order 20:30
• Parking: No dedicated parking; use nearby public parking lots

Omil is on the 2nd floor. Climbing the stairs, the pale-yellow door already sets a cute mood.

Interior mood and seating

Right as I walked in, I spotted a dad and a two- or three-year-old sitting back to back eating together — it looked so cozy, haha. The interior is cute too. Exposed concrete ceilings mixed with wood-toned furniture give it a clean yet warm feel. Little props scattered around make it fun to look around.

The friendly owner greeted us and showed us how to order from the kiosk. Water and pickles are self-serve from the bar.

Omil Hyehwa Daehangno menu and prices

Pasta

• Spicy seafood oil pasta ₩17,900
• Bacon cream pasta ₩18,900
• Spicy pollock roe oil pasta ₩18,900
• Gochujang butter pasta ₩18,900

Gnocchi & omurice

• Salmon steak gnocchi ₩19,900
• Rubber duck omurice ₩16,900
• Daily omurice ₩15,900

Risotto & steak

• Spicy fan skirt steak risotto ₩17,900
• Omil steak ₩37,900
• Sizzling cheese cutlet ₩19,900

Sides

• Buckwheat soba maki ₩12,900
• Crunchy corn fritters ₩11,900
• Truffle fries ₩9,900

Drinks

• Basil tomato ade ₩7,900
• Cherry ade ₩6,900
• Pineapple ade ₩6,900
• Orange juice ₩3,500
• Coca-Cola ₩3,500
• Pepsi Zero ₩3,500
• Sprite ₩3,500

What we ordered

• Spicy fan skirt steak risotto ₩17,900
• Bacon cream pasta ₩18,900
• Sprite ₩3,500
• Total ₩40,300

There were two of us, so we got one risotto and one pasta, plus a Sprite to share.

Both the spicy fan skirt steak risotto and the bacon cream pasta are built on a rich cream base, which sounds like it could get heavy, but their contrasting spiciness balanced things out nicely so we could enjoy both dishes fully.

How does the bacon cream pasta (₩18,900) taste?

The chunky porcini mushroom texture was fantastic. The rich sauce comes in a generous amount. Topped with bacon that's clearly pork-belly thick, it looked really hearty.

I expected it to just taste like pork belly, but it genuinely tasted like bacon. I was surprised it could be this thick and still taste so distinctly like bacon. Being thick also added to the chew and the sense of fullness.

Spicy fan skirt steak risotto (₩17,900)

Vegetables stir-fried in sharp chili oil give it a spicy flavor that keeps making you want another bite.

Alternating between this and the bacon cream pasta kept things from ever feeling too heavy — a perfect match. Right when the cream pasta started feeling rich, one spoonful of the spicy risotto reset the palate. I felt like we ordered the right combo, haha.

Quick visit summary

• About 2 minutes on foot from Hyehwa Station Exit 4
• No dedicated parking, so use a public parking lot
• Break time 15:15–16:30
• Around ₩40,000 for two
• Free ade with a Naver receipt review or Google review
• Pasta, risotto, omurice, and steak are all on the menu, so it's good for people with different tastes to come and each pick their own dish

Frequently asked questions

Is parking available at Omil Hyehwa Daehangno?

There's no dedicated parking. If you're driving, it's easier to just use a nearby public parking lot.

Final thoughts

Omil Hyehwa was enjoyable for all ages. Even during my meal, I saw a dad with a three- or four-year-old, a mother and daughter on a date, and couples on dates too — quite a range of customers. As dinner time approached, more and more people started coming in. Being near a university area, it could easily have leaned toward student tastes only, but I liked that it also caters to grown-up palates. If you're trying to decide on pasta in Hyehwa, add this to your list right away. Next time I'm curious about the omurice too — I have a feeling a second visit is coming soon. See you then!!