Jonggak after-work dinner: feast set plus flat dumplings, Bonghyejane

On a weekday evening after work, my partner and I had planned to visit the city art museum, but the timing was awkward, so we ended up grabbing dinner nearby instead. There's an octopus stir-fry place close by that satisfies both my partner, who loves spicy-hot food, and me, a Korean food lover — always generous with side dishes, and good for groups or solo dining alike.

Where is Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch, and what are its hours?

📍Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch / Basement level 2, 51 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Jonggak Station Exit 3-1)

• Hours 11:00–21:00
• Break time 15:00–16:30
• Group dining and takeout available
• Free parking (90 minutes at Jongno Tower)

My partner told me that Jongno Tower was reportedly quite dear to Chairman Lee Kun-hee, but there's a bit of behind-the-story where the building he'd cherished had to be sold off during hard times in the IMF crisis, apparently. The basement is home to Jongno Bookstore along with a variety of restaurants, making it a comfortable spot to grab a meal on the way to or from work. The tables — both 2-seaters and 4-seaters — were spacious enough to work well for solo dining or group get-togethers alike.

Bonghyejane's menu: octopus stir-fry, baby octopus stir-fry, sets and set meals

The menu at Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is broadly divided into octopus stir-fry and baby octopus stir-fry, with feast sets or cooking-table sets for groups, and a variety of set meals for solo diners or individual servings. If you're visiting with several people, ordering a set and adding various extra dishes looked like a great way to enjoy an even more varied spread. They even had a hamburg steak dish that kids love, so it looked like a good spot to visit with children too.

We went with the feast set, where you can choose between mushroom perilla soup or a taste of bossam (Korean boiled pork wrap), and we added flat dumplings to go with it. There were also plenty of set meals for around ₩10,000, and they were running an event where every alcoholic drink was ₩3,000.

What comes with the feast set at Bonghyejane

We ordered the octopus stir-fry set (for two) with flat dumplings added. It came with jjolmyeon noodles as standard, plus a choice between bossam and mushroom perilla soup, along with acorn jelly soup, whole fried flounder, sweet pumpkin porridge, and bibimbap (mixed rice).

How spicy is the octopus stir-fry?

We got around 2-3 whole octopuses, big and plump enough to cut with scissors — the octopus itself was really tender and meaty. The cabbage stir-fried alongside was nice and crunchy too, a good pairing. Even though we ordered the base spice level, it wasn't too hot, and mixed with the jjolmyeon noodles it hit just the right, not-too-spicy note.

Bossam with octopus: a three-way bite

The bossam served alongside was tender and came with dried radish strips, sliced chili, and sliced garlic for wrapping. Pairing it with the octopus like a samhap (three-way flavor combo) was delicious.

Acorn jelly soup, sweet pumpkin porridge and sesame oil bibimbap

The refreshing acorn jelly soup and the sweet pumpkin porridge worked well as an opener and closer, making the whole meal feel like a proper course. The rice included with the feast set came topped with lettuce and dried seaweed flakes for mixing, and there was sesame oil on every table, so we added as much as suited our taste.

Whole fried flounder, served last

The whole fried flounder that came with the set was the very last dish served — and true to its name, it really was a whole flounder, fried crispy. The batter was crunchy and savory, and since the flounder was fairly large, it was easy to pick the bones out. Best of all, the sweet-and-spicy gangjeong sauce drizzled over the top paired perfectly with the crispy flounder, making it feel even more substantial.

Is the Bonghyejane feast set worth it for dinner?

For a hearty, always-generous Korean meal near Jonggak Station in Jongno Tower, with plenty of side dishes and combos of octopus and baby octopus stir-fry alongside a whole lineup of value-packed menu items, I'd recommend Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch~