Hyehwa izakaya with a 2nd-floor alley view: Nagasaki champon at

Hanamato Daehangno Hyehwa 10 Changgyeonggung-ro 34-gil 1F, Jongno-gu, Seoul 5 kinds of yakitori, Nagasaki champon, yaki gyoza, basil pasta

Where Hanamato Daehangno Hyehwa is and what the seating is like

I was looking for somewhere in Daehangno to eat and drink at once, and ended up at Hanamato Daehangno Hyehwa. The shop sits on the 1st and 2nd floors at 10 Changgyeonggung-ro 34-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and the entrance alone gave off the feel of a Japanese pub. Inside, table and bar-style seating sit side by side, so it's easy to find a spot no matter how many people you're with, and the lighting and wood finishes give it that comfortable feel typical of a Hyehwa izakaya. A great spot for a quick drink after a play, or a place to swing by whenever you're hunting for a Hyehwa Station restaurant-bar.

What I especially loved was the alley view from the second floor in the evening — it was so convincing it felt like I'd actually traveled to Japan.

What we ordered at Hanamato: 5 yakitori, Nagasaki champon, yaki gyoza, basil pasta

Hanamato Daehangno Hyehwa's menu was wide-ranging, spanning yakitori, soups, fried dishes and noodles. This time we ordered 5 kinds of yakitori, Nagasaki champon (spicy seafood noodle soup), yaki gyoza and basil pasta to match that variety. It's not just a Hyehwa bar with drinking snacks — you can also choose warm soups and full meals, which makes it a great fit for a group where everyone wants something different.

The 5 yakitori skewers: a different texture on every stick

The 5 kinds of yakitori (grilled skewers) each brought a different texture, and the charcoal-grilled surface gave off a subtle smoky aroma. The outside had a slight char while the inside stayed juicy, so it was nice to work through the skewers slowly one by one. The sauce wasn't overly sweet or salty, so it paired well with drinks without feeling heavy, and I liked being able to try several varieties on one plate. If you want to check out the yakitori menu first at a Hyehwa izakaya, this is a safe, solid choice.

Nagasaki champon: more about the broth than the heat

The Nagasaki champon came with seafood and vegetables in the broth, making it a good pairing between skewers. The warm broth carried the umami of the seafood, working well as a drinking snack but also fine as a meal once you add the noodles. It leaned more toward a deep, comfortable broth flavor than a sharp spicy kick.

Yaki gyoza and basil pasta at Hanamato

The yaki gyoza (pan-fried dumplings) had a golden, crisp bite on the outside first, with a juicy center. Easy to share in bite-sized pieces, they paired well alongside the yakitori, with a nice contrast between the crispy exterior and soft filling.

The basil pasta offered a different direction amid all the Japanese-style pub food. The basil aroma was evenly worked into the noodles, and it added some variety to the table after a run of skewers and soup. A good option to order together when everyone at the table wants something different.

Who this Hyehwa izakaya suits best

Hanamato Daehangno Hyehwa is a Hyehwa bar that works whether you just want a simple round of yakitori or a full meal with Nagasaki champon and pasta. It'll suit anyone who prefers a bar-and-table izakaya vibe over private rooms, and anyone looking to enjoy food and drinks together at a Hyehwa Station restaurant-bar. I'll be keeping it in mind as an easy stop before or after a Daehangno show, or for a casual get-together with friends.

I also liked that you don't have to commit to one type of dish — you can split the order across skewers, soup and grilled items. Yakitori worked as the drinking snack, Nagasaki champon as the warm meal, and yaki gyoza and basil pasta filled in between, so the table never felt repetitive. If you're looking for Japanese food in Hyehwa that can start light and turn into a full meal, Hanamato Daehangno Hyehwa is worth putting on the list.