Weekday lunch jjimdak with torched cheese in Hongdae: Ongdarae Jjimdak

I was trying to figure out what to eat near Hongdae, and the idea of spicy sauce plus cheese was too tempting to resist, so I finally went to Ongdarae Jjimdak, a place I'd been meaning to try for a while. The weather was nice and it was right around lunchtime, so I wanted a proper, hearty Korean meal.

What is the dining room like at Ongdarae Jjimdak in Hongdae?

Ongdarae Jjimdak looked clean from the outside, but once I walked in, the space was way roomier and more comfortable than I expected. You usually picture jjimdak (braised chicken) places as a bit cramped and old-school, but this one had high ceilings and tidy lighting and interior, so it felt more like a casual restaurant. The tables were spaced generously apart too, so I didn't have to worry about the next table over and could just chat comfortably while eating.

On one side, there were tea bags of various kinds neatly lined up, along with coffee mix, sweet coffee candy for after the meal, and even nutty traditional rice crackers.

The window side had a full glass wall, so sunlight poured in and there was no stuffy feeling at all. Even though it was a weekday lunch, there were already plenty of tables — office workers eating and groups of friends together.

Ongdarae Jjimdak menu and prices

Ongdarae Jjimdak's signature dishes let you choose bone-in or boneless at no extra charge. Sizes come in S, L, and XL, and there are separate add-ons like cheese, crispy rice, or glass noodles.

• Ongdarae Jjimdak: S (1-2 people) ₩32,000 / L (2-3 people) ₩37,000 / XL (3-4 people) ₩43,000
• Gochujang Jjimdak: S (1-2 people) ₩35,000 / L (2-3 people) ₩40,000 / XL (3-4 people) ₩46,000
• Sinhongcho Jjimdak: S (1-2 people) ₩35,000 / L (2-3 people) ₩40,000 / XL (3-4 people) ₩46,000
• Boneless Cheese Jjimdak: S (1-2 people) ₩38,000 / L (2-3 people) ₩40,000 / XL (3-4 people) ₩48,000
• Seafood Jjimdak: S (1-2 people) ₩49,000 / L (2-3 people) ₩56,000
• À la carte — Tteokbokki Jjimdak ₩32,000, Dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken stew) ₩39,000, Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) ₩18,000
• Add-ons — Ongbap (crispy rice mixed with leftover sauce) ₩2,000, rice ₩1,000, nurungji (crispy scorched rice) ₩3,000, mozzarella cheese 250g ₩6,000, cheese rice cakes 10pcs ₩3,000, glass noodles 150g ₩2,000

Salad and pickles served first at Ongdarae Jjimdak

A fresh lettuce salad topped with sweet corn and vegetables arrived, along with tangy radish and carrot pickles that looked like they had a touch of beet water in them. Crunching through the salad before the main dish came out was a perfect little palate opener. The dressing wasn't overpowering and had a nice zip that got my appetite going. The pickles were crisp and refreshing too — picking one up between bites of the spicy jjimdak later cleared my palate perfectly, such a great pairing haha.

Boneless gochujang jjimdak with ₩6,000 mozzarella added

I ordered the gochujang jjimdak boneless and added 250g of mozzarella cheese for ₩6,000. That ₩6,000 was worth every won — the mozzarella covered the jjimdak like a thick blanket. And it wasn't just melted cheese laid on top either; they'd lightly torched the surface, giving it a golden-brown look that seemed absolutely delicious.

Since I ordered it boneless, I didn't have to pick out any bones and could just pop bite-sized pieces straight into my mouth — so convenient. There was zero gamey chicken smell, and the meat wasn't dry at all — moist and chewy.

The deep savory flavor of the gochujang and the sweet sauce blended in genuinely perfect proportion. The spice level was just right to eat with rice, and wrapping it up in the cheese mellowed the heat while the nuttiness spread all through my mouth. What was inside was substantial too — big chunks of potato, sweet onion, and mushrooms all soaking up the sauce, so the rice kept disappearing.

Free homemade scones at the self-serve dessert bar

Inside the glass dome display case, there were even homemade scones labeled 'Home-baked Scones Free' — looked like the owner baked them personally. Having tea, candy, rice crackers, and now scones all ready like this felt so thoughtful and touching. Finishing off the spicy jjimdak with something sweet and a warm cup of tea made for a perfect ending.