Draft beer pizza dinner near Sangsu Station: Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza

A Hapjeong-Sangsu favorite, and a great-vibe spot for a Hongdae date: Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza.

I had plans in Hongdae recently, so I stopped by Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza, a Hapjeong-Sangsu favorite tucked between the two stations.

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza opened in 2012 and has held down the same spot for a long time. It's a place to enjoy Napoli-style wood-fired pizza and pasta together, so it's worth a visit whether you're a pizza lover or just looking for a great-vibe Hongdae date spot near Hapjeong and Sangsu stations.

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza: address, hours and the basics

What the room feels like inside

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza sits in an alley between Hapjeong and Sangsu stations, and even the exterior felt warm and cozy. Right in the middle of the restaurant sits a huge wood-fired oven.

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza, tucked in an alley between Hapjeong and Sangsu stations, felt warm and cozy from the outside,

and inside there was a huge wood-fired oven.

Walking in, the soft yellow lighting, photos on the walls, and vintage-feeling interior made it feel like stepping into a tiny Italian restaurant.

The overall warm atmosphere made it easy to chat over the meal, and it would work well for a Hongdae or Hapjeong date too.

What two people ordered

For two people, we ordered the Quattro Stagioni pizza, Gamberi Crema penne pasta, a canned drink, and draft beer.

• Quattro Stagioni pizza
• Gamberi Crema penne pasta
• Canned drink
• Draft beer

The Quattro Stagioni pizza lets you try four flavors at once — Quattro Formaggi, Margherita, Diavola, and Croccante. With two of us there, I liked that we could taste all four evenly.

Tasting all four flavors of the Quattro Stagioni pizza

First up was the Quattro Formaggi section, with four cheeses — gorgonzola, cream cheese, reggiano, and mozzarella. The staff told us to try this one first to really taste the cheese.

Dipped in the honey that came with it, the salty cheese and sweet honey paired beautifully, and since it was still hot, the cheese melted soft — really delicious.

Of the four, Quattro Formaggi suited my taste best. That said, the others held their own — the chorizo one (Diavola) had an appealing spicy kick, the Croccante balanced shrimp and garlic nicely, and the Margherita was clean and light.

Each slice had its own character, so it was fun to pick and choose, and we enjoyed all four.

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza, a Hapjeong-Sangsu favorite, bakes its pizza in a wood-fired oven above 400°C, and the crust edges came out chewy yet nutty. The dough is apparently hand-kneaded and fermented for 72 hours, which I think is why the dough itself tasted so clean and good.

The mini-candle pizza warmer that keeps slices hot

There's a pizza warmer under the pizza stand with a mini candle lit underneath, which kept the pizza warm the whole time we were eating — a nice touch.

The signature Gamberi Crema penne pasta

Next up was Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza's signature dish, Gamberi Crema penne pasta — a shrimp cream pasta. Plump shrimp and penne noodles were paired with a smooth cream sauce, topped with cheese melted in the wood-fired oven.

The cream sauce was rich with a slight kick of spice, so it wasn't as heavy as expected. It paired well with the pizza too, and it was the kind of pasta where you end up eating every bit of the sauce.

Both the pizza and pasta went great with draft beer — good dishes to pair with a drink.

Booking tips and the Naver review freebie

If you're planning to visit Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza on a weekend or during meal times, using Naver Reservation makes things a bit smoother.

A Naver review event was also running — follow for notifications, write a Naver review, then show your receipt to staff to get a free Coke or Sprite.

How to get to Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza from Sangsu Station

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza, a Hapjeong-Sangsu favorite, sits between the two stations, so it's easy to reach from either one. You can walk from Hapjeong Station exits 5-6 or Sangsu Station exit 1.

Does it work as a Hongdae date spot?

After this visit, I think I understand why they've kept this same spot running for so long. The chewy, clean-tasting 72-hour dough wood-fired pizza, the cheese-forward Gamberi Crema pasta, and especially the option to taste several pizza flavors at once — I liked all of it.

If you're looking for good Hongdae pizza or Hapjeong pizza near those stations, Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza, with its warm and cozy atmosphere, is a solid choice. It's a great spot to visit when you want to enjoy tasty pizza and pasta together on a Hongdae date.

Walking Hongdae's Red Road after dinner

After finishing our meal at Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza, a Hapjeong-Sangsu favorite, we stepped out and took a slow stroll along Hongdae's Red Road for the first time in a while. We browsed character shops and other shopping spots, and caught some street performances along the way.

Soaking in Hongdae's lively energy while shopping, we wrapped up the date at a Hongdae café with a nice dessert and drink to close things out.