Pet-friendly bar near Sookmyung Station: shrimp carbonara, Heui Huam

A cozy midsummer-night mood

What is the atmosphere like at Heui Huam, a bar near Sookmyung Station?

Heui Huam (흐이 후암) is a cooking-pub (yori-jujeom) between Sookmyung Women's University Station and Huam-dong, and the inside feels more private than you'd expect. It's great for a date, or for a couple's sweet little chat.

Getting that Western pasta feeling at home is surprisingly hard, so I end up borrowing the power of restaurant owners. Among the bars near Sookmyung Station, I went to Heui Huam, whose cozy mood was unmatched. The inside was private through and through, so it stuck in my mind as a dessert-like space, good for a date or for a couple's sweet conversation.

The inside of Heui Huam had a typically hip vibe that young women and nearby university students would love. It felt stylish even to middle-aged eyes, and it wasn't chaotic like a university nightlife strip, which won me over. It's close to Sookmyung Women's University, so it could easily become a hot spot for young people. I think you'll fall for it once you go.

Heui Huam's signature dishes and prices

Heui Huam's signature is a range of fusion and Western-style bar snacks, and its cream pastas especially have a great word-of-mouth reputation. Shrimp carbonara is ₩18,000, egg in hell is ₩22,000, and Chamisul soju is ₩5,000.

It opens at 5 p.m. The owners were on summer vacation from July 20 to 24, so I aimed for that week's Saturday and made a reservation.

• Shrimp carbonara ₩18,000
• Egg in hell ₩22,000
• Chamisul soju ₩5,000

Heui Huam is also known as a place that does egg in hell well among bars near Sookmyung Station. Egg in hell is a rare bar snack, so I was even more excited.

The inside is slightly dim, which was perfect for enjoying a tropical-night summer evening. There are cute neon-sign-style props too, and if you look closely, they're great for taking photos to post on Instagram or a blog!

The side dishes were cute beet-colored pickled radish and pretzel snacks.

With that mood hitting just the right women's-university note, I looked at the menu and ordered Heui Huam's two signature dishes. The food came out fast, in about 10 minutes.

The kitchen cooked everything quickly, skillfully and warmly, so it couldn't possibly taste bad. These days, when appetite drops at home, I think a meal someone else makes is the best.

How was the shrimp carbonara?

Heui Huam's shrimp carbonara (₩18,000) is a cream pasta with several plump shrimp and a soft-boiled egg on top. The cream sauce was seriously thick and rich, the kind that makes you want to mix it with rice.

The shrimp carbonara I'd been looking forward to... what is there even to say? Several plump shrimp made me even happier. And they add a soft-boiled egg too, so no worries about getting your protein.

What is egg in hell?

Egg in hell (₩22,000), which Heui Huam's chef is proud of, is literally a stew simmered with eggs, cheese and more in a tomato sauce base.

The egg in hell was more of a thick sauce than a soup, so dipping baguette in it was superb. Overall it wasn't salty, and with so many eggs in it, it was soft, rich and nutty. The tang of the tomato sauce was charming alongside the mild saltiness, too.

I ate so intently that the bowls were scraped clean, so I felt Heui Huam is more than good enough for a proper meal among bars near Sookmyung Station. The owners are young and kind, and the service was hassle-free, so I wanted to come again.

Heui Huam: pets, corkage, parking and hours

Heui Huam was a friendly place that even allows pets, and corkage is available, though it costs extra. However, it's in Huam-dong, so parking is difficult.

• Transit: 5-minute walk from Sookmyung Women's University Station (Line 4), Exit 2
• Hours: 17:00-24:00
• Closed: Tuesdays (regular day off)
• Parking: difficult
• Pets allowed, corkage (paid)