Jonggak Korean snack bar: gamtae gimbap and jjolmyeon, Bonghyejane

I had a meetup in Jonggak and wanted some clean, tidy Korean food beforehand, so I ended up at Bonghyejane Jubang (봉혜자네주방) Jongno Tower branch.

Getting to Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch and parking

The restaurant is on the second basement floor of Jongno Tower, connected to Jonggak Station Exit 3, so it's about a one-minute walk from the station. You can use the Jongno Tower underground garage, and parking is reportedly free for up to 90 minutes with a meal.

Being connected to the station makes it easy to reach, and it's popular for office lunches and dinners alike. It's in the basement of Jongno Tower, so it wasn't hard to find. Public transport is really convenient, and I think it'd be great on rainy days or in cold winters, since you can get there from inside the building.

Parking around Jongno isn't easy, so having the building garage available made it feel low-stress as a meeting place.

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch: hours and info

• Address: 51 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Jongno Tower B2, units B206 and B207
• Getting there: Jongno Tower B2, connected to Jonggak Station Exits 3 and 3-1, 1-minute walk from the station
• Hours: Weekdays 11:00–21:00 / weekends 11:00–20:00
• Break time: 15:00–16:30
• Last order: Weekdays 20:00 / weekends 19:00
• Parking: Jongno Tower underground garage, up to 90 minutes free with a meal
• Good to know: Takeout and group seating available, tablet ordering at the table
• Good for: Solo meals, office lunches, family meals, gatherings

What are the entrance and interior of Bonghyejane Jubang like?

With its wood-framed glass doors, warm lighting and wood-tone interior, the place feels tidy and calm. The entrance, with wood-framed glass doors and warm lights, looked neat and clean. The glass front lets you see the inside at a glance, and a sign reading "Bonghyeja Special Dishes House" (봉혜자 별미요릿집) stands out at the door.

In front of the entrance there are banners and a menu board introducing signature dishes like the stir-fried octopus set, the mushroom perilla soup set and the charcoal-grilled beef bulgogi set, so you can look over the menu before going in. Overall, the neat feel of Korean food and the warm atmosphere left an impression.

Inside, everything was clean and well kept. The wood-tone interior and bright lighting felt comfortable, and the tables were spaced well enough to eat in comfort. A mix of people came in: office workers eating solo, families, and coworkers dining together.

It's more calm than boisterous, so it looked fine for a gathering where you want to talk, or even a date. At lunchtime there are lots of office workers, but turnover is quick, so you don't wait long, which is a plus.

On one side of the restaurant there's a sign explaining the Bonghyeja brand philosophy. The meaning behind the name and the phrase "a link that connects people's stories" stuck with me, and a few soft flower decorations added a warm, friendly feel.

The walls have photos of various dishes and notice boards, making it easy to look over the menu. There were also little vintage props and wooden shelves here and there, and with the warm lighting it all felt cozy and homey.

Ordering was easy with the tablet at the table.

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch menu and prices

The restaurant sells both Korean meals and snack-bar food, from set meals like the stir-fried octopus set (₩16,000) to specialties like gamtae gimbap (gimbap wrapped in thin gamtae seaweed, ₩13,000) and spicy jjolmyeon (chewy wheat noodles) with flat dumplings (₩12,500). Stir-fries such as the fire-grilled whole octopus and spicy baby octopus need an order for two or more.

Set meals

• Stir-fried octopus set ₩16,000
• Stir-fried pork set ₩15,000
• Charcoal-grilled beef bulgogi set ₩14,000
• Mushroom perilla soup set ₩15,000
• Bossam (boiled pork wraps) set ₩15,000

Specialties and rice and noodle dishes

• Spicy seafood sundubu (soft tofu stew) ₩13,500
• Gamtae gimbap ₩13,000
• Perilla oil buckwheat noodles ₩13,000
• Spicy jjolmyeon with flat dumplings ₩12,500
• 1988 hamburg steak ₩13,500
• Hyeja king pork cutlet ₩14,000

Stir-fries (minimum order for 2)

• Fire-grilled whole octopus stir-fry ₩15,000
• Spicy baby octopus stir-fry ₩14,000

Sides

• Zucchini pancake ₩10,000
• Chicken nanban (6 pcs) ₩8,000
• Pollock roe dumplings (5 pcs) ₩7,000

Looking over the menu, there was everything from octopus and baby octopus stir-fries to gimbap, set meals and pork cutlet, Korean food and snack-bar food alike. Lots of easy, one-meal options made the choice wide. We ordered the gamtae gimbap and the spicy jjolmyeon with flat dumplings.

How does Bonghyejane's gamtae gimbap taste?

The gamtae gimbap (₩13,000) is generously wrapped in gamtae seaweed and comes with zesty yuzu syrup. The gamtae flavor is subtle and mild, so even people who don't usually enjoy seaweed could eat it without trouble.

The gamtae gimbap came out first, and it looked appetizing right away. The gamtae wrapped generously around the rolls gave it a different charm from ordinary gimbap, and the yuzu syrup served alongside added a fresh aroma and a gentle sweetness that went well as a dip.

On the first bite, I noticed gamtae's subtle sea scent and nutty flavor first. The rice was moist enough and worked well with the fillings. It's mild and clean rather than punchy, so it was easy to enjoy.

The gamtae smell isn't strong, so I think even people who normally don't like seaweed would enjoy it. The nuttiness builds as you chew, and I kept reaching for another piece.

How should you eat spicy jjolmyeon with flat dumplings?

The spicy jjolmyeon with flat dumplings (₩12,500) is tangy, sweet and spicy jjolmyeon served with golden pan-fried flat dumplings (napjak mandu). When I ate the dumplings together with the noodles, the sauce soaked into them and they went together much better.

The jjolmyeon bibim we ordered alongside was satisfying too. The noodles were tossed in an appetizing red sauce and topped with plenty of vegetables.

Trying the noodles first, the chewy texture was spot on. The sweet-and-sour sauce with a moderate kick really woke up my appetite. Crunchy cabbage and other vegetables made the texture rich, and the sauce wasn't overdone, so I enjoyed it to the last bite.

This is a muksabal (chilled acorn jelly bowl) with bouncy acorn jelly and crisp cucumber. The cold broth was clean and refreshing, and the white kimchi served with it was crunchy and good alongside.

The flat dumplings came out golden and pan-fried. With crispy parts and chewy parts together, the texture was great. They're tasty on their own, but eating them with the jjolmyeon was far better.

The tangy jjolmyeon sauce soaked naturally into the dumplings for a richer taste. The spicy-sour noodles and the mild dumplings balanced each other well, and I was very satisfied.

Is Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch worth a return visit?

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch is connected straight to Jonggak Station and has parking, so it's an easy Korean restaurant in Jonggak to go to with anyone. The varied menu means you can have a satisfying meal whoever you bring, and it works well as a meeting spot too.

Above all, the nutty gamtae gimbap and the sweet-and-sour jjolmyeon with flat dumplings paired better than I expected. It seems like a light meal, but it was more filling than I thought, and enough for a full meal.

If you're looking for a good place near Jonggak Station or Jongno Tower, or a clean Korean meal, I'd recommend Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch. I plan to go back next time to try the stir-fried octopus set and the baby octopus dishes.