Yeouido IFC Mall tteokbokki bar: takeout after Cheonggye, Hyeonseonine

IFC Mall is a place I end up stopping by every time I visit Yeouido. You can shop and sort out a meal in one spot, and since Yeouido is full of office workers, lunchtime is buzzing with people hunting for a good place to eat. This time I ordered takeout from Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch (현선이네 프리미엄 IFC몰점), known as a go-to for IFC-area food and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) in Yeouido.

Actually, this isn't my first time at Hyeonseonine. I had a satisfying meal at the Hyeonseonine Cheonggye Instant branch (현선이네 청계즉석점) before, and this time I tried the Premium shop in IFC Mall.

How do you get to Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch?

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch is inside IFC Mall at 10 Gukjegeumyung-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, and the mall is connected underground to Yeouido Station on Lines 5 and 9. It's about a 5-minute walk from the station, so you can go whatever the weather, and access is excellent.

There's a moving walkway on the way from Yeouido Station to IFC Mall, which made the trip easy. You follow a wide, pleasant corridor and it leads you straight into the mall. As a big shopping complex, it has a clean, sleek feel that left an impression on me.

If you drive, you can use the IFC Mall parking lot. There's plenty of space, so coming by car is convenient, and it's nice for combining shopping with a meal.

At the shop entrance there's a large display introducing the Hyeonseonine brand story. It carries the phrase "deliciously spicy" along with the brand's history and tradition, and you can tell at a glance that this is a tteokbokki brand that has been loved for a long time.

Kiosk ordering, and a self bar with aprons

I ordered at the kiosk in front of the shop. Menu photos and prices are laid out clearly, so ordering wasn't difficult and payment was quick. The takeout order was ready fast too, which looks great for busy office workers.

The shop has an open kitchen, so you can see the whole cooking process. Watching the tteokbokki and fritters being prepared made me trust it more, and the whole place gave off a well-kept impression.

On one side there's a self bar with small plates, pickled radish and utensils, and even aprons. With tteokbokki and snack-bar food, sauce can splash onto your clothes, so being able to use an apron freely felt thoughtful. The self bar area was neatly kept and easy to use.

I got takeout this time, but I could still look around inside. It's mostly table seating, with no separate rooms. The atmosphere suits a solo meal, a quick lunch, or a casual visit with coworkers.

Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch menu info

🔥 The Hyeonseonine set as takeout, eaten at home

That day I ordered the Hyeonseonine set and a cider (clear lemon-lime soda) to go. The Hyeonseonine set is a combo of tteokbokki, sundae (Korean blood sausage), gimbap (seaweed rice roll) and assorted fritters. You get the signature items all at once, so I think it's a good choice for first-timers too.

I took it home and ate it there. The food was in good shape and the portion was generous, so it made a satisfying, filling meal.

Tteokbokki: thick wheat rice cakes, sweet and spicy sauce

The tteokbokki in the Hyeonseonine set uses thick wheat rice cakes, and the chewy texture was great. The sauce balanced sweet and spicy well and wasn't harsh, so it was easy to enjoy. The sauce had soaked right into the rice cakes, and the savory flavor came through the more I chewed.

Assorted fritters: still crisp after takeout

The assorted fritters in the Hyeonseonine set came in a nice variety: gimmari (glass noodle roll) fritter, dumpling fritter, vegetable fritter, squid fritter and more.

They stayed pretty crisp even after takeout, and dipping them in the tteokbokki sauce made them even better. The gimmari fritter kept the chewiness of its glass noodles, and the squid fritter had a great bite.

Gimbap and sundae

The gimbap in the set was solidly filled too. Egg, pickled radish, ham and more were nicely balanced, with a faint sesame oil aroma, so it was mild and clean-tasting. It paired well with the spicy tteokbokki.

The sundae was satisfying as well. It was cut thick, with a clean taste and no off smell. Dipping it lightly in the salt that came with it brought out the sundae's nutty richness.

Best of all, a single Hyeonseonine set lets you taste tteokbokki, sundae, gimbap and fritters. If you love Korean snack-bar food, I think this combo is bound to satisfy.

Verdict: my second Hyeonseonine visit, and I'd go back

This was my second Hyeonseonine after the Cheonggye Instant branch, and Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch was a satisfying experience too.

The great access from Yeouido Station, convenient parking, kiosk ordering and a tidy self bar all made it easy to use, and the takeout order came together quickly, which I liked.

The Hyeonseonine set especially, with tteokbokki, sundae, gimbap and fritters all at once, nailed both value and satisfaction. If you're stuck on a lunch pick in Yeouido, or want a simple but filling meal in IFC Mall, I'd recommend Hyeonseonine Premium IFC Mall Branch.

Next time I'd like to try the tteokbokki and fritters fresh out of the kitchen in the shop. I'd definitely go back.