Wood-fired pizza in Mapo, Seoul: Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza

Today, I visited Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza (홍대화덕피자), which I found while looking for great pizza around Hapjeong.

It sits between Hapjeong and Sangsu Stations, making it nice for a walk toward Hongdae after a meal; it is also easy enough to reach for a date or gathering. Most of all, I was curious about its dough, aged for 72 hours and baked right in the restaurant's wood-fired oven.

A warm atmosphere that makes you want to linger

Inside, the brick walls, solid-wood tables, and yellow lighting come together to create the feel of a little Italian restaurant. It is comfortable rather than overly flashy, so it was lovely to take our time over a meal and conversation.

The walls were filled with photos of guests who had visited. You could feel the years this restaurant has held its place here, and that made it look especially warm and dear to Jini Unni, who loves spaces like this.

What does 72-hour-aged dough feel like?

At the heart of Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza is the large wood-fired oven inside the restaurant.

Because the handmade dough is aged for 72 hours and baked quickly at high heat, the edge was golden while the inside stayed moist. One bite showed that this was not dough that is hard only on the outside—it was softly chewy, with a subtle smoky aroma. Even those who usually eat only the toppings and leave the crust would probably enjoy every last edge here.

The pizza and pasta we ordered

Best-selling menu items

We ordered the ₩26,000 Quattro Stagione pizza, which lets you enjoy four flavors on one pie, the ₩18,500 Gamberi Crema shrimp cream pasta, and a beer.

I loved the trivet that kept the pizza warm. The pink pickles that arrived first were tangy and crisp, perfect for nibbling between the pizza and cream pasta.

Four flavors of Quattro Stagione pizza

The moment the Quattro Stagione pizza arrived, its size and generous cheese caught my eye. The section with tomato sauce, basil, and mozzarella was fresh, while the cheese-heavy section was nutty and rich. With its flavors divided into four sections, it is a great choice when you cannot decide what to order. It was fun choosing a different flavor with every slice while eating the same pizza.

The basil aroma was incredible!! When I lifted a slice, the cheese stretched out in long strands. The tang of the tomato sauce paired beautifully with the clean flavor of natural mozzarella, and the dough had little marks from the wood-fired oven that made it look even more appetizing. If you are looking for wood-fired pizza around Hapjeong, be sure to notice the dough's texture before the toppings.

Rich yet smooth Gamberi Crema shrimp cream pasta

The Gamberi Crema pasta came with a rich cream sauce clinging closely to the noodles. The sauce was thick rather than watery without being too heavy, and the plump shrimp still had a great bite.

A bite of cream pasta after the tomato-sauce pizza made the two different flavors flow together naturally, so the pairing worked wonderfully. The best!!

So refreshing, draft beer!! You simply cannot leave out a cold beer with pizza. Enjoying wood-fired pizza and beer together beneath the warm lights made this a fitting spot for a Hapjeong date or a Hongdae gathering too.

Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza: final thoughts

More than flashy toppings, what stayed with me from Hongdae Hwadeok Pizza was the chewiness of its aged dough and its wood-fired aroma.

You can enjoy both pizza and pasta, and the relaxed atmosphere makes it a good place for an unhurried meal. I recommend it to anyone looking for pizza around Hapjeong and Hongdae, or for properly baked wood-fired pizza near Sangsu Station.

Restaurant information

• Address: 5 Dongmak-ro 7-gil, 1F, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 마포구 독막로7길 5, 1층)
• Located on the first floor, so it is very easy to find
• Hours: 11:30–22:00
• Break time: 15:30–16:30
• Reservations are recommended for groups; reserve through Naver
• Parking: use nearby Dangin Public Parking Lot

They are running an event too, so I think it would be nice to join in.