Korean hangover lunch at Jongno Tower: octopus, cutlet, Bonghyejane

Where is Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch, and what is it like?

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch (봉혜자네주방 종로타워점) is a rice restaurant inside the Jongno Tower building by Jonggak Station, on the B2 floor. You can ride the escalator down, so it is easy to reach. The vibe is retro yet clean, and the menu crosses between Korean and Western-style dishes.

Atmosphere and seating

You can feel how clean it is from the entrance. The interior is spacious and very tidy, with warm wood-toned decor and a neat retro tile floor that stood out. The seats are wide and well spaced, so it is a comfortable place to eat.

Tablet ordering and barley tea

Every table has a tablet, so choosing dishes and options is easy. Instead of plain water, they serve nutty barley tea, which gently warms the stomach before the meal, and I could feel the owner's thoughtfulness. It would be great for a hangover the morning after drinking, too. The barley tea smelled so good, haha.

Does the food come out quickly at lunch?

We did not wait long after ordering, and the neatly arranged food came out fast, which makes it perfect for a busy lunch hour or a hungry evening. On a clean wooden tray came the main dish, tidy side dishes, soft pumpkin soup and nutty perilla porridge/soup, each in its own pretty bowl. It really felt like being treated to a proper meal.

What does the stir-fried octopus set (₩16,000) taste like?

The stir-fried octopus set at Bonghyejane Jubang is ₩16,000 and is packed with plump, chewy octopus in a smoky, fire-grilled sauce. The pleasantly sharp, smoky seasoning clings to the octopus and crunchy cabbage and wakes up your appetite.

Put the springy octopus, cabbage and chives into the bowl of rice with fresh vegetables, mix it all up, and you have bibimbap (mixed rice). The pumpkin soup, clean side dishes and nutty perilla porridge/soup that come with it make a perfect combination.

Mix the stir-fried octopus into the bowl of rice, and between bites have the sweet, soft pumpkin soup and the nutty perilla soup. The mildness and softness cancel out the strong flavors, haha.

How big is the Hyeja giant cutlet (₩14,000)?

The Hyeja giant pork cutlet at Bonghyejane Jubang is ₩14,000, and this one... lives up to its name with a generous size. You get a shock the moment you see it. Why? Because it is huge... It is classic Western-style diner cutlet: crispy outside, tender inside.

Next to the octopus dish, you can probably sense how it fills the whole plate. The rich, sweet sauce poured over the cutlet soaks into the crust and keeps you eating without getting sick of it.

You know cutlet is best freshly fried, right? This one was just fried, so the crunch was audible and it was really delicious.

For two: octopus stir-fry set + Hyeja giant cutlet

When you crave spicy, tidy Korean food, get the octopus stir-fry set; when you want great-value crunch, get the Hyeja giant cutlet, haha. Go as a pair and combine them, and the sweet, salty and spicy balance is perfect.

Muk-sabal served with the cutlet

The Hyeja giant cutlet comes with crunchy cabbage salad and rice, plus a cool, sweet-and-sour muk-sabal (acorn jelly in chilled broth), a smart touch that cuts the cutlet's greasiness. A sip of it now and then refreshes you so you can keep enjoying the meal.

How were the review-event pollock roe dumplings?

The pollock roe dumplings (myeongran gyoja mandu) I got from the Naver receipt review event at Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch have a crispy fried wrapper packed with savory, salty filling, and juice bursts out with every bite. I think they beat the gyoza at most Chinese restaurants...

Is it a good lunch for Jonggak office workers?

Bonghyejane Jubang Jongno Tower branch satisfied me on every count: a hygienic, clean restaurant and neat one-person set meals served fast. If you want a properly good-value meal near Jongno or Jonggak, I strongly recommend it!