American brunch café in Yeonnam-dong: Brunch All the Way at Hippo

On nice days I love sitting on a terrace and taking my time over brunch. This time I went to Hippo Brunch House, a famous brunch spot in Yeonnam-dong. It's popular enough that there's usually a wait, so I had high expectations, and it turned out even better than I hoped.

Where is Hippo Brunch House, and is there parking?

Hippo Brunch House is at 85 Seongmisan-ro 17-gil, about an 8-minute walk from Gajwa Station Exit 1. It sits in a residential alley in Yeonnam-dong, so it's a quiet place to spend a relaxed afternoon.

The exterior already has the feel of an American brunch restaurant. The outdoor terrace is prettily decorated and looks perfect for soaking up the sun in spring or autumn. Dogs are welcome too, and I saw quite a few people who had brought theirs.

There's no parking of its own, but you can easily use the Yeonnam-dong public parking lot or the Namgajwa 1-dong public parking lot.

I'm told it's a café selected by the Red Ribbon Survey.

Inside Hippo Brunch House: atmosphere and seating

Hippo Brunch House is split between the 1st floor and the basement, and the moment I walked in it felt like stepping into a brunch diner on a trip to the US. Vintage props and stylish interiors stood out, and the big windows let in lots of light, so the whole place felt bright and pleasant.

There's a good variety of seating, so it works for solo visits, dates, get-togethers with friends or family outings.

Basement wine space with free corkage

The basement also has a space selling wine and beer, and the nice part is that wine you buy there can be enjoyed with no corkage fee.

Even on a weekday afternoon, the 1st floor was already full.

Even the shelf where they just display ingredients looks kind of hip, haha.

You can also get glasses of wine at reasonable prices.

What's on the menu at Hippo Brunch House?

Hippo Brunch House has everything from brunch plates to pasta, salads, noodles and rice dishes, plus coffee, ades, beer and wine. The menu is really varied, as you'd expect from a top Yeonnam-dong brunch spot, so you can have a meal and café time in one go.

I also heard that they make all their sauces and dressings in-house and aim to use up each day's ingredients that same day, which makes me trust the place even more.

What comes in Brunch All the Way (21,800 won)?

What I ordered was Hippo Brunch House's signature, Brunch All the Way (₩21,800).

The plate came generously loaded with bacon, sausage, avocado, baked beans, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, fries and whole wheat bread. Just looking at it gave off full classic American brunch vibes.

The baked beans: the best part of the plate

The baked beans were what stood out most. They weren't overly strong, with a sweet, nutty flavor that went really well with the bread. Piled on with avocado, the flavor came alive, and a little maple syrup on top gave a perfect sweet-and-salty combo.

The sausage had a nice snappy bite and the bacon was salty and crisply cooked, so everything worked well together. The whole wheat bread was crisp outside and moist inside, great with butter and jam, and with the baked beans it made a hearty meal that left nothing to be desired.

Is Hippo Brunch House worth it for brunch in Yeonnam-dong?

If you're looking for a good brunch spot in Yeonnam-dong, Hippo Brunch House was a thoroughly satisfying choice. The pretty terrace, the stylish interior, the generous American brunch menu and the healthy food made with good ingredients all won me over.

I'd recommend it to anyone planning a Yeonnam-dong date or looking for a café with a nice atmosphere for brunch. Next time I'd love to sit on the terrace on a sunny day and have a relaxed brunch with a glass of wine.