Hoegi izakaya 5-skewer omakase and cheese tamagoyaki: Hamaru Hoegi

I wanted a light second round near Hoegi with good drinks and even better anju (drinking snacks), so I headed to Hamaru Hoegi. There are so many bars and izakayas around Kyung Hee University that it's hard to pick one, but that day I wanted somewhere I could try lots of small dishes, so I went back to Hamaru, a place I'd visited before.

Hamaru Hoegi is an izakaya near Kyung Hee University with skewers, omakase menus, and plenty of anju that go well with drinks. It's apparently a popular spot when people nearby are looking for a bar or izakaya around Kyung Hee University.

Where is Hamaru Hoegi, and what are its hours?

Hamaru Hoegi is located at 11 Gyeonghuidae-ro 1-gil, 1st floor, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, and is open Mon–Thu and Sunday 17:00–02:00, Fri–Sat 17:00–03:00. It's easy to find heading from Hoegi Station toward Kyung Hee University, and it's a convenient spot for meetups around campus.

Since it stays open pretty late, it's also a good option for going straight from dinner into a second round. Friday and Saturday hours run until 3am, which makes it a solid choice for weekend drinks too.

What is the atmosphere like inside Hamaru Hoegi?

Walking into Hamaru Hoegi, I felt that distinctly Japanese izakaya vibe. There are table seats, which work well for friends or couples, and overall it felt like an easygoing place to sit and drink.

It wasn't overly quiet or formal — more like a relaxed bar you'd casually stop by around Kyung Hee University. It felt fine for a date and equally unpretentious for having dinner and drinks with friends. If you're looking for a bar or izakaya near Kyung Hee University with a not-too-heavy atmosphere, this fits the bill.

What we ordered at Hamaru Hoegi

What we ordered that day was the 5-skewer omakase and mentai cheese tamagoyaki, and we also received cream cheese crackers through a review event. I wanted to try a bunch of different anju from the start, so I ordered the 5-skewer omakase — I liked that instead of filling up on one dish, we could taste several in small portions.

The 5-skewer omakase: a good spread for two

First up was the 5-skewer omakase. True to its name, several anju arrive at once, making it a great pick when you want to try a variety of drinking snacks.

• Chicken tenderloin topped with mentai (pollack roe) — savory and delicious
• Yeomtong (chicken heart) — tasted exactly like you'd expect, in a good way
• Tomato and asparagus bacon rolls — a nice treat with the thin bacon wrapped around them, especially the crunchy asparagus
• Grilled chicken wings — salty and well-seasoned, perfect with beer

For two people who want to try a bit of everything, this felt like a great choice. Slowly working through each skewer with a drink naturally kept the conversation going, and I liked that we never got tired of one flavor since we got to taste so many different things. Hamaru is actually known for its omakase menu alongside yakitori, so it should suit anyone who wants to enjoy a range of izakaya dishes.

Mentai cheese tamagoyaki (cod roe and cheese rolled omelet)

We also ordered mentai cheese tamagoyaki (cod roe cheese rolled omelet) on the side. Tamagoyaki (rolled omelet) is one of those dishes that would be missed if a bar didn't have it, and with mentai and cheese mixed in, it had a richer, savorier flavor than a plain rolled omelet. The soft egg, the salty tang of mentai, and the cheese all worked together as a great pairing with drinks.

Cream cheese crackers from the review event

We also tried the cream cheese crackers we got for taking part in the review event. With cream cheese piled on top, they were easy to pick up and eat, and made for a nice light bite between the heavier main anju.

When you're drinking, you tend to keep reaching for salty or heavy snacks, so it was nice to have something light like the cream cheese crackers in the mix. Review events can change depending on when you visit, so it's worth checking with the restaurant if you're planning to take part.

Is Hamaru Hoegi worth a second-round stop?

Overall, Hamaru Hoegi was a relaxed izakaya to visit with friends or a partner and enjoy a variety of anju and drinks. If you'd rather have several small dishes than one big one, the 5-skewer omakase should suit you well. Adding the mentai cheese tamagoyaki to the omakase, like we did, rounded things out nicely for two people drinking together.

If you're setting up an evening around Kyung Hee University, or want somewhere for a first-round dinner-and-drinks near Hoegi, I'd recommend Hamaru. It's especially worth a visit if you're searching for a bar or izakaya near Kyung Hee University — the location is convenient and the menu has plenty of variety. If you're looking for somewhere in Hoegi to have a relaxed drink with friends or a partner like I did, give Hamaru Hoegi a try.