Korean restaurant with patio seats in Hapjeong, Seoul: Deogiwa

Today's spot: Deogiwa Hapjeong.

I've got a pre-wedding photoshoot coming up so I've been dieting, which makes eating out kind of stressful lately. Instead of salty, greasy food, I went looking for somewhere healthy but filling, and ended up at Deogiwa Hapjeong, known as an outdoor-seating restaurant near Hapjeong. It's a home-style set meal place by day and a Korean pub by night, so you get good vibes too :)

• Deogiwa Hapjeong's location and hours
• The autumn-night outdoor seating atmosphere near Hapjeong
• Not-too-salty Korean food even while dieting

Where is Deogiwa Hapjeong and how do you get there?

Deogiwa Hapjeong is a 4–5 minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 3, tucked into an alley just off the main road. The tiled-roof exterior really stands out even from a distance.

What are the patio seats like on an autumn night?

The deciding factor for me was the outdoor seating. On a nice evening you can sit outside and really feel that cool autumn air. If you're looking for a place to talk rather than a loud drinking spot, I really recommend this one.

Decorated with traditional roof tiles, old wood, and pottery, it has a quiet, calm feel. Maybe that's why there were quite a few foreign visitors at the next table too, haha.

Waiting times and the 2nd-floor group seating

I went early so I got in without a wait, but during regular evening hours this outdoor-seating spot near Hapjeong definitely fills up, so waiting is basically a must. The upside: while you wait, they serve warm fish cake, so you can snack and write your review while you wait.

There's also a 2nd floor space, which looks great for company dinners, gatherings, and other group meals.

Korean food that isn't too salty

Why it works even while dieting

Honestly, eating out is the scariest part of dieting. But you can't just skip every plan either! The food at Deogiwa turned out to be not salty or overly seasoned overall. Getting to eat healthy Korean food until full made me so, so happy.

Side dishes and soybean paste soup (doenjang-guk)

The side dishes here are genuinely well-made. The doenjang (soybean paste) soup with big chunks of tofu was mild and savory, and the pickled radish was crunchy — perfect for cleansing your palate.

The braised beef, seasoned broccoli, and kimchi were all mild too, tasting like something out of a home kitchen rather than a restaurant.

Spicy pork stir-fry set meal

The set meal comes with spicy pork stir-fry! It's soaked in a gochujang (red pepper paste) sauce that usually makes you eat way too much rice, but it wasn't as salty or sweet as I expected, so I kept going back for more.

Grilled mackerel

The grilled mackerel was the most welcome dish while dieting. The outside was golden and grilled, but it wasn't greasy at all — light, with flesh that flaked apart moist and tender. The seasoning wasn't heavy, so the fish's natural flavor came through, and a squeeze of lemon made it even cleaner. Mackerel is packed with protein too, which was great.

Beef tartare and hot-pot rice

The beef tartare (yukhoe) had no gamey smell at all, was wonderfully chewy, and went down smoothly and rich once mixed with the egg yolk. I finished it guilt-free even while dieting :)

And then the freshly cooked hot-pot rice, glistening with sheen. Each grain was chewy enough to be delicious even without any side dishes.

I had the most satisfying, filling meal while dieting. Plenty of food but no heaviness — that kind of Korean meal combo is surprisingly rare.

Who will like Deogiwa Hapjeong?

• Anyone dieting who still wants a filling meal for a get-together
• Anyone near Hapjeong looking for a quiet place to talk over a meal
• Anyone who wants makgeolli (rice wine) outdoors on an autumn night
• Anyone planning a group dinner, company outing, or blind date spot

By the way, this place is also a 'good shop' partnered with Save the Children. I got a great meal and it goes toward a good cause too, which made it feel extra rewarding :)