Squid restaurant in Mapo, Seoul: bossam set before Yeouido fireworks

Yesterday was the day of the Yeouido fireworks festival! It happens every year, but with life being busy I missed booking a good spot in advance again, haha. And I just didn't have the confidence to brave Yeouido or Ichon Hangang Park, where crowds are guaranteed. So my boyfriend and I scouted the area for somewhere with fewer people, and we picked Mapo Bridge!

So we planned to have dinner near Mapo Station, head over to Mapo Bridge before 8pm to watch the fireworks, and slip out around 8:50pm before it ended — kind of an escape plan, haha. While figuring out where to eat, we chose Hwakkeunne Ojingyang, a Mapo Station restaurant that's an easy walk to Mapo Bridge and great for getting some protein in too!

Where is Hwakkeunne Ojingyang, and what are its hours?

Hwakkeunne Ojingyang is at 277 Tojeong-ro, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, about 8–10 minutes on foot from Exit 1 of Mapo Station. It's open Mon–Sat 11:30–22:00 with a break time from 14:00–16:00, last order at 21:30, and closed every Sunday.

• Address: 277 Tojeong-ro, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Location: about 8–10 minutes on foot from Exit 1 of Mapo Station
• Hours: Mon–Sat 11:30–22:00
• Break time: 14:00–16:00
• Last order: 21:30
• Closed: every Sunday
• Takeout, delivery, and reservations available

Why Hwakkeunne Ojingyang works for dinner before the Yeouido fireworks

Hwakkeunne Ojingyang is close to Mapo Bridge, so it worked out really well as a dinner stop before heading to the Yeouido fireworks festival. If you want to watch the fireworks without the packed crowds and traffic of Wonhyo Bridge, Yeouido, or Ichon, this is a route I'd recommend, haha! Check the image below for the detailed route~!

On the day of the Yeouido fireworks festival, the area gets extremely crowded, so if you go looking for a good viewing spot on an empty stomach, you can wear out fast. So it's a good plan to fill up at a Mapo Station restaurant before crossing Mapo Bridge.

A Yonggang-dong squid restaurant with outdoor street tables

In front of Hwakkeunne Ojingyang there were tables set up for a nice outdoor drinking-spot vibe. Enjoying spicy squid dishes with a beer outside on a cool evening sounded really nice 🍺

There was even a separate delivery zone off to one side where delivery riders picked up orders — that's how much delivery business this place gets. You could tell it's already known in the neighborhood as a popular delivery spot.

Inside Hwakkeunne Ojingyang: seating and atmosphere

The interior of Hwakkeunne Ojingyang wasn't fancy — more of a comfortable, easygoing neighborhood restaurant vibe. There were tables big enough for groups, so it also worked well for gatherings or dinner with a crowd.

The signature dish is the bossam set, which comes with bossam (boiled pork wraps) and vinegared squid salad together. There's also a good variety of other squid-based dishes — stir-fried squid, squid pancake, whole fried squid — so it was fun choosing. Very fitting for a squid specialty restaurant!

The bossam set: boiled pork with vinegared squid salad

The bossam set arrived first, generously piled with bossam and vinegared squid salad — it looked delicious just from the visuals. Bean sprouts and sauce came alongside, so you could mix and match to your taste.

They said the pork is boiled in-house, and sure enough it was moist and tender with no gamy smell or dryness — it paired really well with the tangy, spicy vinegared squid salad. The bright acidity of the squid salad cut through the richness of the bossam, so I kept alternating between the two.

Piling the crunchy julienned radish, minari (water dropwort), and chewy squid generously on top of the bossam made the texture even better. It works both as a meal and as a drinking snack — a great fit if you're looking for a Mapo Station restaurant.

Butter-grilled scallops, the dish worth ordering

And the dish that completely won me over was the butter-grilled scallops!! Haha. I already love scallops, but these were stir-fried just right and paired beautifully with the vegetables — I really enjoyed them!

Plump scallops stir-fried with broccoli, onion, and tomato made for a really appetizing dish, colors and all. The scallops were browned to just the right point — biting in, they had a springy bounce, followed by a soft sweetness and salty buttery flavor. The scallops themselves were big and substantial, holding their own against the main dish.

Honestly, this dish is one you'd miss if it weren't on the table. The nutty aroma of the butter really brings out the subtle sweetness of the scallops — I wanted to scrape up every last bit of the sauce, and I couldn't stop reaching for more.

Ordering the tangy, spicy bossam set alongside the savory buttery scallops gave a real contrast of flavors. If you're visiting with a group, laying out both dishes to share would be really satisfying.

Live squid sashimi: check availability before you go

Hwakkeunne Ojingyang's live squid sashimi may not always be available, depending on supply. Unfortunately, when I visited, there was no live squid sashimi, so I didn't get to try it. If you want the sashimi, it's safer to call ahead to check availability before visiting.

It would be pretty disappointing to go specifically for the live squid sashimi and not get to try it. Especially on busy days like the Yeouido fireworks festival or weekends, it's a good idea to ask about both seating and sashimi availability together.

Dinner in Mapo, then fireworks from Mapo Bridge: the route

After a filling meal, we headed toward Mapo Bridge and fully enjoyed the Yeouido fireworks. Filling up on good food first and then watching the dazzling fireworks really boosted how satisfying the whole day felt.

On the day of the Yeouido fireworks festival, convenience stores and restaurants right around the venue get packed, so eating first at a Mapo Station restaurant a bit further away is a smart move. It's also close to Mapo Bridge, so getting to the fireworks-viewing spot afterward is fairly convenient.

A solid dinner before the fireworks festival, and a place I'd want to come back to whenever I'm craving a spicy seafood snack — that's Hwakkeunne Ojingyang, my go-to Mapo Station restaurant ♥