Hyehwa restaurant with crispy corn ribs and sous-vide pork: Omil

When you are choosing somewhere for pasta in Hyehwa, there are so many options that it somehow gets even more confusing, right? We debated for ages too, then heard about a place that had newly opened in August and went to try it.

We picked it wondering how it would stack up for the price, and to give you the conclusion first, we were very satisfied :) It was a weekday evening, but we were seated straight away with no wait.

Getting to Omil Hyehwa Daehangno from Hyehwa Station

Let’s start with the location. It is 163 m from Hyehwa Station Exit 4, so you can get there in about two minutes on foot. It sits a little way in from the main road, and because it is on the second floor, I nearly walked right past it at first haha.

Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. every day, with last orders at 8:30 p.m. There is a weekday break from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m., but none on weekends.

• Daily 11:30–21:15 (last order 20:30)
• Weekday break time 15:15–16:30 / none on weekends
• There is no separate parking information, so the 2-minute walk from Hyehwa Station is recommended

Look up from the alley and the yellow-lettered sign catches your eye right away. It is on the second floor rather than the ground floor, so you have to look up to spot it. It is even easier to see once the lights come on at night!

Head up to the second floor and you will find this entrance. So cute, isn’t it? The whole look felt very intentional even before we went in, so I was already excited.

Spacious seating and a self-service bar

The inside was much bigger than I expected! The tables were generously spaced, so it was nice to eat without worrying about the people at the next table.

The chairs were the comfortable kind with backrests, so we did not feel uncomfortable even sitting for a while. There were even smiling-face bag baskets beneath the chairs, so we did not have to wonder where to put our things haha. There is a separate waiting area too, so I do not think you would have to stand around even at busy times.

There are handwritten messages on the walls and little decorative pieces lined up on the shelves. I spent quite a while looking around before the food arrived haha.

The kitchen is open, so you can catch a glimpse of the cooking. They also have high chairs, and I noticed quite a few guests dining with children. Even at dinner time, quite a lot of the seats were filled.

There is a self-service bar on one side where you can help yourself to water and cups. Red kimchi is kept in a container there too, so you can take some whenever you need it.

The restroom even had mouthwash stocked in it. It was nice to freshen up after pasta—little details like that are quietly appreciated!

When you sit down, there is an information card alongside the cutlery. It said you get an ade, a Korean fruit soda, for leaving a Naver receipt review or Google Maps review. Just show the review to the staff at the counter after your meal. You can choose cherry, pineapple, or basil tomato :)

Gochujang butter pasta topped with sous-vide pork collar

Gochujang butter pasta, ₩18,900. This was the dish we were most curious about. The name alone is unusual, right? It comes topped with sous-vide pork collar and a pat of butter in the middle haha.

Spread the butter well and toss it with the noodles, and the color turns much deeper! I thought it would be spicy because it uses gochujang (Korean red chili paste), but savory umami arrived before the heat. The butter gave the finish a lovely nutty richness, so I kept reaching for more~ The pork collar was thick but not tough, and picking it up with the noodles was just perfect.

Crunchy corn fritters with cheese and lemon

Crunchy corn fritters, ₩11,900. They cut whole corn into long pieces, fry it, and generously shower it with cheese powder. The look was something I had not really seen elsewhere, so we ordered it. Grated Padano cheese gives it a nutty aroma from the start.

The key is to dunk it generously in the white sauce served alongside. The outside is crisp, while the corn kernels inside pop with such a fun texture! Squeeze over some lemon and it cuts through any richness right away.

They even gave us disposable gloves so we could pick them up and pull them apart comfortably haha. With whole corn kernels still attached, it was fun to tear into them~

Rubber-duck omurice that makes you take photos first

Chong Chong Chong Rubber Duck Omurice, ₩16,900. This is the restaurant’s signature dish. Quail eggs are lined up like little ducks on top of the yellow omurice (Japanese-style omelet rice). They even float a real duck toy beside it, so we had to take photos first~

Inside is salmon fried rice, surrounded by curry sauce. It was not only pretty—the egg was genuinely soft too :) The curry is mild rather than spicy, so I think it would be fine with children. I heard the rubber-duck toy is part of a free giveaway event~

The three of us ordered the pasta, omurice, and corn fritters, and the amount was just right. All three plates had different styles, which made it fun to try a bit of everything :) For under ₩20,000 per person, this was a very decent spread. Perhaps because it had been open for less than a month, the restaurant was clean and the service was quick too.

Sous-vide pork collar in gochujang butter: a second-floor Western-style restaurant worth returning to when you cannot decide on pasta in Daehangno.

Recommended for

• Anyone looking for somewhere to eat before or after a play in Daehangno
• Anyone wanting a different kind of pasta beyond the usual tomato or cream sauce
• Anyone deciding on a Western-style restaurant to visit with children
• Anyone who loves photogenic menu items