In the district of Hoegi, you can find a lively campus culture with both Kyung Hee University and Hanguk University of Foreign Studies. As students, the search for budget-friendly dining options is a common concern. With financial constraints a reality for many, it is not easy to enjoy going out for dinner with your friends as much as you would like to. Let me introduce those five hidden gems in Hoegi—restaurants with friendly prices for less than 10,000 won.
1. Kimbap Cheonguk (김밥천국)
Location: 1st floor, 38 Kyunghee-daero 3-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (서울 동대문구 경희대로3길 38 1층)
Price range: 2,000 – 6,500 won
Kimbap Cheonguk is a famous chain throughout South Korea and is a go-to spot for budget-friendly Korean cuisine. Their specialty, as their name suggests, is the kimbap (seaweed rice rolls). You can also eat ramyeon (instant noodles) and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes). For a fulfilling meal under 10,000 won, consider ordering a classic kimbap roll paired with a bowl of steaming ramyeon or a serving of tteokbokki. Kimbap Cheonguk’s generous portions and affordable prices make it a popular choice among locals and students.
2. Hansot Dosirak Cafe (한솥도시락)
Location: 100 Imun-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (서울 동대문구 이문로 100)
Price range: 3,800 – 8,800 won per meal
For those craving a taste of nostalgia and home-cooked meals, Dosirak Cafe offers a wide selection of dosirak (Korean lunch boxes) at affordable prices. Each dosirak set comes with different side dishes, including kimchi, pickled radish, and vegetables. You can also choose from a range of options, such as kimchi bokkeumbap (fried kimchi rice), tonkatsu (fried pork with sauce), or chicken mayonnaise, all priced under 10,000 won.
3. 79th Street Noodle (79번지국수집)
Location: 1st floor, 25 Hoegi-ro 13-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (서울 동대문구 회기로13길 25 1층)
Price range: 5,000 to 8,500 won
This restaurant is your go-to if you’re looking for guksu, a traditional Korean dish with noodles. And if you’re craving pajeon on a rainy day, be sure to go there since this is their second specialty, and I had my best kimchi jeon here. If you go in rush hour, you will see a line and have to wait but don’t worry, Koreans always eat pretty fast, so you’ll never wait too long! I have been there several times and ordered at least one chicken noodle (5,000 won) and meat kimchi jeon (8,000 won) or potato haemul pajeon (8,000 won). I was never disappointed by any of the dishes I ordered there and this restaurant is my favourite one among the places I recommended.