Three places I have eaten at in Itaewon, Haebangchon and Yongsan: Decalcomanie (a cozy bistro famous for ₩9,900 honey cod, no kids), Nurimaeul Gamjatang (24-hour pork bone stew by Itaewon Station Exit 4) and Hyunsuni (tteokbokki and Korean snack food near Sinyongsan Station, great with kids).
Itaewon, Haebangchon and Yongsan sit right next to each other on the south side of Namsan, and they cover very different moods: a quiet date night up the hill, a big pot of stew at any hour, and a cheap, cheerful lunch with the kids. Each place below links to my full guide.
Quick picks
Date nightDecalcomanie, Sinheung Market, Haebangchon
Late nightNurimaeul Gamjatang, Itaewon Station Exit 4 (24 hours)
With kidsHyunsuni, Sinyongsan Station Exit 5
1. Decalcomanie (데칼코마니): honey cod in Haebangchon
A small bistro inside Sinheung Market, uphill from Itaewon. We went for our wedding anniversary. The honey cod with Uiseong garlic aioli (₩9,900) is the reason to come, and the set for two (₩59,800) also covers basil pesto pasta and a sous-vide pork neck steak. Expect a wait; it is a no-kids zone. The walk up from Noksapyeong Station is steep, so a short taxi is easiest.
2. Nurimaeul Gamjatang (누리마을감자탕): 24-hour pork bone stew
On the second floor of a building about 29 m from Itaewon Station Exit 4, open 24 hours. A small pot of spicy gamjatang (₩35,000) is a hearty meal, and single bowls of bone soup start at ₩12,000. A good stop for a late dinner or a filling lunch.
📍 2F, 176 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 서울 용산구 이태원로 176 2층 Naver Map · Google Maps
3. Hyunsuni (현선이네): tteokbokki near Yongsan I’Park Mall
A busy tteokbokki and bunsik shop about 180 m from Sinyongsan Station, close to Yongsan I’Park Mall. Tteokbokki is ₩6,000 with your choice of spice level, and combo sets add sundae, mini gimbap and fritters. It was my 7-year-old’s first tteokbokki shop, and there are high chairs and a baby set. Open 11:00–24:00 daily.
📍 2-13 Hangang-daero 39-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 서울 용산구 한강대로39길 2-13 Naver Map · Google Maps
Nurimaeul Gamjatang, about 29 m from Itaewon Station Exit 4, is open 24 hours. A small pot of spicy pork bone stew is ₩35,000 and single bowls start at ₩12,000.
What is a good anniversary or date restaurant near Itaewon?
Decalcomanie in Haebangchon’s Sinheung Market is cozy and known for its ₩9,900 honey cod. The set for two is ₩59,800. It often has a wait and is a no-kids zone.
Where can I take kids for lunch near Yongsan I’Park Mall?
Hyunsuni, about 180 m from Sinyongsan Station, serves tteokbokki with a choice of spice level plus non-spicy sundae, gimbap and fritters. It has high chairs and a baby set.
Hours and prices come from each restaurant’s Naver listing, checked when each full guide was written (October 2026). Please check Naver Map before you go.
Based on my own visits and photos. I used AI tools to help with the English wording.
Hyunsuni (현선이네) Yongsan is a popular tteokbokki and bunsik (Korean snack food) shop about 180 m from Sinyongsan Station, close to Yongsan I’Park Mall. Single tteokbokki costs ₩6,000 (about $4) with your choice of spice level, and combo sets bundle tteokbokki, sundae, mini gimbap and fritters. It is open 11:00–24:00 daily and has high chairs for kids.
Tteokbokki, chewy rice cakes in a red, spicy-sweet sauce, is the most Korean snack you can eat, and Hyunsuni Yongsan is one of my regular places for it. This visit was special, though: it was my 7-year-old’s first time at a tteokbokki shop. When kids are small, spicy food keeps you away from places like this, so sitting across the table from my child here felt surprisingly new.
Quick facts
Korean name현선이네 용산본점 (Hyunsuni, Yongsan main branch)
Address2-13 Hangang-daero 39-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 서울 용산구 한강대로39길 2-13
SubwaySinyongsan Station (Line 4), Exit 5 or 6, about 180 m (3-minute walk)
HoursDaily 11:00–24:00, last order 22:40. Monday break 14:30–16:00
Take Exit 5 of Sinyongsan Station (Line 4), walk a few steps to the crossroads, then head into the side street between a pub and a real estate office. The shop has a red roof and a yellow chimney, so it is hard to miss. Yongsan I’Park Mall and Yongsan Station are also within walking distance.
📍 Hyunsuni Yongsan (현선이네 용산본점), 2-13 Hangang-daero 39-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul · Naver Map · Google Maps
We went at lunchtime on a weekend, and the room still felt relaxed, so my child had no trouble sitting comfortably through the meal.
What is tteokbokki?
Tteokbokki (떡볶이) is cylinder-shaped rice cakes simmered in a gochujang-based sauce. It is usually served with other bunsik favorites: sundae (Korean sausage made with glass noodles), gimbap (seaweed rice rolls) and twigim (fritters), which you dip into the tteokbokki sauce. Hyunsuni serves a broth-style tteokbokki, with more soupy sauce than the thick, sticky kind.
What we ordered: the combo set
We ordered the Hyunsuni combo set without thinking twice. It lets you try tteokbokki, sundae, mini gimbap and fritters in one go, and ours came with curly fish cake skewers in hot broth as well. It is a perfect order for a first visit or when you are eating with kids.
1. Mild broth tteokbokki (순한맛 국물떡볶이)
Because of my child, I ordered the mild version. Mild still has a little kick, so I was a bit worried, but my 7-year-old kept drinking water and kept eating, a lot. Watching them reach for more of their very first tteokbokki made me oddly proud.
The broth is savory enough to eat with a spoon, and the best part is dunking the fritters in it. Even for adults the mild level was not bland; I ended up finishing most of the bowl with my child. If you like heat, order the regular or a spicier level.
2. Sundae (순대)
We ordered the sundae without the offal that is often served on the side, just the sausage itself. It is great dipped in the tteokbokki broth, and my child ate it without any hesitation. If organ meat is not your thing, ask for “sundae only” too.
3. Mini gimbap (꼬마김밥)
The little gimbap rolls are seasoned on the salty side, which makes them a good match for tteokbokki. Dip one lightly in the broth and the salty and spicy flavors come together. Having tteokbokki, sundae and gimbap on one table also made it fun for my child to pick and choose.
4. Fritters (튀김)
The fritters were crisp and not greasy, so we could keep eating to the end. My pick of the day was the vegetable fritter: crunchy on its own and even better soaked in the broth. It was the first thing to disappear. The seaweed rolls and sweet potato fritters were good too. My child quickly learned to dip the fritters in the broth just like me.
The vegetable fritter dipped in tteokbokki broth was my favorite bite.The set we had also came with curly fish cakes in broth.
One combo set was plenty for my child and me, so it also felt like good value. Next time I plan to add extra vegetable fritters.
Menu and prices
Prices from the shop’s current Naver menu:
Dish
Price
Tteokbokki (mild, medium or very spicy) 떡볶이 (순한맛/중간맛/매운맛)
₩6,000 ~$4
Hyunsuni set (tteokbokki, fritters, mini gimbap, sundae) 현선이세트
₩23,000 ~$16
Hyunsuni combo set for 3 (adds 3 curly fish cakes) 현선이콤보세트
*USD figures are rough estimates at about ₩1,400 to $1. Prices can change.
Is it kid-friendly?
Yes, and it is one of the easiest ways to introduce kids to Korean street food. There are high chairs, the mild tteokbokki is manageable for older kids (keep water nearby), and sundae, gimbap and fritters are not spicy at all. The baby set on the menu is a smaller portion designed for exactly this.
We made it part of a Yongsan day out: my child played at a slime café in Yongsan I’Park Mall first, and then we walked over for lunch. Afterwards we promised each other to come back for another parent-and-kid date.
Tips for visitors
Choose your spice level. “Sunhanmat” means mild; the shop says its very spicy level is four times hotter than Buldak noodles.
Dip everything. Fritters, sundae and gimbap all taste better soaked in the tteokbokki broth.
Take the subway. There is no parking; Sinyongsan Station is a 3-minute walk.
Monday break. The kitchen closes 14:30–16:00 on Mondays only.
Ordering phrase: “Sunhanmat-euro juseyo” means “Mild, please.”
My verdict
Hyunsuni Yongsan is a cheerful, affordable place to try tteokbokki the way Koreans actually eat it, with sundae, gimbap and crispy fritters to dip in the broth. It has long been a favorite of mine, and now it is also the place where my child ate tteokbokki for the first time. If you are exploring Yongsan, especially with kids, it is an easy and tasty stop.
Hyunsuni Yongsan FAQ
Where is Hyunsuni Yongsan?
In an alley about 180 m from Sinyongsan Station (Line 4). From Exit 5, walk a few meters to the crossroads and take the side street; look for the yellow chimney and red roof.
What are Hyunsuni Yongsan’s opening hours?
11:00 to 24:00 every day, with last order at 22:40. On Mondays there is a break from 14:30 to 16:00.
Is the tteokbokki at Hyunsuni Yongsan very spicy?
You can choose the spice level. The mild version still has a little kick but my 7-year-old managed it with water. The “very spicy” option is described by the shop as four times hotter than Buldak.
What should I order at Hyunsuni Yongsan?
The combo set is the easiest choice: tteokbokki, sundae, mini gimbap, assorted fritters and curly fish cakes. Single-serving tteokbokki is ₩6,000.
Is Hyunsuni Yongsan good for kids?
Yes. It has high chairs, the mild tteokbokki is manageable for older children, and Yongsan I’Park Mall is a short walk away. There is no parking, so take the subway.
