Apgujeong Western restaurant with warm shrimp rose salad: Awesome Rose

What kind of restaurant is Awesome Rose in Apgujeong?

I went to a restaurant called Awesome Rose over the weekend for a meal with a friend in Gangnam. It's near Garosu-gil, and the vibe was great and the food was tasty too, so I left satisfied. Eating the steak rice bowl, we were both like "wow, this place is actually a steak spot," and agreed we'd come back and order steak as the main next time.

The rose salad and the alio olio pasta were also good. The atmosphere felt right for anything from a 20-something date to a family gathering, and on the way out there was even a photo booth for a clever finishing touch to a great meal. On top of that, this restaurant gave us a rose as a gift after we finished eating — full marks for thoughtfulness.

Rose salad: warm shrimp is the point

We ordered the rose salad first at Awesome Rose, and since the shrimp was warm, my friend said it was so nice that a salad wasn't cold for once. I hadn't expected it either, but the warm shrimp paired really well with the cold salad. The shrimp had a springy, fresh texture too.

There was a nutty sauce drizzled on top, and combined with the salty bacon it tasted great. Even though it's a salad, the warm shrimp and nut sauce made it filling enough. It seemed like it'd work well for people who are dieting, too.

Rose alio olio: the edible rose on top

We also ordered the alio olio pasta, which was spicy and topped with an edible rose — very original. I was surprised by the visual when I first saw a rose sitting on top of pasta, but it tasted great too once I tried it.

The seasoning on the pasta was just right — not too salty, not too bland, exactly balanced. The spiciness was great for waking up the appetite, and the noodles were cooked chewy and well. It was my first time eating pasta topped with an edible rose, and it was impressive both visually and in taste.

Steak rice bowl: Awesome Rose does steak well

Eating the steak rice bowl, my friend and I both said, at the same time, "this place is a steak spot," and agreed we had to come back and get steak as the main next time. The steak had what seemed like a charcoal aroma, cooked between well-done and medium, and the meat was very tender.

Garlic flakes and wasabi really brought out the flavor of the meat. Wasabi and steak go well together, so I've enjoyed that combo before too. Since it's a rice bowl, the sauce underneath the rice really made the dish — eating the meat, rice, and sauce together was genuinely delicious. The steak itself in the bowl was so good that I thought I should try ordering steak on its own next time.

What the basement space feels like

The atmosphere at Awesome Rose seemed suited for anything from a date in your 20s to a family gathering. The lighting was soft and the tables were spaced out well, so we could eat comfortably. It's a great mood for a date, but it also felt fine for family visits.

The photo booth and the rose you take home

On the way out there was even a photo booth, so we had fun taking pictures together for the first time in a while. Shooting in a space full of roses, two instant photos printed out right away, and we each kept one.

And after we finished eating and paid, they gave us a rose as a gift. That kind of thoughtfulness was really nice. We finished a delicious meal, had a fun conversation, made memories with photos, and each got a rose — it left us in a really good mood.

Would I come back to Awesome Rose with family?

This time we had salad, pasta, and the steak rice bowl, but next time I'll have to come back for steak as the main. My family loves steak, so ordering the two-person set along with individual dishes would make for a really generous, delicious meal.

It seems like a great place to go for a date or a blind date in Gangnam. The atmosphere is nice, the food is tasty, and they give you a rose as a gift, so it's good for making memories.

Awesome Rose menu and prices

Pasta

• Awesome Tomato Pasta — ₩16,900
• Rose Alio Olio — ₩16,900
• White Rose Pasta — ₩16,900

Sides and other dishes

• Awesome Tomato Quesadilla — ₩9,000
• Nachos — ₩9,000
• Rose Caprese — ₩13,000

Set menus

• Special Set — ₩60,000
• Rose Set — ₩72,000
• Awesome Set — ₩93,000

There's wine too. Check for the fuller menu.

How to get to Awesome Rose, and where to park

Awesome Rose is near Garosu-gil. It's close to Sinsa Station and also close to Apgujeong. It's an easy spot to find for a date or blind date in Gangnam.

For parking, you can use the building's parking lot, which has a valet fee, and there are also nearby public parking lots. If you're taking public transit, it's a walk from Sinsa Station.