Pohang beachfront restaurant lunch of risotto and pilaf: Plan A

I went on a summer vacation trip to Pohang, and after checking out of our accommodation, my partner and I were trying to figure out lunch. Since he loves Western food, I asked a local friend in Pohang if there was a good-looking, good-tasting Western restaurant — and she recommended Plan A Restaurant near Songdo Beach in Pohang. Here's my review!

Where is Plan A Restaurant in Songdo, Pohang, and where do you park?

Plan A Restaurant is on the 4th floor of a building right in front of Songdo Beach, next to the Starbucks and Caffebene by the beach. Parking is free, behind the building, almost like a public parking lot — super convenient!

Plan A Restaurant also allows pets, so if you're looking for a restaurant where you can dine with your dog, this Western restaurant is one I'd recommend.

Oh! Fourth floor, I thought, so it must have an ocean view looking straight down at Songdo Beach — and up we went! For a couple's date, taste matters but so does atmosphere, and Plan A Restaurant, with its ocean-view Western food, won over both eyes and mouth!

Inside Plan A Restaurant at noon on a weekday: mood and seating

Wow, no wonder it was recommended by a Pohang local — the place was packed! I visited on a weekday Wednesday at noon, and it seemed like everyone had come to Plan A Restaurant for lunch. There are standard 4-person tables, and 6-person tables can be reserved by phone or through Naver. There were a lot of friend groups and plenty of couples on dates too!

The Songdo Beach ocean view from the 4th floor

There's a terrace, though it didn't seem like you could actually go out onto it, but through the windows, Songdo Beach's ocean spread out beautifully in one view. There are plenty of ocean-view restaurants in Songdo, Pohang, but if you want one high up with a sweeping view down over the beach, I'd recommend Plan A Restaurant.

They thoughtfully have a baby chair, cushions, and blankets, and also keep spare tableware and small plates on hand. With a baby chair available, this is a great pick for visiting with kids too!

Plan A Restaurant's menu and what two people ordered

Everything on the menu looked delicious, so I was stuck deciding what to order... but since everyone around us was eating the mushroom basil cream risotto, I decided our risotto had to be the basil one. Steaks, salads, risottos, pilafs — so many options, it was great to have that much choice.

Our order at Plan A Restaurant

• Cheongyang pepper aglio olio – ₩15,000
• Mushroom basil cream risotto – ₩15,000
• Beef pilaf (no chili oil) – ₩17,000
• Coca-Cola Zero – ₩2,500

Utensils, water, drinks, and pickles come out first.

It took about 10 minutes after ordering, so our pasta, pilaf, and risotto came out quickly.

Three dishes for two: are Plan A Restaurant's portions big enough?

Wow, Western food portions are usually small, so even though it was just the two of us, we deliberately ordered three dishes — but Plan A Restaurant's portions were pretty generous, so I think one dish per person would honestly be enough.

Mushroom basil cream risotto, 15,000 won

I tried the mushroom basil cream risotto first since I was most excited about it! The basil flavor isn't overpowering — it spreads gently, so it's easy to eat without feeling heavy, and it has a rich, thick texture! Right when it starts to feel a bit greasy, that basil aroma kicks in and balances it out — I get why it's such a popular menu item.

Beef pilaf without chili oil, 17,000 won

The beef pilaf isn't fluffy, loose-grained rice like fried rice — it's a different style altogether, made by frying rice in oil, seasoning it, and then steaming it, which gives it a moist, dense texture. Definitely keep that in mind when ordering! Personally, I wanted a different texture from the risotto, so I ordered this, but it ended up being chewy and moist, fairly similar to the risotto after all. My partner, who likes moist rice, said the savory meat actually paired even better with this texture!

Cheongyang pepper aglio olio, 15,000 won

Worried the meal might get too rich, I ordered the pasta as the spicy version with cheongyang chili peppers — and the sharp, spicy kick really works! It's not too spicy, just enough heat to cut through the richness in between bites, so if you're ordering pasta, going with the cheongyang pepper version pairs well with the other dishes.

Frequently asked questions about Plan A Restaurant

Is parking available at Plan A Restaurant?

Plan A Restaurant has free parking behind the building, almost like a public lot — very convenient.

Can you reserve a table at Plan A Restaurant?

Standard tables seat 4, and tables for 6 can be reserved by phone or through Naver.