Cheongdam Korean seafood restaurant for family gatherings: Hallasan

Hallasan Cheongdam location and opening hours

Hallasan Cheongdam (한라산 청담점) is in the Lumian Building at 51 Dosan-daero 81-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 471m from Exit 2 of Apgujeongnodeo Station. It is open Monday to Saturday 17:00–22:00 (last order 21:00) and Sunday 13:00–21:00 (break 16:00–17:00, last order 20:00).

Group seating, takeout, reservations, Wi-Fi and valet parking are all available.

I went to this private-room Japanese-style restaurant in Cheongdam for dinner. You can walk from Exit 2 of Apgujeongnodeo Station, and if you drive, there's paid valet right in front, which was great.

There's a dolhareubang (Jeju stone grandfather statue) at the entrance, so this famous Jeju seafood course spot is easy to spot at a glance.

What are the atmosphere and private rooms like at Hallasan Cheongdam?

Hallasan Cheongdam is on the first basement floor of the Lumian Building, with several private rooms that suit gatherings or a quiet meal. Head down to B1 and you reach the entrance. The interior was so classy.

It's not overbearing, though. It felt like a comfortable gallery-like space for a relaxed meal, and I liked it. We booked ahead and were seated in the main hall. The seats were wide and the tables well spaced, so it felt roomy.

Hallasan Cheongdam summer stamina course: price and menu

The summer stamina course (보양식 코스) is ₩150,000 per person, and we ordered it for two. Hallasan serves fresh Jeju seafood à la carte or as courses, and this popular course comes generously loaded with seasonal sashimi, a seafood box, a special stamina dish and grilled Jeju silver hairtail.

We didn't drink that day and just ate, but Hallasan Cheongdam is corkage free. There aren't many corkage-free places around here, so that's worth knowing.

Abalone porridge and vegetable sticks

First came abalone porridge and vegetable sticks. It was nutty and perfectly seasoned, which made me look forward to the rest.

Avocado with sweet shrimp and sea urchin roe

Next was avocado with sweet shrimp and sea urchin roe.

I loved getting quite a lot of uni. It was rich and fresh, with no bitterness or fishiness, so good.

It paired nicely with the gamtae (seaweed), avocado and sweet shrimp served alongside.

Six-item seafood box

Next up: the six-seafood box and the summer seasonal sashimi platter.

The seafood box had abalone, scallop, deepwater shrimp, turban shell and more, so we could taste a bit of everything. It was prepped so it was easy to eat, the shrimp and abalone were especially good, and the showy plating with premium seafood made me feel well treated.

Jeju summer seasonal sashimi platter

This is the summer seasonal sashimi platter, made up of fresh Jeju fish you don't often see: sea bream, grouper, tuna, mackerel, hairtail and more. The lineup stood out from other places.

Nutty, fresh and delicious, of course~~ ^^

Special stamina dish: croaker and abalone soup

The special stamina dish was a soup with croaker (minuh) and abalone. Two whole abalone were in it, so we each got one, which I loved. With croaker and everything else packed in without skimping, the broth was refreshing and delicious.

Hairtail jeon (pan-fried fish) and katsu sando

Next were hairtail jeon (pan-fried fish patties) and a katsu sando (cutlet sandwich).

The thick cutlet in soft white bread tasted like something anyone would like. This is where I started getting full ^^

The hairtail jeon is fried fresh and served with seasoned scallion salad, and it was soft and really good.

Shishito pepper pot rice, octopus soup and braised Spanish mackerel

Now the meal portion arrives in full: shishito pepper pot rice and yeonpo-tang (clear soup) loaded with octopus.

The braised Spanish mackerel in tasty seasoning was a real rice thief too.

Extra-large grilled hairtail at Hallasan Cheongdam

Then comes Hallasan's famous giant hairtail. It was a truly huge fish, the kind you'd only expect to see in Jeju, and the staff deftly deboned all of it so it was easy to eat.

It had lots of flesh and was grilled well, and dipped in a little salt it was delicious with no fishiness at all.

Dessert: bingsu (Korean shaved ice)

Finally, there's bingsu (shaved ice) too. The ice was finely shaved and the fruit on top was sweet, so I enjoyed it.

Which gatherings suit Hallasan Cheongdam?

Hallasan Cheongdam is an Apgujeong private-room restaurant with good atmosphere and service, and I was satisfied with its generous, upscale course. They say fresh Jeju seafood is flown in daily, and with a truly huge Jeju hairtail on top, it seems great for treating elders. I'd recommend it for family gatherings and Cheongdam company dinners too.