Italian pasta restaurant with private room dining near Yangjae Station: Romaok Dogok

A private restaurant in Yangjae-dong, cooking by a chef straight from Italy — Romaok Dogok

Gangnam has always had a ton of great restaurants and famous chefs, and I used to go often — but since moving to another area, I haven't been able to visit as much, which is a bit of a shame. This time, since I was back at my parents' place, I stopped by Yangjae for a meal. It turned out to be a great date spot for enjoying pasta, risotto, steak and wine in a cozy, European-feeling space.

Location and hours at Romaok Dogok

• Address: 11 Gangnam-daero 48-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: 11:30–22:00
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Last order: 14:00, 21:00
• Parking: Not available (paid parking at Camco Yangjae Tower nearby)

Romaok Dogok is easy to reach, just a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Yangjae Station. It has the feel of a wine bar in a European alley, and I imagine it gets even more romantic once the lights come on in the evening.

There's a separate waiting area, so you can wait comfortably in the cool air rather than standing around.

European interior and private room seating

This pasta restaurant near Yangjae Station feels less like a loud, bustling restaurant and more like a space for quiet conversation over a meal. Soft lighting sets a calm mood, and the brick and wood details work together for a warm feel.

With a bar table, two-seat tables, and group seating, it works whether you're having wine solo or on a quiet date.

There's open group seating as well as a separate private room for groups — it feels more suited to family gatherings, birthday parties and anniversary dinners than a work dinner, and being shielded from outside eyes makes for a genuinely private meal.

Green onion ciabatta starter bread

This Yangjae Station pasta spot is built on the cooking of a chef who trained at a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Italy, and its signature is blending Korean ingredients harmoniously with Italian cooking.

The meal starts with green onion ciabatta bread — golden and crisp on the outside, moist with a chewy texture inside. The more you chew, the more the wheat's nutty flavor and the green onion's gentle sweetness come through.

Dipped in the olive oil served alongside, a fresh olive aroma spreads gently and brings out the bread's nuttiness even more. It's not overpowering — more like something that settles your palate before the pasta or risotto arrives.

Naples Mare Pomodoro pasta and piri piri chicken

We ordered the Naples Mare Pomodoro pasta, piri piri chicken, sangria, and a lime mojito.

The Naples Mare Pomodoro pasta was an authentic Italian-style dish, where fresh seafood, tomato sauce, peperoncino and linguine all came together in harmony.

The noodles had good bite and the sauce clung naturally to them, so with every bite you could taste both the wheat's nuttiness and the seafood's richness. One bite and it felt like eating seafood pasta at a restaurant on Italy's southern coast.

The piri piri chicken was crisp outside and moist inside, with lemon added to the spice for a refreshing finish. It was a European-style grilled chicken with juicy meat, bright lemon aroma, and gentle heat all working together.

Who Romaok Dogok is best for

Both my partner and I were really happy with the meal. The atmosphere was great, and it was a really good place to sit and talk.

• A stylish Italian dining restaurant near Yangjae Station and Dogok-dong
• A space with a memorable red brick exterior and European interior
• A wine display and soft lighting make for atmospheric dining
• Well suited to dates, anniversaries, blind dates and family gatherings
• A thoughtful course that starts with green onion ciabatta bread
• A creative menu that blends Korean ingredients with Italian cooking
• Deep flavor from fresh seafood and quality ingredients
• A private room makes it good for quiet gatherings and special occasions
• A solid wine list to pair with the food
• Beautiful plating that photographs well
• Upscale yet comfortable atmosphere with high overall satisfaction

It was a place to enjoy high-quality Italian cooking in the atmosphere of a small European wine restaurant.