Gongdeok salad shop with free parking: 195kcal salmon box, Why Starve
In short
Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a protein box, salad and poke restaurant on basement level 1 of Lotte Castle President, by Exit 2 of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekday lunch visit the blogger ate in with the Salmon Light Protein Box (11,900 won), a green tea macadamia protein cookie and an iced Americano, and liked that the salmon had no fishy taste and the cookie wasn't dry. With free parking on top, Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a solid pick for a high-protein meal near Gongdeok Station.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Gongdeok Station Exit 2 · 1-min walk (store listing, Oct 6, 2026)
- Hours
- Weekdays 10:00–22:00 (last order 21:30), weekends 10:00–20:30 (last order 20:00)
- Location
- B131, Basement Level 1, Lotte Castle President, 109 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul; 1 minute from Gongdeok Station Exit 2
- Parking
- Free in the Lotte Castle shopping arcade car park (search "Lotte Premium Food Market Gongdeok")
- Seating
- From single seats to group tables for 6
- Salmon Light Protein Box
- 11,900 won
- Green tea macadamia protein cookie
- 3,500 won
- Iced Americano
- 2,400 won
- Amenities
- Wi-Fi, country-of-origin board, receipt review event (free drink), prepayment points event
- Price reference
- ₩11,900 ≈ $8.9 · ₩3,500 ≈ $2.6 · ₩2,400 ≈ $1.8 (2026-10-12)
as written by the visitor on Oct 10, 2026
I visited Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch (와이스타브 다이어트 공덕본점) for a healthy, filling meal. It's a Gongdeok salad spot where you can eat a balanced meal of good carbs and vegetables. I'd recommend it to dieters who need a protein boost, or anyone who wants a clean, tidy meal.
Where is Why Starve Gongdeok, and how is the parking?
Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a Gongdeok salad spot just 1 minute from Exit 2 of Gongdeok Station, in the basement of Lotte Castle President. Hours are 10:00-22:00 on weekdays (last order 21:30) and 10:00-20:30 on weekends (last order 20:00). The main menu is protein boxes, salads and poke.
When you come out of Exit 2 of Gongdeok Station, the Lotte Castle shopping arcade connects right to it, so it's easy to reach. Parking is free if you use the Lotte Castle arcade car park! Great for anyone looking for a Gongdeok restaurant with parking. Search for "Lotte Premium Food Market Gongdeok" and you'll find the car park easily.
What are the atmosphere and seating like, and is it good for eating alone?
The inside of Why Starve Gongdeok is modern and neat. The bright orange interior makes it feel cheerful even though you're indoors.
The comfortable space makes it easy to eat in peace. There are single seats and group seating for up to 6, so eating alone or in a group is no problem.
I went at weekday lunchtime, and customers kept coming, both eating in and taking away. You could really feel how popular this Gongdeok salad spot is.
Quite a few people were eating alone, so if you're looking for a place near Gongdeok Station that's good for solo meals, give Why Starve a try.
There's a country-of-origin board, and Wi-Fi is available too.
A Naver receipt review event is running! Write a review and take home a cold drink. There's also a points event if you prepay.
How do you choose a Why Starve protein box?
Why Starve Gongdeok sells more than 20 kinds of protein boxes. Pick a main ingredient, pick a base, and you're done!
- Main ingredient: chicken, smoked duck, beef, salmon
- Base: salad, pasta, oats, tofu noodles, cauliflower rice
- Sides: tomato/sweet pumpkin soup, Greek yogurt, protein cookie
Every menu item has a nutrition table, which makes it easy to manage your diet whether you're dieting or a gym-goer.
- Salmon Light Protein Box ₩11,900
- Green tea macadamia protein cookie ₩3,500
- Iced Americano ₩2,400
Salmon Light Protein Box: taste and nutrition
The Salmon Light Protein Box is ₩11,900 and comes with a 100g salmon steak. I ordered it because it has a good balance of protein, carbs and fat, and it's light but still filling.
- Calories: 195kcal
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Protein: 25g
- Fat: 6g
A golden-brown salmon steak! It's rich in protein and low in fat, so it's perfect as a diet meal.
The salmon was moist and tender with no fishy taste. The flesh was packed solid all the way through, so it felt fresh.
It's loaded with lettuce, broccoli, green beans, chickpeas and more, so mixing and matching different bites was fun too.
The fresh vegetables and the nutty richness of the salmon went together so well, and it was really delicious. True to a light protein box, it isn't overdone, and the clean finish is its charm.
Is the green tea macadamia protein cookie dry?
The green tea macadamia protein cookie is ₩3,500 and has 7g of protein, so it's good for topping up your protein. I wanted dessert after the meal, so I ordered it.
It's made with 100% whole wheat and erythritol, so it's said to go easy on sugar and calories. It didn't have that dryness protein cookies usually have, which I liked.
Salad and iced Americano combo
Why Starve Gongdeok sells iced Americano for ₩2,400, so you can have one with your salad. Lots of you like the combo of salad and a cold Americano, right?! It's an easy price, and the nutty beans give it a taste anyone can enjoy, with no love-it-or-hate-it divide. It was also fantastic with the protein cookie.
I went to Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch, the Gongdeok salad spot, and charged up on protein with the Salmon Light Protein Box. Good taste, good nutrition and a pleasant atmosphere, all in one place! I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a healthy, clean meal.
Where it is
B131, B1, Lotte Castle President, 109 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 마포구 마포대로 109 롯데캐슬프레지던트 지하1층 B131호
Whystarve Diet Gongdeok: hours, menu and prices →
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