High-ceiling Western restaurant by Bangi Station: gambas at Hope So

Today I had a date with a friend, and we found a Western restaurant that hit all my favorite spots! It's Hope So (홉쏘), near Bangi Station. Let me introduce it right away~

What's the Hope So interior like? Floor-to-ceiling windows and high ceilings

Hope So has wide, open floor-to-ceiling windows, so I think it's perfect for a date or a blind date on a nice day~ I love an open view like this, and it felt like visiting a big suburban café right in the middle of the city~

It's getting hot these days, but if you visit around evening it's still cool enough that you can really enjoy it.

Is there a wait at Hope So? A weekday visit at 4:30

Hope So has high ceilings and seating up to the second floor~ I came after my workout at an in-between time, around 4:30, and got in right away with no wait haha. I'd suggest booking ahead through Naver Reservation.

Aren't the wine bottles and knitwear on the stairs so clever? Such a cozy feel... it was 10,000 out of 10 for my taste.. There's also group seating, so I think it would be great for group gatherings or company dinners.

This is how it looks from above! There are lots of seats and the space is roomy, so getting around is really easy~!

Hope So second-floor seating and the special seat

This is the second floor of Hope So~ There's a big tree, haha

There was also a seat that looked like a special seat haha. I almost sat there, then didn't, lol. I gave it up for anyone on a date or a blind date~

The restroom at Hope So is on the first floor, and it was super clean inside! As someone who cares a lot about clean restrooms, I was very satisfied~!

What did we eat at Hope So? Menu and prices

Here's what I ordered at Hope So today!

• Arugula pizza (homemade ricotta cheese) ₩25,000
• Gambas pasta ₩19,000
• Hanmaek (Korean draft beer) ₩5,000
• Chardonnay, glass ₩8,000

The arugula pizza is topped with arugula, homemade ricotta cheese and cherry tomatoes, so it's described as a fresh, filling yet light pizza, and the gambas pasta is described as the best oil pasta, harmonizing plump shrimp, garlic, extra virgin oil and fresh vegetables. Maybe because we'd just worked out, we were craving beer, so we ordered a glass each right away.

Here's the whole spread. Doesn't it look so good? It's evening as I'm writing this, so I'm getting even hungrier...

The complimentary snack at Hope So is, believe it or not, pretzels~ They're salty, so honestly these alone could carry a whole bottle of beer.. Am I the only one who loves those pretzels haha

How were the arugula pizza and gambas pasta?

The look is amazing!!! Especially that arugula pizza, looking at the photo again, the color is so vivid and looks delicious lol

Lately I try to eat vegetables even with a single meal, and with arugula, homemade ricotta cheese and cherry tomatoes on top it felt healthy haha. And yet the pizza dough filled me up nicely.

The gambas pasta had a garlic and extra virgin oil base with plump shrimp that gave it a savory depth, and the various vegetables made it well balanced.

What made Hope So special

1. Pasta of the day, weekdays 4 pm–7 pm

Hope So runs a 'pasta of the day' promotion on weekdays from 4 pm to 7 pm.

It seems to be sold at a lower price than usual. A grand date is nice, but if you just want a pasta meal, visiting during those hours would be good too.

2. A variety of side dishes

Hope So is a Western restaurant, but it has lots of sides that go well with wine, beer and highballs. With such a nice interior (the view and high ceilings), I think the drinks would go down easily haha

This is the Western main dishes menu~ I couldn't attach it above, so I put it here ^^ haha

3. Completed the Stella Artois global draught master certification program

Hope So is said to have completed the Stella Artois global draught master certification program. Doesn't that show their beer expertise? Honestly, I also took the photo because the lion is cute haha

4. Various events

That Stella Artois 3+1 deal is so tempting.. If I weren't watching my diet, there were two of us (me and a friend), so we'd have each had a glass. Two Asahi with a nacho set too.. and the review fries event too.

Is Hope So near Bangi Station worth going back to?

It was a Western restaurant I was really, really satisfied with. If I lived nearby.. I think I'd go every day like a sparrow stopping at the rice mill!! Ahh so yummy~ If you stop by Bangi Station, definitely try Hope So. Highly recommended!!