Gangneung burger spot where dogs get a Hawaiian pin: Moana Burger

An honest review of my visit with my dog to Moana Burger, a burger restaurant in Chodang-dong, Gangneung.

Moana Burger Gangneung: hours and visitor info

Moana Burger is open daily from 11:00 to 21:00 and closed every Tuesday. Last order is at 20:30. Groups, delivery, takeout, Wi-Fi, reservations, parking and pets are all available.

Moana Burger in Chodang-dong is a hip burger place that's popular with people who want something other than soft tofu (sundubu) on their Gangneung trip. Personally, it's the best burger I've had in Gangneung and the vibe is great too, so if you visit Gangneung, I really recommend stopping by!!

The address is 228-33 Nanseolheon-ro, Gangneung, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea. For anyone who doesn't know where it is, I've attached a map.

Is parking easy at Moana Burger?

There's dedicated parking in front of the restaurant. If you come by car, you can park without any stress, which I think is a real plus~ 💛

Moana Burger menu and prices: are fries included?

At Moana Burger, freshly fried fries come with the burger at the single-burger price. Burger-plus-fries starts at ₩14,000. Here's the menu.

There's the Moana Burger, the Hawaiian Burger, the Moana Double Burger, plus sauces, sides, wings, drinks and beer, so you can order whatever suits you~ What I loved most is that crispy, freshly fried fries come with the burger at the single-burger price, so both the value and the combo feel solid~ These days a burger at a handmade burger place is often ₩15,000, but here a burger-and-fries set starts at ₩14,000, so I thought the value was great.. The owner is so generous 👍

Draft beer is ₩2,000 off with a burger

Moana Burger takes beer as seriously as burgers. I saw the draft beer quality-control master mark at the entrance, and as a beer lover I could tell the owner cares about the beer as much as the burgers, which made me like the place even more 💛

I wasn't feeling well on this trip and was on medicine, so sadly I couldn't have a beer. But there's a draft beer discount with a burger order and the place is certified for draft beer quality, so if you like beer, enjoy it with fresh fries and a burger 🍟🍺 I'm told draft beer is always ₩2,000 off when you order a burger!!

Inside Moana Burger: the atmosphere

The inside of Moana Burger is a trendy space with metal tables, checkerboard tile and unique lighting. The stylish interior catches your eye the moment you walk in. It was really great for taking photos too 💛

Can you bring your dog inside Moana Burger in Gangneung?

Yes, dogs are allowed indoors at Moana Burger, and a calm, adorable dog named Yeoreum lives at the restaurant. For us, visiting with our pup, it was honestly like heaven 💚 If you're planning a Gangneung trip, or you live in Gangneung and need an indoor dog-friendly restaurant, I absolutely recommend Moana Burger!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Yeoreum, the Moana Burger mascot who greeted us so sweetly, even the wait for the burgers was pure healing 🐕💕

How to order at Moana Burger and the self-serve corner

You order directly from the owner at the counter, and when your burger is ready the owner will let you know, so just go to the counter to pick it up~ Please return your tray to the counter too!!

The kitchen equipment and cooking area you can see past the open kitchen were seriously spotless! ✨ Near the hall counter there's ketchup, hot sauce, cutlery (forks and knives), napkins, straws and more, so it was really convenient to grab whatever I needed during the meal :)

What we ordered at Moana Burger

• Moana Burger ₩14,000
• Hawaiian Burger ₩15,000
• Zero Cola, 2 for ₩5,000

When the burgers come out, Moana Burger brings wet wipes and disposable plastic gloves for each person (2 each), and I was totally touched by that thoughtfulness! When you eat a thick handmade burger, sauce and patty juices often drip onto your hands and it's awkward 😭 With gloves on, I could hold it and eat happily without worrying about my hands, which was so comfortable 👍 Props to the owner's good sense!

Hawaiian Burger ₩15,000: sweet, salty and rich with grilled pineapple

Moana Burger's Hawaiian Burger combines golden grilled pineapple, bacon and a 100% beef patty with teriyaki sauce and mellow ranch sauce. That sweet-salty-nutty flavor is excellent 🍔

The moment I took a bite, sweet juice burst out of the golden grilled pineapple and it blended with the juicy beef patty and the savory bacon, and I honestly gasped! The sweet teriyaki sauce and the smooth, nutty ranch go together perfectly, so it's not overpowering and shows off the charm of sweet-salty-nutty at its best. If you like burgers with grilled pineapple, you'll love this one, no hit-or-miss at all 😭👍

Signature Moana Burger ₩14,000: the one to try first

The Moana Burger, the restaurant's signature, comes with romaine, tomato, onion, a beef patty, cheese and Moana special sauce. If it's your first visit, I'd definitely recommend ordering the Moana Burger~ This is a flavor everyone will like, no hit-or-miss 👍

As you'd expect from the burger that carries the restaurant's name, the first bite filled my whole mouth with the deep, smoky char of a juicy 100% beef patty! It felt like the textbook classic burger that everyone likes. I could see why it's the signature ❤

Melted, nutty cheese, salty bacon and crisp, fresh vegetables blend with the Moana special sauce, and the balance was really perfect. It isn't too heavy or greasy; it's clean yet rich with deep meaty flavor, so I never got tired of it and devoured it to the last bite 🤤👍

Thick-cut fries come with every burger

At burger places you often have to add a fries set separately, but at Moana Burger crispy fries come included without adding a set!🍟 They came out fresh and hot, crispy outside and fluffy inside, and really nutty. They're piled generously next to the burger, and I was totally impressed by the value and the generous combo. Fresh fries, what more is there to say, love them~ They were thick-cut too, which made them even tastier 🤤👍

After polishing off the juicy burger and crispy fries, I gulped down a cold Zero Cola with ice floating in it, and the heaviness felt washed right away 😭✨ With the fizzy refreshment, my mouth was totally reset, and it was a perfect, 200% satisfying meal!!

Tips for visiting Moana Burger with your dog

Moana Burger allows dogs indoors, so people visiting with a dog like us can eat without worry~ 🐶 That said, rather than leaving your dog on a chair or the floor, I recommend bringing a bag or a dog stroller!!

The owner also gave us a Hawaiian pin when the burgers came out!! It seemed to be for our Uyu, and when I clipped it on Uyu's head, so cute! Isn't this basically Hawaii~~ Our pup turned into a dog on vacation in Hawaii 💛🥰

Moana Burger in Gangneung: final verdict

My biggest worry on this Gangneung trip was finding an indoor restaurant I could go to with Uyu, and Moana Burger, where we could sit comfortably indoors, was a real blessing!! From the thoughtful disposable gloves and wet wipes to the high-quality handmade burgers, the crispy fresh fries and the cold Zero Cola to finish, thoughtfulness shows everywhere in this place. It's close to Gyeongpo Beach, Gangmun Beach and Chodang Sundubu Village, so I strongly recommend adding it to your Gangneung route! ✨