Itaewon fusion Korean restaurant: date dinner with my wife, Modam

Itaewon honestly doesn't have that many great Korean restaurants, but it turns out there's one inside Mondrian Hotel: Modam (모담). Since it's a hotel restaurant, I figured it would be good for a date, and both my wife and I had a really satisfying dinner. I got a good opportunity to visit, so let me introduce Modam Itaewon at Mondrian Hotel!

Does Modam Itaewon have parking?

Modam Itaewon is on the 1st floor of Mondrian Hotel, so you can use the parking lot. A restaurant with parking in Itaewon! I really loved that.

Modam at the Mondrian Hotel: atmosphere, seating and private rooms

Modam Itaewon is split into rooms and a hall, so you can choose: a private room where you can talk quietly, or hall seating where you can sit and eat comfortably without any pressure. Maybe because it's inside Mondrian Hotel, the atmosphere is upscale and calm.

The whole place feels elegant, so it was perfect for a date with my wife.

Modam Itaewon menu: what did we order?

Modam had a good variety of set menus (jeongsik), and there are also special courses like the Sangyeonrye-sang, Modam-sang and Seoksu-ra-sang.

Swipe sideways to see what comes with each set. We ordered these two:

• Deodeok (bellflower root) gui and charcoal tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty) set
• Charcoal-grilled Beopseongpo barley gulbi (dried corvina) set

What starters come with the Modam set menu?

Amberjack ceviche and bean soup

The Modam set started with bean soup and amberjack ceviche to get our appetite going. The bean soup was nutty, and the cherry tomato on top was so refreshing!

The amberjack ceviche with its tangy sauce was a treat when eaten with the vegetables.

Green salad with barley shrimp chips

Before the mains, a barley shrimp salad came out for us to share. The shrimp gave it a lovely nutty flavor.

Seasonal fruit and grilled vegetables with black sesame dressing

The gimbugak (crispy seaweed chips) was super crunchy and nutty. It was drenched in black sesame dressing, and that was really delicious.

Perilla oil makguksu (buckwheat noodles)

Modam's perilla oil makguksu (buckwheat noodles) was nutty yet refreshing, and the bracken fern added a nice chew. They combine ingredients in clever ways, and it never feels strange; it all just works together.

Modam gangjeong (crispy glazed bites)

Modam gangjeong (crispy glazed bites) is made with fried shiitake, and the spicy sauce cut the richness perfectly.

How was the charcoal-grilled Beopseongpo bori gulbi set?

The big bones in Modam's barley gulbi were mostly removed, but watch out for the small bones.

It was chewy and full of savory depth.

You can eat the gulbi on top of rice, or pour green tea over it and have it like ochazuke.

How was the grilled deodeok and charcoal tteokgalbi set?

Modam's charcoal tteokgalbi had really delicious seasoning. Totally recommend it!

It had a smoky charcoal aroma but was moist, with a fine texture that melted in my mouth. We both said the tteokgalbi was the best... haha

The deodeok gui was also mildly seasoned, and we polished it off in no time.

Perilla leaf sorbet dessert and portion size

Dessert for the Modam set was a perilla leaf sorbet, which was just right as a palate cleanser. The portions are big, so you'll be super full. Ugh!

Who should go to Modam Itaewon?

It's hard to find a good Korean restaurant in Itaewon, but Modam is slightly fusion Korean with flavors that any Korean person is bound to like, so I think it's perfect for formal occasions. The ingredients are creative, but they use them harmoniously. They twist things a little, like adding bracken fern to perilla oil noodles or serving shiitake gangjeong with a spicy sauce, and that turns out delicious too, and everything fit together well.

If you're looking for a private-room restaurant in Itaewon, a place to take your parents or elders, or somewhere for a cozy date with your wife or husband, I recommend Modam at Mondrian Hotel in Itaewon!