No-break-time afternoon poke with extra salmon in Seocho: Salering

What is Salering Gyodae Direct Store?

Salering Gyodae Direct Store is a salad and poke brand that combines Hawaiian poke with Korean bibim (mixed rice) culture. You choose a base from brown rice, whole wheat pasta, egg strips, or vegetables, so you can go low-carb or high-protein depending on what you need.

• A brand combining Hawaiian poke with Korean bibim culture
• Base choice of brown rice, whole wheat pasta, egg strips, or vegetables
• Works for anything from low-carb to high-protein eating
• Hours: Mon–Fri 8:15–21:00 / Sat–Sun 10:30–20:00

I've been trying to manage my weight since getting lipo, so I'm cutting down on snacking and eating clean,, needed to eat lunch alone so I went looking for somewhere and found a salad place called "Salering Gyodae Direct Store" that's supposed to be a Gyodae hotspot. They have several branches in Seoul and the reviews were good!

How to reach Salering from Gyodae Station, and where to park

Salering Gyodae Direct Store is close to Exit 1 of Gyodae Station, so it's an easy walk. Come out of Exit 1, go straight, pass the Daiso, and turn right at the first alley.

There are 2 parking spots in front of the store, and it's said to be 1 hour free for diners.

There's no separate break time, so I could visit comfortably during that awkward afternoon window. I need to come around here weekly, and it's rare to find a place for solo lunch that doesn't have a break time,, I'll probably come often.

The Salering menu and ordering at the kiosk

At Salering Gyodae Direct Store you can order easily from the kiosk right in front of you as you walk in. There are several kinds of bibim poke, plus rice bowls and pasta options.

They also sell salad slim-pack lunch boxes separately. Among these, the signature dishes are mentaiko wasabi mayo raw salmon poke, spicy bibim sauce smoked duck poke, rose onion grilled whole chicken thigh rice bowl, gochujang mayo beef brisket rice bowl, basil garlic chicken breast pasta, and more.

I picked the solo poke set that comes with soup and a drink included.

You pick one poke, then choose your base — at Salering you can pick one of four: whole wheat pasta, brown rice and barley, mixed vegetables, or egg strips. I haven't tried the egg strips yet, thinking I might go for that next time. After that you choose your dressing and any extra toppings, then pick your soup and drink, and that's it.

Inside Salering: solo seats and the drink lineup

The inside of Salering Gyodae Direct Store has lots of 2-seat tables, so it was very comfortable for eating alone. Spacious, clean, and the natural light is good too.

True to a salad place, the interior was lush and green with a clean look. For drinks, there's a good lineup — detox cleanse juice, apple cider vinegar drink, sparkling water, Almond Breeze, Teazle zero, and more.

The solo poke soup set with extra raw salmon

What I ordered was real raw salmon bibim poke (+0.4) with a whole wheat pasta 100g base, mentaiko wasabi mayo dressing, extra salmon (+0.4), butter corn soup (+0.16), and Teazle peach earl grey iced tea zero (+0.1).

• Real raw salmon bibim poke (+0.4)
• Whole wheat pasta 100g
• Mentaiko wasabi mayo
• Extra salmon (+0.4)
• Butter corn soup (+0.16)
• Teazle peach earl grey iced tea zero (+0.1)

Because I love salmon, I didn't even look at other menu items — went straight for the raw salmon bibim poke and added extra salmon topping too ^.^

I was worried the salmon at a salad place might come diced up like radish cubes,, the kind of tiny chopped frozen salmon you'd find at a cheap buffet, but it came out as generous, good-quality raw salmon and I was so happy!!

With the soup included too, I ended up genuinely full and satisfied,, I went with the wasabi mentaiko mayo dressing.

I went with the whole wheat pasta base this time, but next time I'll try just brown rice or egg strips instead.

Lots of different vegetables packed in, generous portion, great salmon quality,, a Gyodae restaurant where you can eat well and still keep your diet.

Why K-bibim poke tastes best mixed together

The combo I picked — wasabi mentaiko mayo with raw salmon bibim poke — was great,, unlike other poke places, Salering has a K-bibim poke concept, so rather than just drizzling the special sauce you picked over the top, they say it tastes better if you actually mix it all together. I mixed mine up well and it was delicious..

Fresh, good ingredients used generously so you can eat quick, easy, and healthy — a salad spot in Gyodae I think I'll come back to for lunch often! If you're a dieter looking for a salad place where you can balance carbs and protein while still eating something tasty, I recommend it~