Dinner course with mom near Naebang Station: Bistro Chai Plus

With that cool September breeze rolling in, I wanted somewhere special for a cozy date with my mom. I'd had my eye on Bistro Chai Plus near Naebang Station for a while — the reviews from people who'd visited were just too good to ignore.

They describe themselves as a "contemporary crossover kitchen" that blends the clean lines of modern Korean food, the variety of Chinese cuisine, and the delicacy of Western cooking, all built around seasonal ingredients. I was already excited before I even walked in, and honestly the meal delivered even more than I expected. 🌿

How far is it from Naebang Station? Location and parking

📍 Bistro Chai Plus Address: 51 Seocho-daero 27-gil, 2nd floor, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea Hours: Daily 11:30–22:00 Break time: 14:00–17:30 Last order: 20:00

Bistro Chai Plus in Bangbae-dong is an easy six-minute walk from Naebang Station Exit 7 (Line 7), so it's very accessible by public transit. If you're driving, there's free parking for up to 16 cars in the building, plus valet service. ⭕

All private rooms — the interior atmosphere

The Bistro Chai Plus dining room is on the second floor of the building. Walk in through the wine shop entrance on the ground floor and you'll see the stairs right in front of you.

The moment we got upstairs, staff checked our reservation and led us straight to our pre-assigned private room with no waiting.

• 💚 Standard room: 2–5 people
• 💛 Group room: 6–18 people

The real charm of this place is that every single seat is a private room. We were shown into a room set up for four, and the spacious layout, upscale feel, and warm, dim lighting made it instantly cozy.

Seeing the neatly arranged tableware and getting such a friendly walk-through of the menu, I felt like bringing my parents here was absolutely the right call.

It's formal enough a space that it would work just as well for a family gathering like a wedding meeting between families, or even a business meeting. 🥂

What's in the DINNER 120 course, and the price

🍽️ DINNER 120 course lineup

• Amuse-bouche
• Seasonal soup
• Ricotta salad
• Grilled scallop with asparagus
• Pasta
• Herb chicken
• Lamb chops
• Dessert

We ordered the DINNER 120 course (₩120,000 per person), balanced around autumn seasonal ingredients. They mentioned the exact lineup can shift depending on what ingredients are available.

1. Amuse-bouche

The course kicked off with tiny, one-bite appetizers.

There were two bites: a soft uni (sea urchin roe) mousse topped with rich caviar, and a bruschetta with a bright, fruity topping — both woke up my appetite right from the start.

2. Chef's recommended seasonal soup

A cauliflower-based soup, smooth yet deeply savory — amazing. I gasped at the first spoonful and scraped the bowl clean by the end. You could really taste the skill behind it — the mark of a solid Western restaurant.

3. Ricotta salad

Moist homemade ricotta cheese piled high with fresh apple and crunchy caramelized nuts made for a fun mix of textures.

A subtle cinnamon dressing tied it all together with a refreshing finish.

4. Grilled scallop with asparagus

Well-charred asparagus paired with a chewy scallop and a sherry vinegar dressing — an elegant, elevated flavor.

5. Ragu pasta (casarecce)

A carefully simmered ragu sauce soaked well into the casarecce pasta — you could really taste the restaurant's Western-cooking chops here.

The deep meaty aroma balanced nicely with the acidity of the cherry tomatoes — good enough that I wanted to order it again as a standalone dish.

6. Herb chicken

Chewy-crispy fried chicken paired with a tangy, spicy house dressing really perked up the palate.

Thin slices of cucumber and Korean melon came alongside it, and the subtle melon aroma spreading through each bite left a strong impression.

Before the mains came out, they served a cold sorbet to cleanse the palate — a nice touch that made the next course taste even better.

7-1. Lamb chops

The French rack, given depth with French Isigny butter as its base, is served on a hot stone plate.

Being able to cook it to my own preferred doneness right at the table, still warm, was really satisfying. I still remember the juicy meat bursting in my mouth with no gamey taste at all.

7-2. Grilled sablefish

My mom, who prefers fish, went with the grilled sablefish. It was marinated with a special sauce made from three kinds of doenjang (fermented soybean paste), served with peas and capers.

The skin was crisp and the flesh melted moist and tender — she gasped in approval with her very first bite.

8. Dessert

We wrapped up with a sweet, smooth homemade patbingsu (shaved ice with red beans). 🍨 The whole course had such a satisfying arc from start to finish — I felt pleasantly full right up to the last bite.

How much is wine corkage? A few things to check before you go

The large wine shop on the ground floor, Tenuta, stocks around 1,000 different wines. Buy a bottle there and you can enjoy a lovely pairing for just ₩10,000 corkage. (Corkage for outside alcohol is ₩40,000.)

📢 One note before you visit: the restaurant is closed for two days during this Chuseok holiday, September 24 (Thu) and 25 (Fri), so be sure to check that when planning your visit!

Final thoughts

Being able to relax in our own private room and take our time over an autumn-inspired course made for a genuinely happy meal. Between the polished service and the high quality of the food, Bistro Chai Plus near Naebang Station is a place I'd love to come back to for our next anniversary or celebration.

If you're planning something important with someone you care about, this place is well worth checking out! 😊