Yeonnam-dong pasta restaurant for a family meal: Hôtel de Couture

Today, I went to Hôtel de Couture, a Yeonnam-dong restaurant everyone talks about, with my sister and mom. It had just the right atmosphere for a Yeonnam-dong date or a family get-together.

Hôtel de Couture location and hours

It is on the 1.5th floor of unit 101, 7 Donggyo-ro 46-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

It is about a 10-minute walk from Exit 3 of Hongik University Station, so it is easy to pop into when you are looking for restaurants in Hongdae, Seoul. I took a bus from the Yeonnam-dong side and arrived within five minutes of getting off, haha.

It is open daily from 11 AM to 8 PM, with last orders at 7 PM. It stays open straight through with no break time, which was convenient, haha. Parking in front of the restaurant is not available, so I recommend using the nearby Yeonnam-dong Public Parking Lot.

We went at weekday lunch and did not have to wait, but it sounds like there may be a wait on busy weekends or in the evening!! Keep that in mind when you visit, haha.

Because the restaurant has a split-level, 1.5-floor layout, the open view was really lovely!!

Ordering by QR code

We conveniently ordered using the QR code at each table. There is no separate physical menu, and even when you come with companions, each person can add and order menu items from their own phone, so keep that in mind!!

As soon as you sit down, they bring small plates and water. My mom complimented the pretty water bottle, haha.

When you scan the QR code and enter, the menu screen comes up like this. There were three of us, so we ordered three dishes, and I will have to try the drinks or wine next time, haha.

These are the dishes we ordered!! Just press complete order, then wait for the food to come out. It is such a convenient system because you can order without waiting for a staff member, haha.

The three dishes we ordered

• Carrot Duck Aglio e Olio — ₩18,000
• Jambon Truffle Cream Risotto — ₩17,000
• Eggs in Hell — ₩18,000

Oh my... after a short wait, all three dishes arrived on such pretty plates!! That day, I fully understood why this place is known for pasta in Yeonnam-dong.

My mom’s top pick: Carrot Duck Aglio e Olio

This is the bread that comes with the eggs in hell, haha.

The Carrot Duck Aglio e Olio was my mom’s top pick. The duck was cooked incredibly tenderly, and it was delicious.

The finely julienned carrots were stir-fried with the pasta, making the texture fun while keeping that aglio e olio aroma alive. My mom was happy, saying it had been a while since she had eaten such delicious pasta, haha.

My sister’s top pick: Jambon Truffle Cream Risotto

The Jambon Truffle Cream Risotto was my sister’s top pick. It was risotto, but it had a chewy bite that seemed like farro or brown rice, which was interesting.

The truffle aroma was rich and fragrant throughout the meal, and the saltiness of the jambon balanced really well with the cream.

My top pick: Eggs in Hell

Eggs in Hell was my top pick!! I love tomatoes so much normally, and this was absolutely right up my alley.

Putting the sauce and filling on the bread that came with it made the plate disappear in no time. The eggs in hell has eggs, sausage, vegetables, and all sorts of other ingredients inside!!

The pickled radish and jalapeños that came with it also went so well with the food that we got a refill and ate more. When things start to feel a little rich, one bite clears your palate right up, haha.

As you would expect in Yeonnam-dong, I saw lots of international guests too, so it had such a strong local feel.

Hôtel de Couture was perfect for both a Yeonnam-dong date and a family meal!! I am definitely coming back.