Coex Italian restaurant worth a third visit: steak pizza, Mano di Chef

Why I came back to Mano di Chef Samseong Branch a third time

Mano di Chef Samseong Branch is an Italian restaurant I first found while looking for a nice Western-style place near Samseong Station. And this is actually not my first time. It's already my third visit! I came once for a company dinner, then again with close friends, and since the food was good and the atmosphere was nice, I kept coming back.

If you're looking for a spot near Samseong Station for a team dinner, a get-together or a date, this is a solid choice, so this time I'm introducing it along with the dishes I really ate. It's especially good for groups who want to share a range of Western dishes like pasta, pizza and steak, so I'd recommend it to anyone planning a gathering.

Mano di Chef Samseong Branch hours and parking

Mano di Chef Samseong Branch is at 21 Teheran-ro 87-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in the basement (B1) of Dongseong Building, and 2 hours of parking are covered. Break times and last orders differ a little by day, so check before you go.

• Mon-Fri 11:00 - 21:30 / Break 15:00 - 17:00 / Last order 14:00, 20:30
• Sat 11:00 - 21:30 / Break 15:50 - 17:00 / Last order 14:50, 20:30
• Sun 11:00 - 21:00 / Break 15:50 - 17:00 / Last order 14:50, 20:00
• Parking: 2 hours provided

What do the exterior and entrance look like?

The restaurant is in the building's basement, but the "MANO DI CHEF" sign catches your eye easily from outside.

Mano di Chef is an Italian restaurant near Samseong Station and Coex, and the first thing you notice at the door is the Blue Ribbon sticker. It has been chosen for the Blue Ribbon seven years in a row, from 2020 to 2026, so you can feel right at the entrance that it has been steadily recognized for a long time. You can also see its Seoul restaurant hygiene grade AAA certification, which made me trust it even more!

The entrance is done in brick and dark wood tones, giving it a classic yet upscale feel. It suits company dinners and gatherings, and since I've been here many times for exactly that, it's a very familiar Western restaurant near Samseong Station for me. If you're looking for a Blue Ribbon restaurant near Samseong Station, an Italian restaurant near Samseong Station, or a Coex restaurant, it's worth a look.

There are even autographs from celebrities on display, which was fun to look at.

Near the entrance there's also a wine cellar stocked with many kinds of wine. The mood is great for enjoying wine with Western dishes, so it should suit anyone looking for a wine spot near Samseong Station or a nice place for a meal.

The hall and private room: good for team dinners and gatherings?

Once you step inside, the restaurant is bigger than you'd expect, and there's a private room that seats a group. The hall has generous spacing between tables, and the wood tables with brick interiors make it feel warm and classic overall.

I liked that each area has a slightly different mood, from a bright, clean hall to calmer, cozier corners. Another plus of Mano di Chef is the private room! As in the photo, there's a spacious room for many people, so it works well for company dinners, family gatherings, friend get-togethers, or wedding invitation meetups.

Mano di Chef Samseong Branch menu

The menu covers everything from pasta to pizza, gnocchi, risotto, salads and steak.

What I ordered on my third visit

• Vongole aglio e olio pasta (₩27,900)
• Steak pizza (₩36,900)

This time I ordered the vongole aglio e olio pasta and the steak pizza. I've tried a variety of dishes here, but I seem to always order the steak pizza! It's the best pizza I've had, honestly ><

How does the vongole aglio e olio pasta taste?

The vongole aglio e olio pasta (₩27,900) at Mano di Chef is an oil-based pasta where the clams' fresh, savory depth blends with garlic and olive oil flavor. It looked appetizing from the start, and one bite and I thought it was so good haha

Oil pastas can get greasy, but this wasn't greasy at all, and a subtle spicy kick made me keep reaching for more!

The steak pizza I order every time

One of the dishes you really should try at Mano di Chef is the steak pizza (₩36,900). It's often mentioned as Mano di Chef's signature dish, and I recommend it too.

First, the steak is piled on generously, so I was happy with the look alone ><. The meat wasn't tough but tender and tastier the more I chewed, and the combination with the sauce, fresh vegetables and cheese was really good. Unlike typical pizza, the dough is thin, so it wasn't heavy, and I could taste the steak and vegetable toppings better. If you love meat, I think you'll be very satisfied!

I also liked that fresh, tangy pickles come out by default.

Mano di Chef 20th anniversary voucher event

When I visited, Mano di Chef was also running a 20th anniversary voucher event. Buy a ₩100,000 Italian voucher or a ₩200,000 Hanwoo (Korean beef) steak voucher and you get a 5-coupon pack worth ₩59,900.

It looked like a decent meal voucher for birthdays, anniversaries or a thank-you gift. If you plan to eat at Mano di Chef, this event is worth a look.

Overall impressions of Mano di Chef Samseong Branch

Mano di Chef Samseong Branch is a Western restaurant near Samseong Station that I liked enough to visit three times. This time I had the vongole aglio e olio pasta and the steak pizza, and the pasta in particular was really good, with plenty of clams and great savory flavor. The steak pizza also had a nice mix of tender meat, sauce and vegetables, and the thin dough made it easy to eat without feeling heavy.

Above all, the hall is large, the mood is good, and there's even a private room, so it works for everything from dates to family gatherings to company dinners. If you're looking for a nice Western restaurant or team dinner spot near Samseong Station, I'd recommend it, as both the food and the space satisfied me. If I have another gathering near Samseong Station, I'll probably come back haha