Gangneung burger spot near Toetmaru café, no lunch wait: Moana Burger

Trying to figure out what to eat first on a trip to Gangneung, I ended up here because a friend recommended a burger place they'd tried on a previous trip. I already love a good handmade burger, so I was curious what kind of burger I'd find in Gangneung. Let me introduce Moana Burger in detail!

Where is Moana Burger, and is there parking near Toetmaru café?

Moana Burger is a handmade burger restaurant at 228-33 Nanseolheon-ro, Gangneung, right near Toetmaru, one of Gangneung's most famous cafés. We visited on a weekday lunch and luckily got in right away with no wait. It's also a great pairing with Toetmaru if you're building out a Gangneung itinerary.

If you're driving, there's a parking lot right in front of the restaurant. There were spots open when we visited, so we parked easily and walked right in. If the lot happens to be full, it looks like some people park along the nearby roadside, so keep that in mind if you're driving.

Inside Moana Burger: seating and the standing counter

Walking into Moana Burger, the space felt more spacious than I expected. It's not too big and not too small — a comfortable size that works both for a date and for eating solo without feeling awkward.

There's also a standing area on one side, which looked like a nice spot for a quick beer.

When we visited, there were also groups of 5-6 people, likely families, and the table spacing wasn't cramped at all, so it seemed fine for larger groups too. Overall the vibe was stylish yet warm, with the kind of hotspot feel you see a lot in Gangneung these days.

Just a note — there's a resident dog at the restaurant. It was very calm and didn't bother us at all, but it's worth knowing in advance that this is a place with a dog on-site.

Moana Burger menu and prices, with fries included

The burger menu at Moana Burger in Gangneung consists of exactly three options: the Moana Burger, the Hawaiian Burger, and the Moana Double Burger. Sides include buffalo wings, chili bean wedge fries, and regular fries, with everything from soft drinks to draft beer available too.

At first glance the burger prices seemed a bit high, but it turns out fries are included in the burger price, so we liked not having to order a side separately.

There's also an event running where you get ₩2,000 off a draft beer when you order a burger, so keep that in mind if you want to pair your meal with beer.

What we ordered at Moana Burger

• Moana Burger ₩13,000
• Hawaiian Burger ₩14,000
• Zero Coke ₩2,500

To really set the travel mood, we each got a flower-shaped hairpin as a gift. It's yours to keep, so it's great for taking travel photos — I'm planning to use mine for that too.

They also give you gloves and wet wipes. A staff member explained that it tastes better if you put on the gloves, press the bun down a bit, and take a big bite. Since handmade burgers are so packed with ingredients, pressing it down like that really does make it easier to eat.

The fries at Moana Burger

We started with the fries, and since they're clearly fried fresh to order, they came out piping hot, which was great. They had just the right amount of salt, so they were good even without ketchup. Getting even the fries hot made them a great match with the burgers.

How the Moana Burger tasted

The Moana Burger has romaine, red onion, tomato, cheese, and Moana's special sauce. Overall the combination of ingredients felt familiar yet clean — close to a classic handmade burger that anyone could enjoy without hesitation.

The patty was on the softer side, giving it a nice texture with each bite, and the bun and ingredients came together naturally. I think even people trying a handmade burger for the first time would find this an easy one to like.

How the Hawaiian Burger tasted

The Hawaiian Burger has pineapple and bacon in it. The combination of sweet pineapple and salty bacon worked surprisingly well together. Those two ingredients gave it a flavor quite different from the basic burger, which I liked. We enjoyed both burgers, so which one to pick really comes down to personal taste.

Verdict: Moana Burger as the first meal of a Gangneung trip

Moana Burger, our first meal on this Gangneung trip, was satisfying from the burgers to the fries. The restaurant is fairly spacious with a stylish atmosphere, so on top of a good meal, it really gave off that travel feeling too.

Being close to Toetmaru, one of Gangneung's signature cafés, is also a plus when planning your Gangneung itinerary. If you love handmade burgers, this is a place worth stopping by in Gangneung at least once. If you're looking for a good-vibe handmade burger spot in Gangneung, I recommend Moana Burger!