Sejong Italian restaurant: red shrimp rosé panne & margherita, Olibus

What is Olibus in Eojin-dong, Sejong?

Olibus Italian Restaurant Eojin-dong Flagship is a pasta and pizza spot hidden right behind the Courtyard by Marriott hotel, near the Sejong Government Complex. I made a weekend trip to Sejong after a long while, and having heard so much buzz from other bloggers, I went to see for myself. I understood the praise right away. Let me tell you about my pasta-and-pizza healing day.

Where to park for Olibus Eojin-dong

Park in the SBC Center underground car park, on the Building B side, which is convenient. Parking credit covers 1 hour 40 minutes.

Olibus atmosphere and reservations

Inside, Olibus is a casual restaurant of a comfortable size.

Customers start coming in the moment it opens. It gets busy, so I strongly recommend reserving. I booked ahead, and the table was neatly set when we arrived.

How does the carbonara at Olibus taste?

The carbonara had a deep, rich flavor, on a completely different level from the usual store-bought cream sauce.

Salty, savory bacon plus plenty of smooth, nutty cream sauce made it really delicious. The noodles were cooked just right, so the sauce didn't slide off but soaked into each strand. Thick yet creamy, you could really feel it in your mouth, and it was great for eating with my child.

Olibus ragu fettuccine

The ragu fettuccine uses wide, flat fettuccine noodles to get the most out of the sauce.

Another winner!

The ragu is packed with minced meat, so it was great to chew, and the savory depth is amazing! The tomato flavor runs deep too, so I dunked the bread pieces from the panne pasta into the ragu and cleaned it all up. I was mopping up the sauce like I was doing the dishes, which is a little embarrassing ^^; but that's how good it was.

Olibus signature red shrimp rosé panne pasta

The rosé shrimp panne pasta (pasta served in a hollowed-out bread bowl) is Olibus's signature dish, and I had to order it for the big shrimp. Look at that presentation! ^^

It comes with 2 giant shrimp, which put me in a good mood before I even took a bite.

I set the shrimp aside and took a closer photo of the pasta.

Wow. Inside the bread bowl there are more mushrooms, shrimp and tomato, topped with arugula and cheese.

I put on the disposable gloves they served, peeled the giant shrimp and dunked it right into the sauce. The springy shrimp was excellent. The rosé sauce isn't overpowering, so it was good with the crispy bread too, and it soaked well into the noodles. Overall, Olibus Eojin gives generous sauce on everything, and I was totally satisfied.

Pickles come if you ask, and they're homemade, so they were fresh and nice.

Is the margherita pizza at Olibus good?

The margherita pizza is one of Olibus's signature dishes. Even the tomato sauce is made in house, and it's loaded with nutty cheese. See how generous the cheese is?

I was torn between this and the arugula potato pizza, but I'm glad I chose the margherita. If you want a margherita pizza in Sejong, it's right here, haha.

Verdict: Italian food near the Government Complex Sejong and Marriott

If you're looking for a good Italian restaurant near the Sejong Government Complex or the Courtyard by Marriott hotel, I recommend visiting Olibus, a hot pasta spot in Sejong.

• Hours: 11:00–20:30
• Address: 232 Gareum-ro, SBC Center Building B, Unit 113, Sejong, South Korea