Apgujeong Rodeo Korean restaurant with valet: eel pot rice at THE GIWA

📍 THE GIWA Apgujeong Main Branch (더기와 압구정본점) / 15 Seolleung-ro 155-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

I wanted a hearty Korean meal in Apgujeong Rodeo, so I visited THE GIWA Apgujeong Main Branch. If you're looking for a good Korean restaurant in Seoul around here, here's my honest review.

Location and parking at THE GIWA Apgujeong Main Branch

THE GIWA is an easy 5-minute walk from Apgujeong Rodeo Station, so it's very accessible. The exterior gives a modern take on a hanok (traditional Korean house) feel, which I liked, and the entrance displays signature dishes with photos of the real food, so you can see what they serve before going in.

I went on a Monday at the 11:30 a.m. opening and got in right away, with no wait.

If you come by car, you can park easily at the valet booth next to the restaurant, and diners get valet parking covered for up to 2 hours.

Interior and seating

Inside, wood-toned interiors and soft lighting create a calm yet upscale mood. There are window seats, regular tables and bench seats, so it works for solo meals as well as dates and family dinners. There are also private rooms at the back, which looked great for company dinners or gatherings.

THE GIWA menu

THE GIWA serves a range of hot pot rice (solbap, rice cooked in an individual stone pot) dishes, including eel, abalone and 1++ Korean beef yukhoe. There are also other Korean dishes such as bossam (boiled pork wraps), kimchi hot pot, yukhoe and glutinous rice seaweed chips (gimbugak), so it suits lunch, dinner or a drinking session.

Eel hot pot rice set: thick eel with no fishy smell

• Eel hot pot rice set
• 1++ Korean beef yukhoe hot pot rice

The eel hot pot rice set came as a full table of eel, hot pot rice and many side dishes. The eel was quite thick and had almost no fishy smell, so I think even people who don't usually eat eel would find it easy to enjoy.

The sweet sauce soaked nicely into the eel, and the lightly grilled outside had a satisfying texture. Eaten with the hot pot rice, the eel's flavor really came alive, and it was a fully satisfying meal.

The pork kimchi stew served alongside went well with the eel hot pot rice thanks to its spicy broth. There wasn't much pork, but the broth was so good that it was nice to sip between bites.

How big is the 1++ Korean beef yukhoe hot pot rice?

The Korean beef yukhoe hot pot rice came generously loaded with fresh yukhoe and plenty of vegetables.

I broke the egg yolk and mixed everything with the seasoning, and the soft yukhoe and crunchy vegetables went together beautifully. What I liked most was the portion. It was more generous than I expected, and that one bowl alone was enough to leave me full, and I enjoyed it to the very end. It has a different charm from the eel hot pot rice.

Side dishes

The side dishes included kimchi, jangjorim (soy-braised beef) with quail eggs, jeon (pan-fried battered dishes) and pickled perilla leaves. Overall the seasoning wasn't harsh, and they paired well with the main dishes. They were neatly plated, which added to the clean feel of the Korean meal.

Valet parking tips

• If you're coming by car, I recommend using the valet parking.
• Diners get valet parking covered for up to 2 hours.
• However, if you have errands nearby after your meal, be sure to tell the valet staff you dined at the restaurant before you pick up your car. If you leave without telling them, your dining time may not be counted and you might not get the full 2 hours of valet support.
• It's a small tip: just check once before taking your car out and it's hassle-free.

Overall verdict

• If you're looking for a good Korean restaurant in Apgujeong Rodeo, this was a very satisfying place.
• From the thick, odor-free eel hot pot rice set to the generous Korean beef yukhoe hot pot rice, each dish had its own clear appeal.
• With a clean atmosphere, private rooms, friendly service and valet parking, it suits dates, family meals and company dinners alike.
• If you want neat, well-made Korean food in Apgujeong Rodeo, I recommend paying a visit.