Tadao Ando-designed Italian restaurant in Magok, Seoul: Romaok Magok

Today I visited Romaok Magok, a well-known spot near Magongnaru Station! I wanted pasta in a beautiful space after a while, so I went to Romaok Magok, also famous as a Seoul Botanic Park restaurant haha.

What the Tadao Ando space at Romaok Magok feels like

Romaok Magok is on the 3rd floor of the LG Art Center Seoul building, directly connected to the subway station, so it was really easy to find.

The moment I stepped into the LG Art Center building, the tall ceilings and exposed concrete arches caught my eye. Since the space was designed by world-renowned architect Ando Tadao, it felt like walking into a giant gallery — the sleek ceiling lighting harmonized with natural light to create a luxurious, sophisticated atmosphere all its own.

True to its Michelin Blue Ribbon status in Magok, the exterior alone stood out, and it looked perfect for a blind date or date course. Stepping inside, the signature round tables and lighting, reinterpreting a European plaza, welcome you. I really liked how the spacious table spacing let us eat comfortably without worrying about other guests.

Romaok Magok's menu and how the table is set

You can check the menu lineup at the entrance and at the table — there are many fusion dishes blending Korean savoriness with Italian cuisine.

We ordered easily via the table tablet, and the basic tableware was set on a clean marble table.

While we waited for our order and looked around, the interior of Romaok Magok really stood out haha.

Soon, golden-baked pre-meal bread was served — crisp outside and chewy inside, the texture was just art. Dipped in fresh, herb-scented olive oil, it whetted our appetite well before the main dishes arrived.

Honest review: abalone geou pasta and truffle Hanwoo ragu

• Abalone geou pasta (rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐)
• Fresh truffle Hanwoo white ragu pasta (rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
• Cola ₩5,000

Honestly, the prices are a bit steep so I hesitated while ordering, but the moment the food arrived and I took a bite, I let out an audible 'oh?!' ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

The abalone geou pasta had a base of green geou (abalone innard) sauce topped with golden-seared abalone, dazzling from the first look. The chewy texture of the abalone paired with the rich innard sauce soaked deep into the noodles for an explosion of umami. (There's clearly a reason it earned that Magok Blue Ribbon...)

The fresh truffle Hanwoo white ragu pasta comes topped with generous fresh truffle slices and cheese.

The truffle aroma spread richly, and the thick ragu sauce clung to the noodles perfectly — genuinely so good. My friend, who'd said 'shouldn't it taste even better if it's this pricey,' nodded after tasting it haha. If you're only thinking value for money it might feel slightly disappointing, but with this level of taste and atmosphere, the price feels fully justified.

Free late-dinner dessert, parking and ordering tips

Since we reserved a late dinner slot, we received today's dessert complimentary. It's an ice cream cake made of meringue, and the look alone was so refreshing and pretty 🎀 The combination of sweetly caramelized nuts with a tangy berry sauce was so, so good.

Before visiting I'd read some posts about service and was a little worried, but when I went, the staff were so kind. (We had already paid and were heading out without realizing there was a post-meal dessert, but a staff member came back out to tell us about the ice cream dessert, apologizing that they should have mentioned it sooner ㅜㅜ) From the basic table setting to the food serving, they took such careful care of us that we enjoyed the whole meal feeling well looked after.

Since it's an LG Art Center restaurant, it's a perfect stop before or after a performance, or after a walk around Seoul Botanic Park. If you're driving, you can register for 2 hours of free parking in the underground lot — just don't forget to register your license plate on the way out!!!

With a special sense of space and atmosphere plus excellent food, this is a Magok restaurant I'd love to return to whenever I want to treat myself.