Chicken thigh bowl and pasta takeout with wine in Seocho, Seoul

I was looking for something healthy but still satisfying to eat near Gyodae Station, so I stopped by Salering Gyodae Direct Store. You'd think poke or salad would be a light meal, but Salering was a bit different — brown rice, whole wheat pasta, fresh vegetables and all kinds of toppings piled generously into one filling bowl.

This time I got it to go and ate it at home with wine, and I only just found out how well poke pairs with wine! On top of that the pasta was delicious too, so honestly it made the perfect drinking snack for a night in.

Salering Gyodae Direct Store: location, hours and what I ordered

• Address: 1F, 15 Seochodae-ro 56-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Location: about 3 minutes on foot from Gyodae Station Exit 1
• Hours: Mon–Fri 08:15–21:00 (last order 20:30)
• Sat–Sun 10:30–20:00 (last order 19:30)
• Closed: Chuseok holiday, September 24–25
• Ordered: Rose onion charcoal-grilled whole chicken thigh bowl ₩11,900 (spice level 1), basil garlic chicken breast pasta ₩11,900

To find Salering Gyodae Direct Store, come out of Gyodae Station Exit 1, walk straight past a Daiso, then turn right at the first alley. Walk a little further into the alley and you'll spot it on your left.

There's dedicated parking in front for dining customers, so if you're driving, it might be worth calling ahead to check!

Bar seats made for a solo lunch near Gyodae Station

Walking in, the space was bigger than I expected, which was a nice surprise. Seocho-dong has a lot of office workers, so plenty of people are looking for a solo lunch spot near Gyodae during lunch hour! There were several bar seats lined up along the window, so eating alone here didn't feel awkward at all.

Further inside there was plenty of room for groups too. I could see why office workers looking for a good salad restaurant near Gyodae keep coming back here for lunch.

How ordering works: pick a base and toppings, and wine is on the menu

Salering's biggest draw is that you build your own bowl to your taste. You can choose the base — brown rice, whole wheat pasta, egg strips, vegetables — and then pick from a wide range of main toppings like raw salmon, grilled chicken, roast duck, or beef brisket. It's not just fish like you'd expect from a poke place; there's meat, seafood and tofu too, so there's something for every preference.

The drink selection was really varied too. But what actually surprised me was that they sell beer and wine!!

I never expected to find wine at a salad or poke place. It makes this a great option for a light drink with dinner in the evening, too. I'd especially recommend this combo to anyone who enjoys drinking solo like me.

Orders were made fresh on the spot as soon as they came in. Takeout orders kept coming and delivery riders were constantly stopping by. It seemed like just as many people were ordering takeout or delivery as eating in.

How the Salering takeout was packed for the trip home

On this visit I packed everything up and carefully carried it home.

When I opened the packaging at home, both dishes looked incredibly generous just from the visuals alone.

Perfect for anyone looking for takeout near Gyodae Station for a picnic by the Han River or a park date — the packaging and even the disposable utensils were all fully prepared!

Rose onion charcoal-grilled whole chicken thigh bowl, 11,900 won, spice level 1

First up is the rose onion charcoal-grilled whole chicken thigh bowl. It sounded delicious just from the name, and the moment I opened the lid, there was a big, hearty piece of charcoal-grilled chicken thigh sitting on top.

The rose sauce comes packed separately. I ordered spice level 1, and the slight kick cut through the richness perfectly — I kept going back for more.

The chicken was tender rather than dry, and really delicious. Being charcoal-grilled gave it a subtle smoky flavor that went really well with the rose onion sauce.

Basil garlic chicken breast pasta, 11,900 won

Next up is the basil garlic chicken breast pasta. A lot of people love basil, right??? Honestly this was the dish I was most looking forward to that day, and it really delivered.

The subtle basil aroma combined with the nutty, sharp punch of garlic made the pasta itself really tasty.

The basil sauce comes packed separately, so I poured it on generously right before eating at home. The thick basil garlic sauce clung nicely to the pasta and paired really well with the lean chicken breast.

They say the chicken breast is steam-cooked, and it definitely came out tender without any dryness. With the basil garlic sauce well-mixed into the noodles, every bite was packed with flavor.

Do Salering's poke bowl and pasta work as wine snacks at home?

Remembering that Salering sells wine, I made a point of pouring myself a glass that day. I'd never really eaten poke with wine before, so I wasn't sure if it would work — but it really, really did! Highly recommend!!

I also had the pasta with wine, and it matched way better than I expected. The basil and garlic flavors came alive alongside the wine, making the pasta taste even better. With both the poke and the basil pasta being this good, Salering Gyodae Direct Store would make a great spot for an evening drink and snack.

Final thoughts on Salering Gyodae Direct Store

Salering Gyodae Direct Store had a great range of options, from light salads to filling poke bowls and pasta, so there's plenty to pick from. It's great to eat in, but even packed up for takeout at home the portions were generous and satisfying. It's a good choice if you're looking for a poke restaurant near Gyodae, or if you want a clean solo lunch option near Gyodae Station.

I went in thinking about the poke, but ended up completely won over by the basil pasta too. And with beer and wine on the menu, it's also a great place for a drink with dinner in the evening. Next time I want to get takeout again and pair it with a glass of wine for a solo night in :) Highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to enjoy everything from salad to poke to pasta near Gyodae!