Gildong izakaya date with Toowoomba rice cakes: Gamdong Dining

My boyfriend's place is near Gildong Station, and there was one spot I kept passing by. Every time, it looked so nice that I thought I had to try it someday. That place is Gildong Gamdong Dining (길동 감동다이닝). Even from the outside it felt quiet and moody, perfect for a casual weekday drink. So last Wednesday around 9 PM, my boyfriend and I finally went to check out Gamdong Dining in Gildong, Gangdong.

Where is Gildong Gamdong Dining, and what are the hours and parking?

Gamdong Dining is at 13 Cheonjung-ro 53-gil, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, 1st floor, about 675 m from Exit 4 of Gubeundari Station. Hours are 11:00-24:00 on weekdays and 11:00-1:00 AM the next day on weekends, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00 (last order 14:30 and 23:30).

It's easy enough to reach from Gildong Station too, so I think it suits people who live nearby or anyone in Gangdong looking for a quiet bar. Parking is available, so anyone coming by car can take note.

What is the atmosphere inside Gamdong Dining, and is it good for dates?

The inside is quiet and moody. At the entrance there was a simple notice and a menu board!

The space is a moderate size, with both bar counter seats and tables! The counter looked great for two people sitting side by side with a drink, and the tables are comfy for a relaxed drinking session. The lighting, interior and music all go well together, and the vibe was just wow! haha

Personally, I think food matters at a bar, but atmosphere matters even more! For a date especially, I prefer somewhere reasonably quiet and comfortable over somewhere too bright or chaotic, and Gamdong Dining is exactly that. If you're looking for a good date spot among Gildong bars, I think you'll be quite happy here. We were very satisfied too!

Gamdong Dining menu and prices: how much did two people spend?

What the two of us ordered at Gamdong Dining came to ₩59,500 in total. With pasta, rice cakes, grilled dishes and sides, it works as a first-round meal and is just as good for a second-round drink! The menu is so varied that choosing was half the fun at this Gildong izakaya.

• Chicken basil cream pasta ₩18,000
• Gamdong Tuumba seafood rice cakes ₩12,000
• Salt-grilled chicken ₩15,000
• Potato salad ₩5,000
• Apricot Saero ₩6,000
• Zero cola ₩3,500
• Total for two ₩59,500

An appetizer that got our appetites going

An appetizer came out first, a dish with mascarpone, tofu and tomato, and the combination was better than I expected. Fresh tomato and slightly rich mascarpone went well together, and the soft tofu was a nice way to open up the appetite!

It was a light bite before the main dishes. And it didn't feel like a throwaway basic side, but like something made with care!

Not your ordinary potato salad (₩5,000)

Next up was the potato salad (gamja sarada)! Honestly, I first pictured the plain potato salad I usually know, but once I tried it, the texture was amazing. It wasn't just soft potato salad; it felt like there was something chewy mixed in, crab maybe?

The bite made it feel much more upscale. It was light yet savory, so it was easy to eat as a drinking snack. Even as a side dish, the quality was great!

Chicken basil cream pasta with tender thigh meat (₩18,000)

The chicken basil cream pasta at Gamdong Dining is a basil cream pasta with grilled Korean chicken thigh. Maybe because it's thigh meat, the chicken in the pasta is really tender! Moist, flavorful chicken that went well with the cream pasta.

The basil cream wasn't overly heavy either; it was nutty and fragrant, and so good, T_T Ordering pasta at a bar can sometimes be hit or miss, but this chicken basil cream pasta was perfectly fine as a proper meal. So I came away thinking Gamdong Dining isn't just a place for drinking, but a Gildong spot where you can eat a real meal too.

My pick.. Gamdong Tuumba seafood rice cakes! (₩12,000)

My pick? The Gamdong Tuumba seafood rice cakes haha As the name says, it's seafood tteokbokki (spicy-style rice cakes), but with cream added, so it has a slightly rosé feel. Think of it as Gamdong Dining's own take on tteokbokki with seafood and cream, and it's really good!

It had seafood like mussels and shrimp, and the seafood was fresh and tasty. I don't usually love seafood that much, but I really enjoyed this one.

It isn't spicy, and it's creamy while still having that savory depth tteokbokki is known for, so it also paired well with drinks.

Gildong's Gamdong Dining really is a charming Gildong izakaya, with its quiet atmosphere and varied menu!

Salt-grilled chicken that went great with drinks (₩15,000)

The next dish was the salt-grilled chicken! It came with cilantro, and I normally can't eat cilantro, lol. But strangely, in this dish the cilantro scent didn't bother me and actually felt good.

The salt-grilled chicken itself was light yet upscale in flavor, and especially good with alcohol. It's a great dish to eat with a glass of soju. The seasoning isn't excessive, so it's clean without being bland, which I loved! As a drinking snack, I think this salt-grilled chicken was the best match.

A weekday evening drink with apricot Saero

For drinks, I ordered apricot Saero (₩6,000), a flavored soju. Saero comes in several flavors these days, and the apricot one is refreshing and easy to sip. I felt we ordered a pretty good combination of dishes, and I was happy the whole meal.

Is Gildong Gamdong Dining worth going back to?

We cleaned out almost everything we ordered at Gamdong Dining, lol. Honestly, everything I tried there was delicious. From the potato salad to the pasta, tteokbokki and salt-grilled chicken!

The staff were really kind, and the place was clean and tidy, so overall satisfaction was high.

⭐4.8 In one line, Gildong Gamdong Dining is a neighborhood bar that's great for a drink with atmosphere in Gildong!

The food is good, and the quiet, moody atmosphere makes it great for dates. It's close to my boyfriend's place, so we plan to go back soon. Personally, if you're looking for a Gildong izakaya or a Gildong bar, I think you'll be quite happy with Gamdong Dining.