Hapjeong pasta restaurant in Seoul for jambon pecan rigatoni: Riike

I've been on an Italian food kick lately, chasing down every place that sponsors an Italian meal haha. And Hapjeong has so many great Italian spots ❤️ So today I went to Riike in Hapjeong.

Riike's location and first impression

Riike sits down a quiet alley if you walk straight out from Exit 8 of Hapjeong Station. Even the exterior was cutely decorated with wine glasses.

I visited during dinner time and there weren't many empty seats. If you want to visit, I'd recommend booking ahead!! Most people seemed to be there on dates. The interior is so pretty it seems like a solid spot for a Hapjeong date course.

Hours, parking, and corkage info

• 📍 Location: 267m from Hapjeong Station Exit 8
• ⏰ Hours: Tue-Sun 11:30-22:00 (break time 15:00-17:00), last order 21:00, closed Mondays
• 🚘 Parking: Delight Square 1 (14 World Cup-ro 1-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul) — 210m from Riike
• 🐶 Pets not allowed
• Private booking ⭕ / Free corkage ⭕

Riike's menu: gamtae pasta and jambon pasta

They had a wide variety of dishes — lasagna, pasta, gnocchi, salad, risotto, and more. The pasta selection in particular was huge. Since they had unusual dishes like gamtae (seaweed) pasta and jambon (ham) pasta, I decided to try them.

They said their signature dish is the gamtae vongole! So I ordered it, and I could taste both the flavor of the seafood and the aroma of the gamtae together. The whole-bacon cream gnocchi and the classic lasagna are apparently popular menu items too, so I'll try those next time.

If you make a Naver reservation you also get olive oil ice cream and watermelon sorbet, so I'd recommend booking and having those for dessert 💚

The vibe, the seating, and whether it works for a blind date

You could tell a lot of thought went into the interior. It was decorated cleanly. There were about 7-8 tables, and given how busy it usually gets, I think visiting as a pair works best. But since private bookings are possible, it also seems perfect for group gatherings like invitation parties or friend meetups.

They also have wine and simple beer options ready, so it'd be nice to pair with the pasta. It'd also be fine to come here for a casual second-round drink!! Corkage was free too.

It's an open kitchen, so I got to watch the cooking happen. The kitchen seemed kept clean too. Apparently a single chef personally preps all the ingredients and cooks everything.

The bread cream is genuinely delicious

This was seriously so good... that cream was really, really good. Good enough that I wanted to order extra separately. It's what comes with the bread before the meal, but I don't think you'd regret ordering more of it at all.

Gamtae vongole vs. jambon pecan rigatoni: which was tastier?

I ordered the gamtae vongole pasta and the jambon pecan rigatoni. Both came in huge portions and were seasoned just right.

Isn't that a huge portion of pasta...? The two of us shared and were really full. Personally the jambon pecan rigatoni suited my taste more than the gamtae pasta — if you visit, definitely order it!! It was really, really good. It ranks in the top three pastas I've eaten recently... it was savory-salty and delicious.

Receipt review ade: green grape and grapefruit

Don't forget to claim your free ade with a receipt review!! I drank it just when I started feeling a little full and greasy, and it was refreshing enough to make me want more pasta again. I ordered both green grape and grapefruit, and they were both really, really good.

The atmosphere is so pretty that it's perfect for a date or a blind date in Hapjeong! They also apparently rotate in new seasonal menus, so it's a good spot to keep coming back to 🥰