Private room lunch meeting at Bobo Sikdang, Apgujeong Chinese

Today I'm bringing a review from a modern Chinese restaurant in Apgujeong Rodeo that I visited for a business meeting.

The Apgujeong and Gangnam-gu Office area has a lot of offices, so there's plenty of business meetings and client dinners happening around here. This time I had an important business lunch, so I booked Bobo Sikdang Apgujeong, a place I'd had my eye on for a while, through a Naver advance reservation.

The moment I walked through the door, I noticed all the certification stickers plastered on it — years of Blue Ribbon Survey stickers and other food-blog badges. Right from the entrance, it gave off real confidence in quality and taste.

Since I'd booked ahead, I was seated right away with no waiting, straight to a prepared table. When you're hosting a guest or having a business meeting, advance reservation is essential, and their system made it all very smooth.

What kind of Chinese restaurant is Bobo Sikdang Apgujeong?

Bobo Sikdang originally built a name for itself in Gwangju, Jeolla-do, before moving up to Apgujeong. It's run by a chef who's a third-generation ethnic Chinese-Korean carrying on a family tradition of Chinese cooking dating back to his grandfather — he even appeared on the cooking show Culinary Class Wars under the nickname "Three Generations of Chinese Cuisine." It's already well known for its stylish, Cantonese-based modern Chinese food!

Stepping inside, the interior was sleek and clean, through and through. Instead of the typical red, bustling atmosphere of a Chinese restaurant, it had mood lighting and modern touches working in harmony — perfect for a business meal, hosting guests, or an upscale lunch gathering.

Room setup for group meetings

Looking further inside, they also have private rooms great for group gatherings. From a stylish circular room to a large room that can hold a big party, they've got it all covered — I'd strongly recommend this place if you're looking for a group dinner or business meeting spot for a sizable party in the Gangnam area.

The combo: dongpo-yuk, XO sauce shrimp fried rice, and cucumber salad

After going back and forth over the menu, I ordered dongpo-yuk and shrimp fried rice as shareable mains, plus cucumber salad to cleanse the palate — all à la carte.

For lunch, they also offer a well-rounded 2-person lunch course that includes a fish dish and several courses, which could be a great, clean option when dining with a business guest. This time I was craving meat over fish, so I went with the à la carte combo, but I definitely want to try the course next time.

First up was the dongpo-yuk I'd been most looking forward to. The meat was so tender and beautifully braised that it looked like it would melt the second chopsticks touched it.

First combo: wrapped in mantou

The first way I tried the dongpo-yuk was to split open one of the warm mantou (flower buns) that came with it, tuck in a tender piece of pork with crunchy scallion and cucumber, and eat it like a sandwich. The rich sweet-and-salty seasoning, the savoriness of the pork, and the crunch of the vegetables all came together with the bun for a mouthful bursting with flavor.

Second combo: over shrimp fried rice

For the second combo, I piled a big piece of the dongpo-yuk over the fluffy, well-fried shrimp fried rice. Since the dongpo-yuk itself is quite salty and strongly seasoned, the milder, savory shrimp fried rice balanced out its intensity perfectly. It was a genuinely great combination of a dish and a staple.

Cucumber salad is a must

And this cucumber salad is a dish you absolutely can't skip when eating Chinese food. It comes in a generous portion, almost like a whole cucumber went into it. It's tangy-sweet with a fragrant sauce that clearly does its job of cutting through the greasiness that can build up while eating dongpo-yuk. If you visit, I'd definitely recommend ordering the cucumber salad alongside your meal.

Signature dishes to try next time

This time I had their signature dongpo-yuk, but browsing Google reviews and visitor reports, Bobo Sikdang is also famous for other unique signature dishes. In particular, the "kkanpung monkfish" — crispy outside, extremely tender inside, tossed in a sweet-and-spicy sauce — and the "butter sweet-and-sour pork," where real butter is melted over hot sweet-and-sour pork for maximum savory richness, along with dishes like "mala eggplant fritters" and "mapo tofu" are said to be hugely popular.

They also have reasonably priced courses, and the dishes overall are designed to be shared among a group, so next time I visit with a bigger party, I'd love to order one of each of these signature dishes.

Overall verdict and summary

• Location and reservation: Convenient access near Apgujeong Rodeo and Gangnam-gu Office stations, with Naver advance booking that makes it ideal for business gatherings
• Atmosphere: The quality of a Blue Ribbon-certified restaurant, with a clean, sleek modern interior and private circular and large rooms
• Taste and combos: Tender dongpo-yuk that shows off the skill of a Culinary Class Wars chef, mild shrimp fried rice that pairs perfectly, and a must-have cucumber salad that cuts the richness
• Recommended for: Anyone looking for a polished lunch gathering or an atmospheric business meeting venue in the Gangnam area

If you're near Apgujeong or Gangnam-gu Office and want to treat someone to formal yet undeniably delicious modern Chinese food, I'd strongly recommend giving Bobo Sikdang a visit!