Gangnam pasta restaurant for rose pasta and katsu sando: Eulji Darak

While looking for a place to meet in Gangnam, I ended up at Eulji Darak Gangnam Station (을지다락 강남역), which I had heard about several times as a spot with a lovely atmosphere and solid food. There are so many restaurants in Gangnam that choosing one can be difficult, but Eulji Darak's neat menu photos and consistently good reviews naturally made me want to give it a try. Omurice and pasta are especially well known here, so I visited out of curiosity.

Eulji Darak Gangnam Station location and interior atmosphere

Eulji Darak, a pasta restaurant near Gangnam Station, is on the second floor of the building. A white sign on the first floor points the way to Eulji Darak, so it was easy to find.

Eulji Darak is prettily decorated with charming little details, making it just right for a date or a blind date. There were quite a lot of couples there, too.

Eulji Darak's menu and what I ordered

As you'd expect from a pasta spot near Gangnam Station, Eulji Darak had many kinds of pasta. It also has its own signature dishes, so I recommend trying a variety!

What I ordered

• Darak Omurice
• Darak Rose Pasta
• Katsu Sando

How was the Darak rose pasta?

The Darak rose pasta had that rich, nutty character distinctive to rose sauce. The sauce had just the right thickness to coat the noodles well; it starts out smooth, then a gentle tomato tang comes through and cuts the richness.

It has the weight of cream without feeling heavy, and the slight spiciness leaves a clean finish. The noodles were not overcooked and still had a nice springiness, so they balanced well with the sauce. Anyone who likes rose pasta should be reliably pleased with it.

When I mixed the cream on top with the red sauce, it turned into the familiar color of rose sauce. It had the extra spiciness Koreans love, so I could keep eating it without getting tired of it.

It was also generously filled with minced meat, making it a great dish for getting some protein in.

Darak omurice topped with moist egg

The Darak omurice catches your eye from the start. A softly piled egg layer covers it, and when cut through the middle, it flows out moistly. Once I cut the omurice in half like this, the soft egg spread over it like a blanket.

The egg was savory with a creamy texture and no eggy smell. The fried rice inside was not heavily seasoned, so the flavor comes together best when you eat it with the egg and sauce.

The sauce naturally blended sweetness and savory depth; it was neither overpowering nor bland. Overall, this is a dish centered on softness, so it was easy to eat without feeling too much.

A filling katsu sando

The katsu sando (breaded pork cutlet sandwich) was more filling than I expected. The sliced bread was lightly crisp outside and moist inside, pairing nicely with the meat, while the tonkatsu was thick but not tough, with a satisfying bite.

The breading was not overly thick, so it felt less greasy, and the meat retained enough juices not to be dry. Its sweet-and-salty sauce cuts through the richness of the meat. I loved how the bread, meat, and sauce came together in one bite.

It also came with a tangy white sauce to cut through the meat's richness. Adding that sauce on top made it even more enjoyable.

For an atmospheric meal near Gangnam Station

Eulji Darak felt like more than just a place with a nice atmosphere; it also seemed to put considerable care into the quality of its food. The flavors were not overpowering but got the basics right, and the plating was neat, too, making it nice for photos. I thought it was a good place to visit when I wanted to sit comfortably and have an atmospheric meal in Gangnam. It is definitely a Gangnam Station restaurant I would be happy to revisit.