Cheongdam-dong lunch course in Seoul: Korean beef tartare at Pepite

Whenever I'm looking for a nice-atmosphere restaurant in Gangnam, I naturally end up scanning Cheongdam-dong. I recently went on a Cheongdam-dong date with my dad, for once — to Pepite, well known as a Gangnam date course. I had the lunch set that goes from Korean beef tartare to uni pasta to cod steak, and it was a place where you get to enjoy the space just as much as the food, so I wanted to introduce it to anyone looking for a Gangnam date course.

Cheongdam pasta, Cheongdam-dong restaurant / Visited 2026.09.23

Where Pepite is and what the Dosan-daero dining room feels like

Pepite, this Gangnam date course on Dosan-daero, is a dining restaurant serving a menu that blends Japanese elements with French style. It's in a spot where you can really feel that distinctive Cheongdam-dong atmosphere. Even the exterior gives off a calm, classic feel.

A place with valet parking in busy Gangnam — I went by public transport myself, and it's also accessible from Apgujeongrodeo Station and Cheongdam Station.

With both table seats and a bar table, it's a good space for all kinds of occasions — Gangnam dates, wedding-invitation gatherings, work dinners, and more.

Rather than a bright or casual mood, it's a space where you can enjoy a calm meal, so it was great for talking over the meal.

Soft lighting, a luxurious interior, and even gorgeous flowers — I thought it was the perfect place!

So personally, I thought this is a place worth checking out when looking for a Gangnam date spot or a place to eat on a special day.

A neatly set table — I was already in a good mood before the meal even started.

Set menu, à la carte dishes and the wine list at Pepite

Pepite has both a course-style set menu and an à la carte menu where you can pick whatever you like. Even with the set menu, you can pay extra to change the pasta or main dish.

Besides the food menu, there was also a wine list — red, white, various wines to go well with the meal. If you don't know much about wine like me, it's a good idea to just ask for a recommendation!

Let me introduce the dishes I had, one by one.

What comes in the Pepite lunch set, course by course

Pre-meal bread with chorizo jam

🥖Pre-meal bread — We started with warm bread. It's a light way to wake up your appetite before the main courses, so it was easy to enjoy as the first dish. What was special was that instead of the usual sauce for dipping bread, it was chorizo(?) jam — light yet satisfying, which I liked.

Korean beef tartare with black truffle

🥩Korean beef tartare — The first course was Korean beef tartare. Looking at the name, it was the dish that immediately caught my eye. It's tartare made with Korean beef, served with crispy elements to add texture.

The chef added black truffle on top.

It's fresh and crunchy, and you get to enjoy a variety of flavors. The Korean beef ggurit-sal (chuck flap) mingles with black truffle and pickled mustard seeds for a full, rich flavor. Pairing it with wine is fantastic!

Uni pasta made with a 6-hour chicken stock

🍝Uni pasta — A pasta with a butter sauce made from chicken stock simmered for 6 hours, plus uni (sea urchin) and bottarga. It's a pasta I'd never had before, so I was curious to try it.

The uni's richness takes the lead while the sauce and noodles blend naturally together. If you like uni, you have to try this! It's creamy with a distinctive savory depth.

The main course: cod steak

🐟Cod steak — With a mild fish like this, the difference in flavor depending on the sauce or doneness can be huge, but the cod steak I had that day had both a nicely seared exterior and a moist interior.

The flesh was tender enough to cut easily with just a fork, and you can enjoy it in a clean, mild way. The fact that the course offers a fish option rather than being all Korean beef or steak is also one of the distinguishing features of the Pepite lunch set.

Dessert: mascarpone cream and vanilla ice cream

🍨Mascarpone cream & vanilla ice cream — Last comes dessert. Sweet and soft to close things out, it was the perfect way to end the course. The mascarpone's distinctively soft texture combined with the cold, sweet ice cream to wrap up the meal cleanly. It's a light dessert, not a heavy one, which I liked.

The restroom even had cotton swabs, Febreze, and hair ties on hand. Nice touch from the owner ♥

Who is the Pepite lunch set best for?

If you're visiting at lunchtime, I'd recommend the lunch set menu. If you're looking for a place in Gangnam to enjoy food and conversation together, it's worth checking out not just the food but the atmosphere of the space too!

• ✔️Careful, thoughtful cooking with a delicate Japanese touch from a chef who came from Michelin fine dining
• ✔️A Cheongdam dining spot with great atmosphere

Pepite visit information: hours, parking and seating

• 📍Location: 25 Dosan-daero 85-gil, 1F, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
• ⏰Hours: 11:30–22:00 (Saturday until 23:00), break time 14:30–17:00
• Closed every Sunday
• 🅿️Parking: valet available