Seongsu pasta restaurant for after-work bottled beer: Seongsu Darak

A weekday after-work dinner at Seongsu Darak

Seongsu Darak is a pasta and omurice restaurant on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a building at 20 Ttukseom-ro 9-gil in Seongdong, Seoul. On a weekday when I needed a beer after work, I headed to Seongsu, where my friend works.

A weekday after work, a day I needed a beer 🍺 (just didn't feel like going straight home lol) I was craving a good chat so much I went to find my friend at work in Seongsu Everybody says it's so hot right now, right?

Seongsu hotspot pasta place brunch place Seongsu Darak Worried there'd be a wait so I sent my friend ahead and went to go in...

Where is the entrance? Look for the picture-frame door

The entrance to Seongsu Darak isn't very noticeable, so it's easy to get lost the first time. I kept circling around the building and even ended up calling my friend.

No matter how much I looked, there was no door lol kept going in circles ended up calling my friend where's the entrance here???? 🫪

This design-looking thing was the door! Almost didn't make it in lol

True to its name, Seongsu Darak ('darak' means loft/attic) the space really feels like a loft 🚪 A full-length mirror out of nowhere?! Haven't seen one this tall in a while 😎 It's on the 2nd and 3rd floors, and from the entrance on, instead of making the door obvious like a normal shop, it feels hidden away like a secret loft, so it's fun from the moment you start climbing up

This is the 2nd floor

About Seongsu Darak Made by an older brother and younger siblings who worked together for a long time and built up their bond a specialist in omurice and pasta

Inside Seongsu Darak: 2nd and 3rd floors and how to order

The 2nd floor of Seongsu Darak is a cozy space with warm lighting and wood-tone furniture, and you order by ringing the bell on the table for staff. The 3rd floor has more space between tables, and the window seats have a view outside.

It's been a while since I had to order 'manually' (?) Ring the bell and staff comes lol

A cozy atmosphere with warm lighting and wood-tone furniture blending together The perfect spot for a light meal and a beer after work 😆

Go up one more floor and there's another space Tables are spaced wider than downstairs and the whole vibe feels more relaxed The window side has big windows with a view outside too, so it's a really great spot for a date 💕

Also a space that can fit group gatherings

Water is self-serve

Thank you for waiting. We're happily 'clattering' away in the kitchen right now.

(What is this... so clever... 🫢)

Hoegaarden on the table and the two dishes we ordered

At Seongsu Darak we ordered a bottle of Hoegaarden and kept it light with just two dishes: the signature spicy crab risotto at ₩19,000 and the brisket perilla pasta at ₩19,000. My friend drove, so I was the only one drinking.

A Hoegaarden bottle for the first time in a while Foam pouring out generously still delicious foam every time

Sorry, friend... you drove, so just relax I'll drink alone 🤣

Kept it simple with just 2 dishes^^ Signature spicy crab risotto 🌶️🌶️ ₩19,000 Risotto flavored with vegetables stir-fried in chili oil and fresh crab meat Brisket perilla pasta 🌶️ ₩19,000 A unique oil pasta flavored with brisket, perilla powder, and perilla leaf

Spicy crab risotto, the Seongsu Darak signature

The spicy crab risotto is a spicy risotto you pop the egg yolk into and mix in. It was thick and spicy without being greasy, and I couldn't stop eating.

Popped the yolk and took a bite Thick and creamy Zero greasiness Just the right spiciness— my hand wouldn't stop 😋

With the crab flavor added on top it had a savory yet deep taste

Brisket perilla pasta with perilla leaf

The brisket perilla pasta is an oil pasta loaded with perilla powder, and it was personally my favorite dish of the day.

The perilla leaf pasta was so good ♥ Loaded with the perilla powder I love the savory flavor really came through With the fragrant perilla leaf and brisket added the savoriness and lightness balanced perfectly The generous perilla leaf also cut the greasiness, never a boring bite til the end!

The noodles were well coated in sauce, so every bite felt full of flavor

Ate it clean, left only the crab shell lol solid proof it was delicious 😆

By the time we finished eating and stepped out, it had gotten dark over Seongsu-dong 🌙 Seongsu Darak has a totally different vibe at night than in the day Got a shot of the exterior too (reminder, that's not a door lol)

Is Seongsu Darak worth a visit?

Seongsu Darak is a Western-style restaurant in Seongsu that's great for chatting over pasta and a beer. The loft-like space and the hidden entrance were both fun, and the spicy crab risotto and brisket perilla pasta both exceeded expectations.

On a weekday after work, on a day it felt like a waste to just go straight home, I wanted to chat with a friend and eat something good, so I went to Seongsu Darak From the loft-like space to the hidden entrance, it was impressive how they decorated the space to fit the name so playfully The food also exceeded expectations— personally, the perilla leaf pasta was especially my type ⭐ Great to eat with a beer too 👍 Also perfect as a Seongsu date spot 💛 If you're looking for a pasta restaurant that nails the atmosphere too, I recommend Seongsu Darak!

• Seongsu Darak / 2nd floor, 20 Ttukseom-ro 9-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: daily 11:30–21:15, last order 20:30
• No parking available
• Reservations available via Naver Reservation