Post-checkup Asian buffet lunch in Euljiro: Hotel Kukdo Patio

One weekday, my husband had a health checkup in the Euljiro area that would finish before noon. Oh, so how about a date for just the two of us for the first time in ages? I went looking for an Euljiro restaurant where two adults could eat quietly and leisurely.

The place that caught my eye was Hotel Kukdo Patio, a good-value Euljiro hotel buffet that serves steak. Steak, unlimited sake, and an Asian buffet for under ₩30,000..! And you get a hotel atmosphere too. Here's my experience of a relaxed Euljiro lunch at Patio.

How do you get to Hotel Kukdo Patio, and where do you park?

Hotel Kukdo, home of Hotel Kukdo Patio, is only about a 2-minute walk from Exit 10 of Euljiro 4-ga Station. It's an Euljiro 4-ga restaurant with really nice hotel vibes.

It sits right on the main road, so it's easy to find. Parking in the building is free for up to 2 hours, then ₩1,000 per 10 minutes. However, it's mechanical parking, so SUVs and large vehicles are not allowed. If you park outside, 50% of the receipt amount is supported, up to ₩5,000, so keep that in mind. Valet service is also available (₩2,000).

In the 1st-floor lobby, take the escalator on the left. Languid classical music plays and there's a lovely scent in the air — oh, this is a hotel! Once you come up, turn right to enter Patio.

Hotel Kukdo Patio atmosphere and seating

Hotel Kukdo Patio has a very high ceiling and soft pop playing in the restaurant, so the mood is relaxation itself..!

Floor-to-ceiling windows with long, deep purple curtains.. and a classic chandelier. Even the dark wood floor with the light falling on it— everything I like is right here.

We were shown to a window seat overlooking the Euljiro main road. There are also seats for larger groups,

and a large room at the back, which would be good for an Euljiro team lunch too.

When I booked, I chose steak over pasta, and once we sat down a staff member came and asked once more. (Steak, of course, haha.) The staff were all kind, so we could eat comfortably.

After a quick look at the menu and the Naver review perks,

off to the buffet we go!

How much is Hotel Kukdo Patio, and what's on the buffet?

Hotel Kukdo Patio is a good-value Euljiro spot where ₩29,800 per person gets you a main (steak or pasta, your pick) plus an Asian buffet. On top of that, matcha and sake are unlimited..! You can fetch them from the bar.

I can't say there are a huge number of dishes, but every one tasted good, made with care, and the ingredients felt fresh.

Kushikatsu (fried skewers) and grilled eel

Let's taste together. First, kushikatsu that tastes like crispy fish cutlet.

The soft fish and crispy batter went well with a generous dip in tartar sauce. And then the grilled eel with its spicy, mouthwatering seasoning.

And that's how we brought back plates full of our favorites.

How does the sweet-sauce flat iron steak at Hotel Kukdo Patio taste?

Once we'd brought back our buffet food, the main, a flat iron steak, came out soon after.

And so our table was complete.

This is the happy moment. The flat iron steak had quite a nice beefy aroma and was tender; it was cooked to about medium-well and came generously drizzled with a sweet steak sauce.

It wasn't a sour sauce but a slightly sweet one, and I dipped the garnishes in it too. It isn't a rugged, tough-guy steak, so it actually went well with the other buffet dishes.

Verdict: a kid-free lunch for two in Euljiro after a health checkup

A lunch in Euljiro with great atmosphere and great food — success~ At Hotel Kukdo Patio, the time alone with my husband for the first time in a while was as good as the food.

When we eat out with our child, I first check for dishes the kid will like and a setting where they can eat comfortably, but this day we could focus entirely on our own tastes. (Honestly, it's a menu the kid would enjoy too, haha.)

We cut into steak, went back for the futomaki (thick sushi rolls) I loved again and again, and even had strong coffee, taking it easy. I think we need times like this once in a while. Next time I have lunch in Euljiro, I'll come back to Patio to enjoy the calm.

Hotel Kukdo Patio Q&A

What was the best buffet dish?

Personally, the futomaki and the butter-grilled abalone stuck with me most. There were two kinds of futomaki, and the abalone had a good garlic aroma and a taste of the sea.

How was the flat iron steak?

It was tender rather than tough, and came cooked to about medium-well. It went well with the sweet-style steak sauce, which wasn't strongly sour.

Can you get parking support after the meal?

If you get a parking stamp when you pay, you get 2 hours of free parking at Hotel Kukdo. However, it's a mechanical parking garage, so SUVs and large vehicles are restricted. If you use a nearby car park and show your receipt, up to 50% is supported (capped at ₩5,000).

Who is Hotel Kukdo Patio best for?

I'd recommend it to anyone who wants steak and a buffet together at lunch, and to couples or groups of friends who want a relaxed meal in a hotel atmosphere.