Seongsu brunch restaurant with a free review drink: Seongsu Darak

Hi~ this is ming. Today I visited Seongsu Darak (성수다락), a brunch place in Seongsu that's been famous for a while now. I'd wanted to go for ages, and my husband and I finally had the time for a date there. Let's get into the review!

Where is Seongsu Darak and what are its hours?

• Hours: Daily 11:30–21:15
• Takeout, waiting area, and group bookings available

Inside Seongsu Darak: seating on the 2nd and 3rd floors

Seongsu Darak is within a 10-minute walk of Exit 3 of Seongsu Station, and there's plenty to do nearby, so it's a great spot to stop by for a meal. Inside there are tables for two, tables for four, and group seating, spread across the entire 2nd and 3rd floors. There's also a waiting area, so we could sit separately while waiting. The big floor-to-ceiling windows give the place a really nice atmosphere, and even on a weekday evening there was a wait — clearly a proper hit spot. More than half the customers looked like they were from abroad, so I guess this place has a reputation overseas too :)

Plates, cutlery, and wet wipes are set out at the table, and water is self-serve.

Seongsu Darak's menu, review-event drink and what we ordered

The menu covers omurice (omelet rice), risotto, pasta, steak, and more — I'd recommend it for anniversaries or date nights. Prices overall were reasonable. If you participate in the review event, you get a free ₩3,500 drink, so it's worth joining in. We ordered the Darak rosé pasta, spicy crab risotto, katsu sando, and a cola. Everything on the menu looked delicious, so we kept going back and forth before ordering. It seemed like the signature dishes people order most are the omurice, Darak rosé pasta, and spicy crab risotto.

Katsu sando (pork cutlet sandwich): crispy outside, juicy inside

The katsu sando came out fast. It's a Japanese-style sandwich made with juicy loin katsu (breaded pork cutlet), apparently.

I've had katsu sando elsewhere, but this one was genuinely so good my husband and I both let out a little gasp. Crispy on the outside, juicy and tender inside — this is a menu item I'd order again if I revisit Seongsu Darak.

Dipping it in the sauce that came with it made the tang pop even more, and eating it alongside the pickles gave it extra depth of flavor.

Spicy crab risotto at Seongsu Darak: how hot is it?

I was craving something spicy today, so we got the spicy crab risotto, loaded with vegetables stir-fried in chili oil and plenty of fresh crab meat. There was real crab on top, so it was fun to pull the meat out, and the spice level was just right to cut through the richness. It was a bit spicier than I expected, though, so I wouldn't recommend it for kids.

Darak rosé pasta and its house-made meat sauce

The Darak rosé pasta was the dish I was most curious about while ordering. Apparently it's flavored with Darak's spicy house-made meat sauce, sweet cream, and Padano cheese.

I was a little puzzled by the cream going into it, but it turned out to be exactly the rosé flavor I had in mind. The house-made meat sauce was both sweet and tangy, pairing perfectly with the pasta, and the noodles were cooked absolutely right.

Verdict: is Seongsu Darak a good date spot?

Today I went to Seongsu Darak, a brunch and pasta spot in Seongsu, and everything I ordered was delicious — I'd recommend it. The space is spacious and clean, so it's great for friends, couples, or families, and it would also be perfect for a first date. Seongsu Darak makes tasty food with fresh ingredients every day, and I heard they're open as usual through this Chuseok holiday, so it might be worth a visit if you're already out and about. I'm sure I'll be back with my husband when the katsu sando crosses my mind again. The staff were busy but kind throughout.