Cheongdam steakhouse, early weekday dinner with my sibling: Rabo

With tropical nights and temperatures topping 30 degrees, I'm sure a lot of you are heading off on vacation. Me? I went out with my younger sister for the first time in a while, to Rabo Steakhouse Cheongdam (라보 스테이크하우스 청담점), a steakhouse that's been getting buzz as a Cheongdam favorite.

Tucked into a quiet alley behind the showroom street, Rabo has a green garden and a detached-house feel that's hard to believe in the middle of the city. I was won over the moment I walked in.

I tried the signature porterhouse and the all-day course, which let me enjoy proper American-style steak. If you're looking for a place for a date or a special anniversary meal, I think you'll be happy here, so let me introduce this Cheongdam steakhouse.

Where is Rabo Steakhouse Cheongdam, and how does parking work?

Rabo Steakhouse Cheongdam is at 31 Dosan-daero 59-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 302m from Exit 3 of Apgujeongnodeo Station on the Suin-Bundang Line. It's open daily 11:30-22:00, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00 and last order at 20:30.

• Address: 31 Dosan-daero 59-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
• Hours: daily 11:30-22:00
• Break time: 15:00-17:00
• Last order: 20:30
• Transit: 302m from Exit 3 of Apgujeongnodeo Station (Suin-Bundang Line)
• Parking: valet ₩5,000 / first 120 minutes ₩5,000, then ₩1,000 per 10 minutes, max ₩20,000

What is the atmosphere like at Rabo Steakhouse Cheongdam?

Rabo is a converted house in a quiet alley. You walk down a path lined with green trees and open a green gate to get in. It used to be a women-only lounge for Ananti, and as I walked along the peaceful garden it felt less like a city restaurant and more like being invited to a country house abroad.

I've been to almost every famous steakhouse around Cheongdam, but this was my first time at Rabo, and it was clearly different from the others: calm and comfortable. Even the waiting area and the restroom had cozy yet stylish interiors.

We went early on a weekday evening, before sunset, so the room was bright and airy with lots of natural light. Tables are spaced widely, so you can barely hear the next table's conversation. It's really private.

When we left, the sun had set and the lighting had made the mood even better for a date. I thought it would be comfortable for a blind date, an anniversary or a meal with your parents. The outdoor terrace is an especially pretty space you don't often see, and as a terrace lover, I want to eat out there once the weather cools down a bit.

How much is the Rabo Steakhouse all-day course, and what's included?

The menu has lunch and dinner courses, plus à la carte items like seafood platters, salads and steaks.

The all-day course is ₩178,000 per person and can be ordered from 11:30 to 20:00. Just one all-day course runs as a full course from bread to appetizer, salad, main steak, dessert and coffee, so it was so generous that we hardly needed to order anything extra.

The starter comes with bread and your choice of cocktail shrimp or snow crab meat, plus a Caesar salad. It's a good setup, and you can upgrade to the Labo chop salad (+₩3,000) or the seafood platter (+₩30,000).

There are sides that go well with the meal, and dessert plus coffee or the tea of the day is included in the course.

• Sous-vide lobster with bisque tomato sauce +₩38,000
• Shrimp mac and cheese +₩24,000
• Roasted potato and corn +₩13,000
• Truffle fries +₩9,000
• Creamed spinach +₩8,000
• Roasted shishito peppers +₩8,000

Bread and crab cake to start the all-day course

The first thing out was the bread, salt bread and squid-ink bread baked in house. Crisp outside and moist inside, with a rich buttery flavor that deepens as you chew. I kept reaching for more even before the mains came.

Slathered with the butter that comes with it, it was so good I think they could sell the bread on its own and it would be popular.

Rabo crab cake

For the appetizer I chose the crab cake with fresh snow crab and tartar sauce. There was far more crab than I expected, and with the first bite I could feel the meat in real strands. Crisp outside and moist inside, it felt like a crab cake from a fancy hotel restaurant. The tartar sauce wasn't overpowering either, so it let the natural sweetness of the crab come through.

Caesar salad

Rabo's Caesar salad balances fresh romaine, big pieces of bacon, crunchy croutons and a nutty dressing. The avocado tucked in here and there added softness, and the salad worked as a palate cleanser before the main steak.

How does the 400g USDA Prime porterhouse taste?

The main of the all-day course is the USDA Prime porterhouse, 400g, which arrived on a sizzling hot plate with butter melting and bubbling. The moment it hit the table, the nutty butter aroma and the smell of meat juices spread, and my expectations shot up just from the look of it.

I ordered it medium. The outside was nicely seared with a faint smoky char, and the inside stayed moist and pink, so rich juices filled my mouth as I chewed.

The tenderloin cut like butter, while the strip had decent marbling, so the chew and beefy flavor really came through. I could fully feel the appeal of the porterhouse, getting two cuts in one.

Mashed potatoes, asparagus and Rabo geotjeori (fresh kimchi salad)

The porterhouse came with mashed potatoes and asparagus, a side combo I love, so there was no need to order extra. The asparagus wasn't overcooked and stayed crisp, which went well with the steak.

The mashed potatoes were creamy-smooth with a deep potato flavor. It was also convenient that our server plated one piece each of strip and tenderloin, plus mashed potatoes, asparagus and geotjeori (fresh-style kimchi salad), on our individual plates.

Best of all was Rabo's own style of geotjeori, made by mixing tomato, onion, pepper and steak-flavored butter. It was tangy and packed with savory depth,

a side that was exactly my taste and kept the steak from getting heavy or boring to the very end.

All-day course dessert with coffee or tea

The course ends with the Chef Recommended Dessert: tiramisu, macarons and fresh cherries, served with coffee or tea. The main course alone had already satisfied me, so it was impressive that they didn't cut corners on dessert either.

The tiramisu had a heavy cream with a faint espresso aroma and a rich chocolate taste that was totally my thing. With the sweet macarons and fresh cherries, the finish was just as satisfying.

For the closing drink, my sister had an iced Americano and I had a hot rooibos tea. The balance was nice, and the afterglow of the meal lingered.

Is Rabo Steakhouse Cheongdam worth a return visit?

With a fresh green terrace view out the window and a classy interior, Rabo Steakhouse Cheongdam is great for a date, and if you're looking for a good Cheongdam restaurant, it satisfies on both atmosphere and food.

With rich, juicy American-style steak, a well-made course, a quiet garden and a stylish space, I think it would please for a date, an anniversary, a birthday meal or an outing with your parents. If you want a proper steak in Cheongdam, I recommend Rabo Steakhouse Cheongdam as a place I'd gladly visit again.