Samseong-dong salad takeout: pork & chicken Cobb plates at Prefers

Prefers Diet Food Samseong (프레퍼스 다이어트 푸드 삼성점), 33 Teheran-ro 87-gil, 1st floor, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Why I went looking for a healthy meal in Samseong-dong

This is Prefers Diet Food Samseong, my find for a healthy meal in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu. I used to not really get the saying that dieting is a lifelong homework assignment.

But at some point I realized that eating healthily is the most important kind of diet. I used to think celebrities managed their meals in some really hardcore way, but now I see it differently.

It isn't about being hardcore. They simply had the habit of enjoying healthy food that doesn't make you gain as much weight. Managing meals is relatively easy at home, but when I go out or have plans, it's always a worry.

One meal at a regular restaurant carries a big calorie load, so it's easy for a diet to fall apart. That's when I visited the newly opened Prefers Diet Food Samseong in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu.

Atmosphere and seating: is it OK with kids?

There's an opening event with ₩1,000 off every menu item right now, so it was even easier to stop by. The first thing that caught my eye when I walked in was the fresh green interior.

The whole place feels clean and stylish, which really impressed me, and I was surprised by how much bigger it is than I expected.

It felt roomier than an ordinary fast-food place, with plenty of tables all the way to the back, so it works for eating solo as well as with family or friends. Chairs are available too, which looked convenient for families visiting with kids.

Kiosk ordering: how to pick protein, base and sauce

You order at a kiosk, and choosing the menu was honestly fun. You can pick your protein, such as chicken, pork or beef, and customize everything from rice or pasta to the vegetable mix.

You can also choose from several sauces and sides (Cobb or regular), so it felt like building my own healthy meal. This time I ordered the pork plate salad, the chicken Cobb plate salad and the chicken plate salad.

How was the takeout packaging?

I picked sweet-sour soy sauce, balsamic sauce and salsa sauce, one for each salad, and having a different flavor for each dish was a nice plus. I ordered takeout, and the packaging was better than I expected. Everything came neatly in a pretty dedicated container with a clear plastic bag, so I was happy from the first impression.

When I opened it at home, the contents were packed carefully so nothing had shifted, and the sauces and all the components were included. I was touched by the attention to detail.

Pork and chicken plate salads and the three sauces

The most important part, the taste, didn't let me down either. The juicy grilled chicken was mild yet nutty, and the pork was tender and full of flavor.

Eaten with fresh salad, the texture was great too, and each sauce paired really well with the ingredients.

The balsamic sauce added a clean flavor, the sweet-sour soy sauce had excellent savory depth, and the salsa sauce was fresh and spicy, which really whetted my appetite.

How it feels after eating

What I liked most is that it's tasty yet light on the conscience. I felt properly full, but without the guilt I usually get after eating out.

It's a satisfying restaurant not only for people on a diet but also for office workers who want a healthy meal and people who love working out.

Next time I'm looking for healthy food in Samseong-dong, Prefers Diet Food Samseong will be the first place that comes to mind. It satisfied me on taste, health and fullness, so I'll be going every day.

It made me wish more healthy restaurants like this would open all over the country. If you're looking for a healthy meal in Samseong-dong, or thinking about diet meals in Gangnam-gu, I really recommend visiting Prefers Diet Food Samseong at least once.

It was a satisfying meal where I could eat well and look after my health at the same time.