Magoknaru Italian restaurant, cousin lunch & kiosk ordering: Romaok

I wanted a place where my cousin and I could have a tasty lunch and talk for a long time, so we headed to Romaok (로마옥) inside LG Arts Center Seoul. The atmosphere was lovely, and it was a relaxing spot to spend the meal.

Romaok Magok location and opening hours

Romaok Magok is at 136 Magokjungang-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd floor of LG Arts Center Seoul. It is open 11:00–21:30 with a break from 15:00 to 17:00, and last orders are at 14:00 and 20:30.

• 📍 3F LG Arts Center Seoul, 136 Magokjungang-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul
• 🕒 11:00–21:30 (break time 15:00–17:00) / last order 14:00 · 20:30
• 🚇 About 2 minutes on foot from Exits 3 and 4 of Magoknaru Station
• 🚗 Parking discount available for diners

Since it's on the 3rd floor of LG Arts Center Seoul, it seems like a good choice before a show or just for a meal!

A menu board was set out at the entrance, and there was a Blue Ribbon sticker too, so I was already excited before going in.

A spacious hall, antique mood and kiosk ordering

Inside Romaok Magok, the space was much bigger than I expected.

Antique objects and candlesticks are scattered around, giving it a strongly European feel. It would suit a blind date or an anniversary meal too. The tables are generously spaced, which was comfortable, and since we had booked ahead on Naver we were seated right away.

We ordered through the kiosk at each table, and tapping a dish even shows a detailed ingredient description, which made choosing easy!

What we ordered and prices

Here is what we ordered.

• ✔️ Pine nut caprese salad (₩17,000)
• ✔️ Abalone geou pasta (₩26,000)
• ✔️ Eclipse squid ink risotto (₩25,000)
• ✔️ Bokbunja (Korean black raspberry) ade (₩8,000)

When choosing, you can set the seasoning to regular or light. The note said the default is slightly seasoned, with people enjoying wine in mind.

After we ordered, and before the meal began, the staff brought warm, soft bread, which was a nice way to start.

Pine nut caprese salad ₩17,000

When the dish arrived, the staff kindly explained each ingredient one by one.

It came with date tomatoes, black tomatoes, arugula and pine nut fromage blanc, and the nutty pine nut cream went well with the fresh tomatoes. It was a refreshing appetizer before the meal.

Abalone geou pasta ₩26,000

We were told to mix it well with the garlic stems (maneuljjong) underneath.

Geou is the abalone's innards, known for a rich, nutty flavor and often used in pasta sauce, I learned. The abalone steamed with kelp was tender, and the geou sauce was rich and went well with the noodles.

The garlic stems added a nice bite here and there. Personally, this was my favorite dish of the day, the best of the lot!

Eclipse squid ink risotto ₩25,000

The moment the squid ink risotto arrived, the decoration in the middle caught my eye.

The musical Dracula happened to be playing at LG Arts Center, and maybe that's why the center of the plating was styled like a Dracula coffin.

The grilled cuttlefish on top was tender and chewy, and it paired nicely with the risotto.

Dessert discount for Dracula show ticket holders

Partway through the meal I noticed the kiosk was showing a discount event for Dracula audience members.

If you bring your ticket from the day of the show, you get a discount on the dessert of the day, so it's worth using if you're seeing the musical.

Final thoughts

Romaok Magok was a really lovely space for good food and an unhurried chat. The calm, elegant mood makes it a good pick for a date or blind date in Magok. The staff explained every dish kindly, and the whole place felt so relaxed that we were comfortable throughout the meal 💛 If you're going to a show at LG Arts Center, or just looking for a nice place near Magoknaru Station, I'd recommend stopping by!