Gongdeok, Seoul Korean restaurant with brick pastry scallop: Usu

I want to introduce Usu, a Gongdeok restaurant with private rooms — great for those looking for a Seoul in-law meeting restaurant, and the upscale mood also makes it a good pick for anniversaries or special occasions. Both lunch and dinner courses are available, perfect for anyone searching for a Gongdeok private-room restaurant.

• 📍Location: Room 201, B2, Lotte Castle President commercial building, 109 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• ⏰Mon–Sun 11:00–22:00, break time 15:00–17:00
• 🚇Gongdeok Station Exit 2
• 🅿Free parking available

Gongdeok Station Exit 2 to the door, with 3 hours of free parking

Usu is connected to the entrance of the Lotte Castle President commercial building right at Gongdeok Station Exit 2, so it's easy to get to, and free parking makes it convenient if you're driving. (3 hours free, regardless of number of cars)

Why Usu's all-private-room seating suits in-law meetings and anniversaries

Every space at Usu is set up as a private room, so it's a great spot for anyone looking for a Seoul in-law meeting restaurant or celebrating an anniversary.

There's even a space set up like a painting ෆ

I visited after reserving in advance, and the tableware set out was elegant.

Usu's menu: from Lunch A to the Dinner Premium course

Usu's menu ranges from the good-value Lunch A menu to the Lunch Signature course, Dinner course, Dinner Premium course, and à la carte hanwoo grill and single dishes, so you can order by price range, and there's a wide wine lineup too — a place you can enjoy however you like.

Hanwoo cakes can be ordered too, and there's a kids menu, so it's great for family visits!

Lunch C course for two (₩158,000)

The biggest appeal of Usu is that you can actually see the ingredients being used and get an explanation, which gave it a really upscale feel.

Lunch C course lineup Beef and egg porridge Three bite-sized dishes Shiitake, shrimp, zucchini Abalone five-color gardenia noodles Hanwoo grill Seasonal fish pot rice set Dessert

First course: beef and egg rice porridge

Made with a base of hanwoo bone broth and chicken stock, the beef and egg porridge had a subtle aroma that lingered, and it was gentle on the stomach as a starter.

Three one-bite dishes: brick pastry scallop with clam, bulgogi sandwich, lobster taco

Usu's three bite-sized dishes are scallop clam, bulgogi sandwich, and lobster taco — they looked so pretty I almost felt bad eating them ღ. Let me introduce them one by one.

The bite made with scallop grilled on brick pastry and clam cream sauce had a lovely harmony of crispy pastry and creamy sauce the moment I bit in — a really upscale flavor.

The bulgogi sandwich — brioche bun, hanwoo bulgogi, and truffle cream cheese — all came together beautifully, and the bread was incredibly soft! The lobster taco had a fun black tortilla colored with squid ink, and thanks to the smoky gochujang mayo sauce, it made a great finish as the last bite.

Shiitake mushroom and young zucchini

The third dish had a base of peanut tofu sauce and wild chive oil, using top-grade shiitake mushroom and zucchini.

The moment I bit into the shiitake mushroom, it was full of savory juice, and dipping the zucchini in the sauce brought out a wonderful umami harmony with the aroma.

Abalone with five-color gardenia noodles

The fourth dish in Usu's C course is abalone five-color gardenia noodles. It came garnished with black sesame julienned radish, bracken, shiitake mushroom, seasoned wild chive, and perilla leaf, with plenty of sliced abalone on top! Using gardenia noodles kept it light on the stomach, and the laver dressing and mustard-garlic sauce were such a nice kick that I could eat it cleanly all the way through — very satisfying.

1++ hanwoo sirloin on a personal mini brazier, with a sea bream pot rice set

At Usu, each person gets their own mini brazier so you can grill to your taste, and it comes with a neatly set table including hanwoo seaweed soup and sea bream pot rice! We were served a premium 1++ hanwoo sirloin cut — doesn't the color of the meat look amazing? >_<

A variety of vegetables to eat alongside the beef were also provided, and it was fun grilling and chatting comfortably in the private space?!

Maybe because it was premium 1++ hanwoo sirloin, it was juicy and incredibly tender.

The seasonal sea bream pot rice was portioned out for easy eating, and with the seasoned greens mixed in, it had a nice aroma too ღ

Eating it with the side dishes of mustard leaf kimchi and seasoned fish roe added even more savoriness, and the hanwoo seaweed soup served alongside had a deep, rich flavor like it had been simmered at home for a long time.

Dessert: corn ice cream and sponge cake

The dessert for Usu's Lunch C course is corn ice cream and sponge cake — the green citron cream sauce on the corn ice cream gave it a sweet and refreshing feel, and the sponge cake was also mild, making for a nice way to finish off the meal.

Who should book Usu in Gongdeok

This is a place where you can enjoy upscale course dishes while chatting comfortably in a private space, so it's great for those looking for a Seoul in-law meeting spot, and perfect for a special anniversary date. With lunch and dinner course options at various price points, you can eat according to your taste. I recommend Usu, a Gongdeok restaurant with a great atmosphere, to anyone looking for a Seoul in-law meeting venue or a Gongdeok blind-date spot :)