Isu Station Western restaurant: mild spicy pasta for two, Dooblock Isu

What is Dooblock Isu like?

Dooblock Isu (듀블럭 이수역점) is a Western restaurant near Isu Station, and among Isu Station restaurants it is well known as a place for wedding-invitation dinners with friends. I hadn't had a proper dinner with a friend in a while, so I headed to Dooblock Isu.

I usually like Western food such as pasta and risotto, and I'd heard from a lot of people that Dooblock has an unusual menu and tastes great, so I went in with high expectations.

There are plenty of good restaurants around Isu Station, but Dooblock stands out as a go-to for dates and important get-togethers, thanks to its atmospheric space and high-quality food. Since it was a long-awaited meetup with my friend, I felt choosing somewhere with a nice mood was absolutely the right call.

Polpo ink risotto at spice level 1: how spicy is it?

At Dooblock Isu you can choose how spicy the polpo (octopus) ink risotto is, and I ordered level 1, "slightly spicy." Level 1 just creeps up quietly from behind, so I think even people who don't handle spicy food well can enjoy it.

The ink risotto looks pretty striking. The jet-black color may feel unfamiliar at first, but that worry vanishes completely with the first bite.

The deep, rich savoriness of squid ink soaks through the whole risotto, and the chewy texture of the polpo (octopus) makes it fun to eat.

Level 1 isn't harsh at all; it just rises gently at the back. The creamy texture of the risotto and the mild heat work together so you keep reaching for another bite. The portion was just right too, perfect for sharing alongside another dish.

Is the steak cream pasta too heavy?

My friend chose the steak cream pasta at Dooblock Isu, also at spice level 1. The cream sauce isn't too heavy, and the level 1 heat cuts the richness, so I never got tired of it to the very end.

The name alone raises expectations, and the real dish didn't let me down. Thick slices of steak sitting on top of the cream pasta looked wonderfully generous.

On the first bite, the cream sauce was nicely light while still tasting nutty and rich.

The steak was cooked just right and tender to chew, and the combination of noodles, cream sauce and steak together was really excellent. The level 1 spice took care of the creamy heaviness, so I could keep eating without getting sick of it.

A refreshing passion fruit ade to go with it

The drink we ordered at Dooblock Isu was a passion fruit ade. I figured a zesty ade would go well with Western dishes, and it lived up to that.

The sweet-tart passion fruit flavor came through strongly, and with the fizz it felt like it cleaned up my mouth. With strongly flavored dishes like ink risotto and cream pasta, sipping the ade in between resets your palate, so everything tasted even better.

Dooblock Isu price for two and final verdict

Two of us had two main dishes plus a drink at Dooblock Isu, and the total came to ₩49,600. Considering the quality of the food and the atmosphere, I think that's a reasonable price I can easily accept.

If you're looking for a place near Isu Station for a date or a get-together with friends, I strongly recommend Dooblock Isu. An unusual menu, a stylish atmosphere and reasonable prices: it nails all three. It was such a satisfying visit that I want to try other dishes next time. It's an especially good space to spend a special day with someone precious, so I'm already looking forward to my next visit.