Pasta restaurant near Bangi Station: carbonara and gambas at Hope So

For today's post, I was craving good pasta and pizza one evening and went looking around, which led me to Hope So near my home. Since it has pasta and pizza along with a variety of other menu items, it looked like a good spot for a family meal with Haneul, so I went to check it out. I'll walk you through the dishes I actually tried, for anyone looking for a pasta and pizza spot near Bangi Station. 🍕🍝

Hope So's exterior and entrance menu board near Bangi Station

Hope So is near Bangi Station Exit 4, at 21 Wirisungdae-ro 18-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea. The exterior has an open, airy feel rather than a cramped one, which I liked. With the soft lighting added in the evening, the atmosphere was pretty nice too. 🥰

At the entrance, the pasta and pizza menu was nicely displayed, so I could browse it before even going in.

There was also a wide variety of beers listed, which looked good for a light drink alongside the meal. 🍺

1st floor or 2nd floor at Hope So — where to sit

Hope So is split into a first and second floor, and a sign said the second floor is open until 12:30 AM. The first floor has high ceilings and an open layout right as you walk in, so the space felt quite spacious. The tables were placed with plenty of room, and with the soft lighting added on top, the mood was great. ✨✨

Being split across two floors in particular seemed good for gatherings or visits with several people.

I went up to check out the second floor too. Right at the top of the stairs there was a little station stocked with whatever you might need. According to the sign, the second floor is usable until 12:30 AM — worth knowing if you want to keep eating or drinking late. 😊

The mood upstairs was completely different. A large tree sits under the ceiling, giving a feeling of being surrounded by nature, and with the soft lighting added, it felt warm and cozy.

We ended up sitting on the first floor. Once we sat down, the basic table setting was already prepared neatly.

What we ordered and how much it cost

• 🍝 Carbonara — ₩19,000
• 🍕 Diavola mini — ₩14,000
• 🍕 Gorgonzola mini — ₩14,000
• 🍝 Gambas pasta — ₩19,000
• 🥤 Coca-Cola — ₩3,000
• 💰 Total ₩69,000

Gorgonzola mini pizza and gambas pasta

The first dish out was the gorgonzola mini pizza. 🍕 It was called 'mini,' but once it arrived, it was actually pretty big — surprised me. 👀✨ There was a generous layer of cheese on the dough, and just looking at it you could sense the nutty cheese aroma.

There was more shrimp than I expected, and vegetables like mushroom, broccoli and bok choy were mixed in at a nice amount. 🦐🥦🍄 The noodles were coated in a moist, oil-based sauce, topped with plump shrimp and a mix of ingredients — the color and presentation were pretty, and it honestly looked really appetizing. 🤤✨

Diavola mini pizza and carbonara

Next came the diavola mini pizza and the carbonara pasta. 🍕🍝 The diavola mini pizza had plenty of cheese over a tomato sauce base, with salami scattered throughout — appetizing just to look at. 🔥 The golden-browned edges made it look even more tempting. 🤤

And then the carbonara pasta that came with it 🍝 The noodles were coated in a creamy sauce, with mushroom and bacon mixed throughout. A big piece of chicken sat in the center with arugula on top, making the plating pretty too. 🌿✨

There was garlic visible here and there too, giving it that gambas-style fragrant flavor. 🧄🍝 As someone who loves oil-based pasta, this was my favorite dish! 😋

Wood-fired dough and thick cream sauce — how did it taste?

Because the pizza was baked in a wood-fired oven, the edges of the dough were browned nicely, with a few slightly charred spots here and there that made it look even more appetizing. 🍕✨ The dough tasted good and mild even on its own — and the gorgonzola pizza really needs honey to be at its best! 🍯💛

The thick, rich cream sauce was heavily coated over the noodles, and tasting it, it was really deep and nutty. 🤤 The sauce was so good that Haneul ended up scraping up every last bit of leftover cream sauce. 😂💕 That's how much we enjoyed this dish. 😋

The diavola pizza also had a slightly spicy kick, so it wasn't greasy, and the cheese, tomato sauce and salami came together with great flavor. 😋 I also personally liked the dough — the browned edges were mild and nutty, so you could enjoy the dough itself, not just the toppings. 💕

Who should visit Hope So in Bangi-dong

Hope So satisfied me from the space to the food. In particular, since it's a doorless, open space, eating there felt like sitting at an outdoor pojangmacha, with fresh air and a cool, pleasant feeling. 🍃✨ With pizza and pasta dishes that are easy to share with kids, it's good for a family meal, and with plenty of dishes that pair well with beer, it would also work for a work dinner or a simple date. 🍕🍝🍺 It's also easy to get to from Olympic Park, so if you want to enjoy pizza and pasta in an open, airy atmosphere after a date or a family walk, I'd recommend giving Hope So in Bangi-dong a visit. 👍✨

Hope So visit info

• Name: Hope So (HOPE SO)
• Address: 21 Wirisungdae-ro 18-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Mon–Sat 16:00–01:00
• Last order: 00:00
• Closed: Sundays
• Parking: Available in front (limited space)
• Nearest station: Bangi Station Exit 4

※ I'd recommend double-checking the hours and parking availability before you visit.