Gangnam Station date restaurant via an iron-door elevator: Eulji Darak

Where is Eulji Darak Gangnam Station and how do you get there?

Eulji Darak (을지다락) Gangnam Station is a Western restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building at 22 Gangnam-daero 96-gil, Gangnam, Seoul. It is open 11:30–21:15, and last order is at 20:30. Eulji Darak has 4 branches in total: Seongsu, Dosan, Euljiro and Gangnam. This time I visited the Gangnam branch because it's so easy to get to.

The atmosphere is so good that people come here for wedding-invitation get-togethers, Gangnam Station dates and even blind dates, so I was extra excited.

The Gangnam branch has no dedicated parking, so you'd use Yeoksam Cultural Park public parking lots 1 and 2 (₩300 per 5 minutes). But it's only a 5-minute walk from Exit 11 of Gangnam Station, so public transport or walking was the most convenient way to go.

Famous as a pasta spot near Gangnam Station, Eulji Darak Gangnam is about a 5-minute walk from the station, so the access is really great 👍

Open the iron-door-style elevator and you're right inside the restaurant

The restaurant is on the 2nd floor, so the big sign made it easy to find. Once you're inside the building, you open an elevator door that looks like an iron door and the restaurant is right there. Even though it's in the middle of Gangnam, it has a moody, stylish feel, and I was already looking forward to it before going in.

Is the atmosphere right for a date or a wedding-invitation get-together?

The chandelier lighting and stylish interior caught my eye the moment I walked in. It felt like a proper fancy restaurant, and even though it was a weekday evening, it was really full of customers.

The tables are spaced generously, so it was easy to talk, and the vibe suits wedding-invitation meetups and get-togethers with friends, as well as a Gangnam Station date or blind date.

Self-service bar and high chairs

The self-service bar was neatly stocked with water, small plates and cutlery, and there are high chairs too, so it's convenient to visit with a child. The atmosphere is upscale but the prices are reasonable, which made me even happier.

What did we order at Eulji Darak Gangnam Station?

Eulji Darak sells not just pasta but risotto, steak, gnocchi, sandwiches (sando) and more, so it's easy to pick something to your taste. These are the three dishes we ordered that day.

• Chop steak (pork neck) ₩24,000
• Spicy crab risotto ₩19,000
• Darak rose pasta ₩19,000

The food looks like a pass 😍

It was our first date in a while, and the atmosphere was great too 🤍

How is the chop steak (₩24,000)?

For the main, I chose the Eulji Darak chop steak!! Thick pork neck came sliced into easy bites, golden brown on the outside, and the look of it really got my appetite going 😍

On the first bite, the outside was lightly crisp and the inside was moist and juicy. It wasn't tough at all, just really tender. There was no gamey smell whatsoever, so I could enjoy it to the very end.

The grilled vegetables that came with it, like bell pepper, broccoli and cherry tomatoes, kept a nice crunch and went really well with the meat. The sauce wasn't overdone either, and it brought out the flavor of the pork neck, which I liked. 💛

Is the Darak rose pasta (₩19,000) too heavy?

I ordered the Darak rose pasta because it's said to be a must-eat at Eulji Darak. As soon as it came out, the thick rose sauce coating the noodles looked so appetizing 😍

On the first bite, the creamy, smooth, nutty flavor of the rose came first, then a mild spiciness rose behind it, so it wasn't heavy at all. That's why I kept reaching for more.

The sauce is the thick style, so it clings to the noodles and you can enjoy the rich rose flavor down to the last bite. Mixing in the cheese on top made it even nuttier and richer. Anyone who likes rose pasta will be satisfied, and if it's your first visit, I really recommend trying it once. 💛

Crab risotto (₩19,000): break the yolk and mix it in

As the name says, the Eulji Darak crab risotto had vegetables stir-fried in chili oil and 🦀 crab meat. If you pop the yolk on top and mix it all together, you get an even smoother, nuttier flavor! 🥚

There was also a big crab leg on top, and there was a decent amount of crab meat, so it's not a dish that only looks good. There was crab meat inside the risotto too, so every bite had a savory depth.

The risotto isn't too soupy; it has a moderately thick texture, which I personally really liked. The sauce had a slight rose feel with some spiciness added, so it wasn't heavy and I could enjoy it to the end.

Is Eulji Darak Gangnam Station worth going back to?

If you're looking for a Gangnam Station pasta spot with a good atmosphere, I'd recommend Eulji Darak Gangnam. The upscale interior and the tasty pasta, risotto and steak all satisfied me, and the prices were reasonable, so it was easy to visit without any pressure.

Especially if you're looking for a place for a wedding-invitation get-together, a meetup with friends, a Gangnam Station date or a blind date, I think it's a restaurant where you can be happy with both the atmosphere and the food. I'd like to go back and try other dishes next time. 💛