Magok Italian restaurant mom lunch with pine nut caprese: Romaok

If you're looking for a place to have lunch with your mom near Magoknaru Station, I really want you to try Romaok Magok...! I went with my mom this time and it confirmed it for me. I'd been to LG Art Center before for my mom's birthday at Modam Dining, so I already knew the vibe of the building, but stepping into Romaok felt like a whole different experience.

Delicious food, then a walk through Seoul Botanic Park right after — it was the perfect mother-daughter lunch date course!

Where is Romaok Magok, and what reservation perks does it offer?

Romaok is an Italian restaurant on the 3rd floor of LG Art Center Seoul. The building connects directly to Magoknaru Station, so you can head straight up without wandering around after exiting the station. The parking lot is large too, with plenty of spots.

If you book through Naver Reservation and leave a receipt review, you get a soda coupon and even a free kids' mushroom cream risotto coupon! If you're going with kids, make sure to grab these when you reserve.

LG Art Center was designed by Tadao Ando, so the building itself is a sight to see. Every time I come here I think it's so large and elegant that it'd be great for bringing along elders or guests too!

What is the interior of Romaok Magok like?

Past the big arch at the entrance, each arched alcove in the wall holds a statue, and one wall is stacked with wine bottles all the way up to the ceiling.

On the long wooden table in the center there are candlesticks, dried flowers, even an angel statue on top — it felt like walking into some shop in Europe...! The ceiling keeps the raw concrete look, so it feels sleek rather than heavy. With rattan chairs and an open kitchen visible, I started taking photos the second I sat down.

The restaurant's name is fun too — Roma (Rome) plus ok (屋), meaning "house." True to the name, a lot of the menu blends Italian cooking with Korean ingredients. It's also a Blue Ribbon-recognized spot.

What we ordered for lunch with mom, and what it cost

We ordered the pine nut caprese, abalone geou pasta, maesaengi scallop risotto, and a non-alcoholic mojito.

Pine nut caprese (17,000 won)

The best dish of the meal...! Jujube tomatoes and black tomatoes topped with pine nut fromage blanc, finished with white balsamic and arugula. If you go to Romaok, definitely order this salad haha. I think I'd order it again next time too!

Abalone geou pasta (26,000 won)

Linguine pasta tossed with abalone steamed on kelp and geou (abalone roe) sauce. Garlic scapes and chorizo went in too, which gave it that feel of Korean ingredients reimagined the Italian way.

Maesaengi seaweed scallop risotto (26,000 won)

A risotto with scallops and shrimp, maesaengi (fine seaweed), perilla oil, and barley. It wasn't heavily seasoned and had a clean flavor, so it was easy to enjoy with my mom too.

For drinks, I chose the non-alcoholic mojito. It was a refreshing alternative to alcohol for a daytime meal.

A walk through Seoul Botanic Park after lunch

Seoul Botanic Park is right in front of Romaok. It was nice to walk it off after eating. It's a great route for lunch followed by a walk, just like we did!

What was disappointing, and the 15:00–17:00 break time

With pasta and risotto at ₩26,000, it's a bit pricey for a casual meal. It feels more suited to a day when you want to make a bit of an effort — an anniversary, or hosting guests. There's a break time (15:00–17:00), so if you're going for a late lunch, make sure to check the hours.

Eating well with my mom in a nice atmosphere and then walking it off made for a full day haha. Next time I want to come back in the evening with my husband for a glass of wine.

If you're looking for good restaurants near Magoknaru or LG Art Center, I recommend Romaok Magok!