Gangnam Station Western food for friends, omurice & steak: Eulji Darak

I recently had a get-together with friends near Gangnam Station after a long time, so we went to Eulji Darak (을지다락) Gangnam, a Western restaurant that's been blowing up on Instagram and blogs lately.

Gangnam Station and Sinsa are so crowded and packed with restaurants that I get decision paralysis every single time, right? Especially when you're planning a wedding invitation meetup for people you care about, or a special date, it's surprisingly tricky to find somewhere with a nice mood and good value. Eulji Darak Gangnam has a classy interior, pretty plating and generous portions for the price, and I really loved it, so I wanted to tell you about it.

Where is Eulji Darak Gangnam?

Eulji Darak Gangnam is on the 2nd floor of a clean, modern building at 22 Gangnam-daero 96-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It's really easy to reach from the subway station, so it's perfect as a meeting spot.

Is the entrance really shaped like an elevator?

Yes! The door looks like an elevator, so the fun starts the moment you arrive. The resemblance is so perfect that first-timers might stand there pressing the button for a while, thinking it's a real elevator, or just get flustered.

My friend and I had a good laugh and walked in in a great mood. Quirky touches like this seem like a nice way to get a conversation going if you come on a date.

What is the interior like?

Inside, it's a wide, open, airy space with a clean, bright interior in white and beige. Cozy lighting adds to it, giving the whole place a classy, comfortable feel.

The tables are spaced generously, and the simple but moody atmosphere is just right for a wedding invitation meetup or a blind date in the middle of Gangnam. The window seats have floor-to-ceiling glass, so I imagine it would be lovely for a sunny daytime brunch.

Shaking a bell instead of pressing a buzzer

At Eulji Darak Gangnam you don't press a call button; you ring a bell the staff give you to call them over. After looking around and sitting down, the ordering method caught my eye too, because it's so fresh and unusual.

You shake a classic, cute little hand bell to call the staff. It's an analog, unique touch you don't see much these days, so even the ordering was a little bit of fun.

What did we order at Eulji Darak Gangnam?

We picked the signature, best-selling dishes: the katsu sando (pork cutlet sandwich), which works as dessert or a meal, the omurice (omelet rice) with its picture-perfect looks, and a hearty meat dish, the pork neck steak. The table was nicely full.

Omurice: fluffy egg and house-made sauce

The omurice is served with a plump, golden, soft omelet draped over the fried rice like an umbrella. I tried it first, and the soft, fluffy egg just melted in my mouth.

The sweet, deeply flavored house-made sauce goes fantastically with the loosely fried rice. It's the kind of taste anyone, young or old, can enjoy with no dislikes.

Katsu sando: thick cutlet and moist bread

The katsu sando has a thick, juicy, tender pork cutlet tucked between moist slices of bread. The moment I took a bite, the outside was soft and the inside burst with chewy meat and juice. I couldn't help exclaiming.

Add a bit of the tartar sauce or salad that comes with it and it cuts the richness while boosting the nuttiness, so you can keep eating endlessly. The quality was great even as a light side.

Pork neck steak: smoky grill flavor and roasted vegetable garnish

The pork neck steak arrived looking appetizing, with a smoky grilled aroma. It was the dish I was most looking forward to last. The meat comes sliced into bite-size pieces, tender yet properly chewy, and the special sauce had soaked in, so the flavor was excellent.

It comes with soft mashed potatoes and a colorful mix of roasted vegetables, like cherry tomatoes, broccoli, eggplant and asparagus. Eating them together with the meat, I was seriously satisfied the whole time. Considering the quality and portions, the prices are reasonable, and I don't think it's easy to find a place with this good value around Gangnam Station.

Who is Eulji Darak Gangnam for?

I recommend Eulji Darak Gangnam to anyone near Gangnam Station looking for a foolproof date spot or a tidy place to treat people at a wedding invitation meetup. From the clean, trendy atmosphere to the quirky door and ordering style, and above all the high-quality Western dishes at a fair price, it made for a really happy day. Don't overthink it, I'd strongly recommend stopping by.