Apgujeong private-room restaurant, summer stamina course: Hallasan

Once the hot summer kicks in, I naturally start thinking about restorative food. This time I went looking for a nice private-room restaurant in Apgujeong and ended up at Hallasan Cheongdam (한라산 청담), a place I'd been curious about for a long time.

Hallasan Cheongdam is known for private rooms and course meals made with fresh seafood and seasonal ingredients brought in from Jeju, so my expectations were high. Having been, I get why it's good for important gatherings, dinners with parents and anniversaries. Today I'll walk you through the summer health course I ate myself.

Hallasan Cheongdam location, hours and reservations

Hallasan Cheongdam is in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, around Apgujeong Rodeo, and is open every day from 11:30 to 22:00. Valet parking is available, and you can book through Naver.

• Location: Cheongdam-dong, around Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
• Hours: daily 11:30–22:00
• Break time: 15:00–17:30
• Check the last order time before you go
• Valet parking available
• Naver reservation available

I booked through Naver and got the time I wanted without any fuss. Hallasan Cheongdam was also featured on a TV show as a restaurant recommended by Se-ri Pak, so I was even more excited.

What is the atmosphere of the rooms at Hallasan Cheongdam?

The rooms are private and divided by partitions, so the neighboring tables barely bothered us and we could talk quietly. The first things I noticed when I walked in were the artworks and how well the rooms were done.

I can see why so many people come for family gatherings, meetings with future in-laws, business entertaining, meetings and anniversary dinners. The atmosphere is upscale without feeling overwhelming, which impressed me.

Hallasan Cheongdam summer health course: price and lineup

What I ordered was Hallasan Cheongdam's summer health course, ₩150,000 per person. Here is the menu.

The course changes with the seasons, and in summer it centers on Jeju ingredients that suit restorative eating.

Looking at the menu, the lineup is pretty generous.

• 6-kind seafood box
• Sweet shrimp, sea urchin roe and avocado
• Seasonal sashimi
• Special health dishes
• Grilled Jeju silver cutlassfish
• Health rice pot
• Braised side
• Soup
• Dessert

It felt less like a single meal and more like a proper course.

Fresh from the start: sweet shrimp, sea urchin roe and avocado

The summer course starts with abalone porridge and vegetables, and the first dish after that was sweet shrimp, sea urchin roe and avocado. Truffle salt comes with it too, so try it on the side.

The staff kindly explained how to eat it wrapped in seaweed, and from the first bite I understood right away why freshness matters.

The sea urchin roe in particular was really creamy with no fishy taste, and the sweet shrimp kept its sweetness.

The plating was so pretty for photos, so I was already happy from the very start.

The sweet shrimp is so sweet, sweet! 👍👍

A feast for the eyes first: the 6-kind seafood box

The 6-kind seafood box that came next was truly overwhelming.

It was generously packed with slipper lobster, abalone, turban shell, scallop, and more, and it was fun to try them one by one.

Maybe because it was brought in from Jeju, the texture was great and the natural flavor of each ingredient came through. It looked gorgeous too, so I thought it was a perfect lineup for a special day.

Even better in summer: seasonal sashimi and cutlassfish sashimi

True to a summer course, seasonal sashimi came out as well.

We got to try various kinds of sashimi including cutlassfish, and the cutlassfish is the one I remember most. The chewy yet tender texture was impressive, and it was even better wrapped in seaweed. It's not something you can easily find, so it felt extra special.

Special health dishes: croaker and abalone soup, katsu sando, cutlassfish jeon

Special health dishes followed in the middle of the course.

From the dish made with croaker and abalone to the katsu sando (breaded cutlet sandwich) and the cutlassfish jeon (pan-fried patties), everything was special.

The soup with croaker and abalone was really clear, and the broth was made rich and well!

In the Hallasan Cheongdam reviews everyone said the katsu sando was great, and I knew why the moment I took a bite! Definitely try it ;)

And the cutlassfish jeon with scallion salad 👍👍

Grilled Jeju silver cutlassfish, prepared for you by the staff

For the grilled Jeju silver cutlassfish, the staff prepared the fish caught in Jeju so it was easy to eat, which made it even more comfortable to enjoy.

It was crispy outside and moist inside, with a lovely nutty flavor. It felt like meeting again in Seoul the silver cutlassfish I'd eaten on a Jeju trip, so it was extra welcome.

A hearty finish with warm seafood hot pot and the health rice pot

After the cold seafood, the warm haesintang (seafood hot pot) made the flow of the course really nice.

The hot pot was generously filled with vegetables and octopus, and the broth had real depth.

With the health rice pot that came next, the end of the course was really filling. Topping it with the braised side that came along was 👍. The portion was quite big, so I finished the meal completely full.

Dessert: watermelon shaved ice

And it's still not over.. watermelon shaved ice too 🫢🫢

They topped the shaved ice with fruit so carefully. We sprinkled on all the condensed milk, red beans and puffed rice. This is honestly the best course meal I've ever had! My husband and I are good eaters, but this day I thought my stomach would burst :)

Who is Hallasan Cheongdam recommended for?

Hallasan Cheongdam isn't just a place with good food; the space and service were satisfying too. The biggest plus was being able to eat at leisure in a private room, and being able to enjoy a varied course using Jeju ingredients in Seoul was appealing as well.

The price is on the higher side, but for a meal with your parents, an anniversary or an important gathering, I think the lineup is more than satisfying. If you're looking for a private-room restaurant in Apgujeong, I recommend Hallasan Cheongdam for a proper course meal in a quiet atmosphere.