Yeongdeungpo brunch café with parking: rose corn gnocchi at Mela

Yesterday my friend and I made plans to go shopping at Yeongdeungpo Times Square. Before shopping, we decided to grab a light brunch at a Times Square café first, so we headed to Mela, a well-known spot near Yeongdeungpo Station.

Since it's inside the mall, it was easy to get to and we could shop right after eating, so I'm introducing it as a Yeongdeungpo Times Square restaurant. Today I'll go through the menu I tried and the vibe of the place.

Where is Mela Times Square, and when does it open?

Mela is right across from H&M on the 1st floor of Times Square, near GATE4, so it wasn't hard to find. It's also close to Yeongdeungpo Station, making it convenient by public transit.

We visited around the 11am opening time, so it was pretty quiet. I liked that there's no break time here. It's also worth keeping in mind if you're looking for somewhere near Yeongdeungpo Station for a late lunch or early dinner. If you're planning shopping and a meal together, it's a good spot for a light bite as a Times Square restaurant.

Inside Mela: a bright Yeongdeungpo brunch café with a full window wall

Mela Times Square is a Yeongdeungpo brunch café inside the mall, but one wall is a large picture window, so the interior felt bright and open rather than closed in.

The high ceilings added to the sense of openness, and the tables were spaced generously apart. My friend and I sat right by the window and enjoyed a relaxed brunch before shopping.

It was quiet since it was a weekday morning, but I imagine weekends draw a lot of people looking for a Times Square restaurant, so it might be worth checking on reservations before visiting. It also felt like a good Times Square café to enjoy coffee along with your meal.

What's on the menu at Mela, and what we ordered

I heard Mela is run using recipes from a culinary researcher trained at ICIF, an Italian cooking school.

Along with the usual Yeongdeungpo brunch café fare, the menu ranged from pasta to gnocchi, risotto, and salad, so there was plenty to choose from.

After some deliberation, we ordered the minari (water celery) vongole pasta and the rose sauce corn gnocchi.

With such a wide range of Western dishes, it seems like a good place to visit with a group too. If you're looking for a spot near Yeongdeungpo Station where you can enjoy both pasta and brunch dishes together, this might be worth a look.

How does the minari vongole pasta taste?

The minari vongole pasta caught the eye right away with plump clams piled on top.

A generous pile of minari gave off a fragrant aroma first, and the light olive oil base paired well with the savory clams and the pasta itself.

The clam meat was plump too, so it was fun picking each one out of the shell. Minari in pasta? It felt unfamiliar at first, but thanks to the minari, I got a bit of a health boost while eating something clean and not greasy at all.

Honestly, this was my favorite dish of the day, so if you're looking for pasta near Yeongdeungpo Station, it's worth trying. It would also suit anyone wanting something a little different.

Rose corn gnocchi: grilled corn is the highlight

Mela's rose sauce corn gnocchi had chewy yet soft gnocchi, and the rose sauce struck a nice balance between creaminess and tanginess.

The sauce was appealingly slightly salty and rich, and the grilled corn piled on top was the real highlight. The corn had a hint of smoky char, and eating it together with the gnocchi made for a sweet-and-savory combo that worked really well.

These are dishes that could easily feel ordinary, but each one had a little extra touch, so it's worth keeping in mind when picking Times Square menu items to order alongside pasta.

Parking validation at Times Square and other visiting tips

Mela is a Yeongdeungpo Station Times Square restaurant that's convenient for parking! With a bill of ₩20,000 or more you get 30 minutes, ₩30,000 or more gets 1 hour, and ₩50,000 or more gets up to 2 hours of parking support — so if you're planning to shop too, be sure to grab your parking voucher.

We got seated right away with no wait on a weekday, but it's best to book ahead on weekends or during peak hours. It's great being able to take care of both a meal and shopping in one trip near Yeongdeungpo Station, right? Even if a full meal doesn't fit the time, it's a good Yeongdeungpo brunch café to swing by before or after shopping, so I think I'll be back often. It also works well as a Times Square café for tea time alongside brunch.

Is Mela worth a late-morning meal before shopping?

Mela near Yeongdeungpo Station was the spot we chose for a light brunch with a friend before shopping. Both the pasta and gnocchi were delicious, and the open, airy feel thanks to the window wall was satisfying too. With no break time, it's an easy Yeongdeungpo brunch café to visit whenever, without worrying about timing.

If you're looking for a Times Square café, it's nice that this is more than just a coffee spot — you can enjoy a full meal too. Worth remembering Mela if you're near Yeongdeungpo Station craving Western food like pasta or pizza. Next time I'll be trying some of the other dishes :)