Hapjeong Italian restaurant with lemon calamari pasta: Riike

I was looking for a nice-atmosphere restaurant near Hapjeong Station and ended up at Riike. It's close to the station but tucked in a bit, so it never feels crowded — a great spot for a date. They serve a range of Italian dishes like pasta, risotto, and lasagna, making it a place where you can eat with real atmosphere.

How to find Riike from Hapjeong Station

About a 5-minute walk from Hapjeong Station, Riike has that hidden-gem feel. Being close to the station, it's easy to access.

Inside Riike: 16 seats and wide table spacing

It's a cozy restaurant with about 16 seats! Since there aren't too many tables and the spacing between them is generous, you can eat in a relaxed, calm atmosphere overall.

A warm yet clean atmosphere, perfect for a Hapjeong date course! A space that's great for quiet, cozy conversation.

It's a one-chef Italian restaurant with an open kitchen, which made it feel trustworthy — recommended!

Overall it felt clean and neat! There were even blankets.

Riike's menu and what we ordered

• Gamtae vongole pasta ₩17,000
• Classic lasagna ₩18,000
• Bread spread ₩7,000
• Jambon caesar salad ₩12,000
• Salmon chamnamul salad ₩14,000
• White ragu pasta ₩19,000

Lemon calamari pasta ₩18,000, pollack roe cream risotto ₩17,000, glass of wine ₩8,000. Main dishes are reasonably priced in the ₩10,000s range! They have a variety of pasta, risotto, gnocchi, plus drinks and wine. On this visit I ordered the bread spread, gamtae vongole pasta, and lemon calamari pasta!

The meal: bread spread and two pastas

Bread spread, 7,000 won

A perfect appetizer — bread spread pairing grilled rye bread with ricotta cheese and truffle. With a subtle truffle aroma, the soft ricotta spread on the rye bread was insanely good! The rye bread was slightly crispy on the outside and light, nutty on the inside. Before the pasta arrived, we kept picking pieces off and it disappeared fast!!

Gamtae (sea lettuce) vongole pasta, 17,000 won

A clean, fragrant gamtae (sea tangle) vongole pasta! I heard it's Riike's signature dish, so I was curious and ordered it. They were generous with the gamtae, and it paired well with the refreshing clam flavor.

A light vongole where the gamtae aroma fills your mouth along with the clam meat, giving off a real ocean scent and rich flavor! There was zero fishiness — just the gamtae's savoriness blending beautifully with the vongole pasta itself. Not overpowering but addictive, the kind of taste that keeps you reaching for more — a must-order for anyone who loves seafood or vongole!!

Lemon calamari pasta, 18,000 won

Fan-shaped squid and sun-dried tomatoes sautéed in garlic oil. Squeeze on the lemon and the fragrance doubles! The squid was cooked to perfect doneness — not chewy at all, with really great texture. The tomato's mild acidity plus the kick of garlic made for a spicy pasta!!! Overall, the dishes here had a clean, refreshing taste.

Is Riike a good Hapjeong date restaurant?

If you're looking for a good-atmosphere Hapjeong date restaurant, or a Hapjeong pasta spot with distinctive dishes, I recommend Riike, a one-chef Italian restaurant with great atmosphere!!