Songpa Italian restaurant near Jamsil Station: Mano di Chef

A lovely Italian restaurant near Jamsil Station

I met a friend around Jamsil for lunch this time, and Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch was so pretty and delicious that I already want to come back with my boyfriend next time~~

Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch is on Basement 1 of Tower 730. Parking is available, so it is convenient for anyone driving, and it is also easy to find right by Exit 7 of Jamsil Station, which was great~

Once you head down to Basement 1, the big Mano di Chef storefront comes right into view, so it was easy to find!

The pretty chandelier lighting, warm atmosphere, and lush green plants dotted around the restaurant suited the Italian-restaurant vibe so well. I came with a friend, but I immediately thought it would be such a pretty, atmospheric spot to visit with my boyfriend for an anniversary too, haha.

There was also a private dining area separated from the main hall, which looked perfect for holding a family meal or group gathering on its own!

The dining room itself was spacious, and the lighting and interior were especially pretty, so it was fun just looking around—and easy to get swept up in the mood, haha.

What comes with the two-person set

Here is the menu! There were so many Italian dishes, from salads and steak to pasta, risotto, and pizza. Nothing felt predictable; there were lots of special-looking dishes, so everything sounded delicious and choosing was so hard ><

With a set, you can enjoy a variety of dishes for nearly ₩30,000 less, so we decided to order the two-person set. You choose two from pasta, gnocchi, risotto, rice, and plates; one from pizza, Italian garden salad, and grilled chicken Caesar salad; and one from house red wine, fresh ade, and Americano. It was exactly the set combination we liked even more than ordering everything separately!!

Our two-person special set

• Two-person special set ₩89,900
• Gamtae (seaweed) pesto & octopus gnocchi
• Vongole aglio e olio pasta
• Margherita pizza
• Fresh ade – orange ade

Vongole aglio e olio loaded with clams

This was a deeply flavored aglio e olio pasta topped with loads of fresh marsh clams, seasoned with garlic and anchovies. Aglio e olio is already a garlic-and-olive-oil pasta, and vongole is also an oil pasta with clams and olive oil, so I thought it might be hard to give it enough character—but it was so delicious ><

There were especially so many marsh clams on top that I could put one on every bite of pasta and still not run out; by the end, I was picking up clams to eat on their own, haha. And that clam-stock-based sauce you can see beside it was packed with flavor and savory goodness, so it was even more heavenly when I tossed the pasta well in the broth as I lifted it up....!

Even piling several clams onto each bite did not feel skimpy, and the noodles had exactly the pleasantly springy texture I love. This was seriously one of the tastiest vongole aglio e olios I have had in a while ><

Savory gamtae pesto & octopus gnocchi

This is Mano di Chef's signature house-made gnocchi, served with a gamtae pesto sauce enriched with their special Gorgonzola and tender octopus. Wow..... it was honestly one of the best gnocchi dishes I have ever had!!!!! The sauce was so good, and every single part—the gnocchi and the octopus—was delicious, so the combination needs no further explanation~~

From the moment it arrived, the potato gnocchi and octopus sitting over that green cream base looked so pretty that I was already thinking, this is going to be good~~

The gnocchi itself was wonderfully chewy and nutty, but the sauce especially hit every note for me....... I could not quite imagine a gamtae-based cream sauce, but it was a soft, creamy sauce with just the right amount of savory umami... ridiculously good.

The octopus was grilled with a sweet sauce on the outside, a bit like the kind of octopus from a highway rest stop, and it was tender rather than tough!! Add a generous spoonful of that delicious sauce, and it was the kind of gnocchi that automatically makes you furrow your brow in genuine delight....

Margherita pizza for a bright balance

This is a traditional Italian pizza with handmade dough, tomato sauce, Italian mozzarella, and lots of fresh basil. Since the gnocchi had a cream base and the pasta had an oil base, I ordered a tomato-based pizza in case the meal became too rich—and good call!

The thin dough was chewy and lovely, but above all, the basil on top was so fresh that its aroma really came alive. The tomato and cheese were such a great match too; nothing was lacking, and I ate every bite happily, brow furrowed in delight and practically humming ><

The orange ade was tart and sweet, and taking a sip here and there made it feel like my palate could start all over again, haha.

They can register your parking right in the restaurant, and takeout customers get 20% off too—anyone living nearby who can pick up dishes like these is so lucky... With tender, savory gnocchi, flavor-packed clam pasta, and fragrant Margherita pizza, I had such a happy meal at Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch after a long time. A real recommendation!!!!