Yeoksam Station solo dining Italian: jalapeño aglio olio, Mano di Chef

Today I'm bringing you a review of a proper pasta meal at Mano di Chef Gangnam, a Blue Ribbon-winning bisque pasta spot in Gangnam. My office is near Samseong Station, and when I asked around for good restaurants nearby, someone told me Mano di Chef was delicious. I looked it up and found out there was a Gangnam branch, so I went straight over.

Where is Mano di Chef Gangnam? Bithumb Financial Tower, B1

Mano di Chef Gangnam sits roughly between Gangnam Station and Yeoksam Station, on the basement floor of the Bithumb building — just look for the building in the photo.

If you enter where I took these photos, head down to B1 and go straight — you'll find Mano di Chef Gangnam, that bisque pasta spot everyone in Gangnam talks about, right away.

Turns out Mano di Chef Gangnam has held a Blue Ribbon for two years running since 2025. Haha.

What the dining room at Mano di Chef Gangnam looks like

The moment I walked in, I felt like I'd stepped into a fancy fine-dining spot. It would be great for bringing your parents, or even for entertaining clients. Haha.

The interior was really clean and tidy. The staff service was especially good, giving it more of a premium Western-food-restaurant feel, which I loved even more. There are also private rooms, so it'd work well for special occasions too.

Mano di Chef Gangnam menu and prices

The menu was genuinely varied for an Italian restaurant — set menus, an all-you-can-eat option, risotto, pasta, pizza, and more.

What I ordered for a solo meal

• Grilled Chicken & Caesar Salad ₩21,900
• Jalapeño Aglio Olio Pasta ₩27,900

Since I was dining solo, I ordered one salad and one pasta.

Grilled Chicken & Caesar Salad, 21,900 won

The grilled chicken & Caesar salad arrived first, and what surprised me most was how much bigger the portion was than expected. Hahahahahaha.

The salad portion was quite substantial, and the staff kindly explained that since there's dressing, I should mix it well before eating.

Honestly, I was surprised by how good the salad was. Salad tossed generously with dressing is always a winner... it was loaded with cheese, and the dressing was tasty without being overpowering, giving it a healthy taste. The amount of chicken was just right too. Since I've been working out lately and trying to get my protein in, this was actually perfect. Hehe, hahahaha.

Jalapeño Aglio Olio pasta, 27,900 won: how spicy is it?

Next up, the jalapeño aglio olio pasta! This portion was also pretty generous. I have a moderate appetite so I managed fine, but if you eat normal-sized portions, this one alone might fill you up.

The salad and pasta combo worked really well together, so I was very satisfied overall. The staff also kept checking in to see if I needed anything, which made the experience even better.

The jalapeño aglio olio pasta was spicier than I expected. If you can't handle spice, take note — the staff even offered to leave out the peppers for me. I got to have a proper meal of both pasta and salad at Mano di Chef Gangnam, a Blue Ribbon-winning bisque pasta spot in Gangnam. Haha.

Is Mano di Chef Gangnam comfortable for solo diners?

Partway through the meal, they brought out pickles, and honestly that was more of a highlight than I expected. The pasta was on the spicy side so it wasn't greasy, but the pickles gave a nice refresh in between bites.

I'm curious about the other pasta dishes too, so I plan to come back and try more. Mano di Chef Gangnam feels like the kind of place best enjoyed with a group so you can order a variety of dishes — eating alone, you miss out on that a bit. Haha. Blue Ribbon spots are generally a safe bet, and Mano di Chef Gangnam definitely lived up to that — I left very satisfied. Haha. If you're looking for a solid Italian restaurant in Gangnam, give Mano di Chef Gangnam a try!!

Mano di Chef Gangnam address and hours

• Mano di Chef Gangnam
• 129 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Bithumb Financial Tower B1)
• Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–21:30 / Sat–Sun 11:00–21:00