Euljiro 4-ga buffet with yaki udon and tempura: Hotel Kukdo Patio

I'm actually not a huge fan of buffets. At a typical buffet there are tons of dishes, but when you actually fill your plate, there are usually only a handful of things you actually want to eat. So even for hotel buffets, I tend to prefer places where every dish is delicious, even if there aren't a huge number of options, over places that just pile on variety.

This time I went for lunch in Euljiro 4-ga and my mind completely changed. A buffet that comes with flat iron steak, for 29,800 won. On top of that, you can enjoy sake and matcha too — at first I wondered if the price was actually right. The place I visited was Hotel Kukdo Patio.

Where is Hotel Kukdo Patio and when does lunch run?

Hotel Kukdo Patio is a buffet restaurant located at 164 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, inside Hotel Kukdo. It's close to Exit 10 of Euljiro 4-ga Station, so it's easy to find. I never expected to find a lunch gem like this in Euljiro 4-ga. I think the location would be especially convenient for anyone looking for a lunch spot or a company dinner venue in Euljiro.

According to the hotel's current official notice, Hotel Kukdo Patio's weekday lunch runs from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM, with last food order at 1:30 PM. The price is 29,800 won, and the format is an Asian food buffet plus a choice of main dish. You'd expect a hotel restaurant to be pricey right off the bat, but here it's under 30,000 won, which makes it approachable even for a casual lunch gathering.

Can someone who doesn't like buffets still enjoy Hotel Kukdo Patio?

Even for me, someone who's not really into buffets, Hotel Kukdo Patio's buffet was different. The biggest reason I avoid buffets is the sheer number of dishes — even with over 100 options, you end up eating the same handful in the end. But Hotel Kukdo Patio isn't a massive buffet with countless items; instead, each individual dish was satisfying. The shrimp and fried items in particular were crispy, and the stir-fried udon was delicious too.

One of the menus that impressed me most was the seafood selection, like shrimp and abalone — the shrimp was plump with great texture, so I ended up going back for more several times.

There were also menus like chicken teriyaki, kushikatsu (skewered fried cutlets), and butagakuni (braised pork belly), plus salad, fruit, and desserts, so it never felt like a meal was lacking. It felt less like a buffet competing on quantity and more like one packed with genuinely enjoyable dishes.

Flat iron steak or seafood tomato pasta — which main should you pick?

The real star of Hotel Kukdo Patio's lunch is the flat iron steak. I thought the buffet alone would be worth 29,800 won, but on top of that, the main dish is included too.

For the main, you can choose between flat iron steak or seafood tomato pasta. I naturally chose the steak. My friend chose the pasta. I think the steak was tastier than the pasta.

The steak came out thicker than expected, and the meat was fairly tender, making it a great way to finish off after trying all the buffet items. The sauce in particular was so good that I kept dipping the steak in it again and again. What I liked most was that this wasn't a steak ordered separately on top of the buffet — it was included in the 29,800 won.

Can you enjoy sake and matcha at Hotel Kukdo Patio too?

The part of Hotel Kukdo Patio's lunch that surprised me most was the sake and matcha. Sake too? I had to double-check the price. You can enjoy sake alongside Asian food, and matcha is available as well, letting you set a different mood while eating.

If drinking alcohol starting at lunch feels like a lot, you can go with matcha, coffee, or tea instead. On the other hand, if you're having a casual lunch with friends or want to make a work dinner a bit special, being able to add sake is genuinely fun. So instead of just calling Hotel Kukdo Patio an Euljiro lunch buffet, I'd describe it like this:

A hotel lunch where you get buffet + steak + sake all in one

It was amazing to find this combination for under 30,000 won.

What's the atmosphere and staff service like at Hotel Kukdo Patio?

At Hotel Kukdo Patio, it's not just the food that's good — the atmosphere and staff were great too. What surprisingly stuck with me was how kind the staff were. They always greeted us with a smile, and it didn't feel forced — it felt like genuine kindness that was just part of who they are. It was a different vibe from the restrained politeness you'd find at a 5-star hotel. More like a happy-virus kind of warmth that puts you at ease.

The restaurant's interior was clean too, and if you sit by the window, you can dine while looking out over downtown Euljiro, which adds a nice touch of atmosphere.

When I visited, the place was nearly full of guests, but even with group customers around, it didn't feel chaotic. The tables were spaced generously apart, and with many business customers around, it wasn't a noisy atmosphere either.

We actually took our time eating and even had coffee afterward, so closing time for lunch was approaching, and around then guests started trickling out one by one. Hotel Kukdo Patio also accepts group use and group reservations, so it seems like a great option for a work dinner, family gathering, or get-together with friends in Euljiro.

Would I recommend Hotel Kukdo Patio as a lunch spot in Euljiro 4-ga?

I'm still a little amazed. A lunch with steak plus an Asian buffet plus sake and matcha, all for 29,800 won. Above all, the biggest point was that even as someone who doesn't particularly like buffets, I was fully satisfied because the food was genuinely tasty. It didn't feel like a generic buffet competing on quantity, but one where you could pick what you wanted and enjoy a satisfying meal.

The staff were kind and the atmosphere was nice too, so it's a place I'd want to come back to with family. If I brought friends here, I think they'd really say

"Does a place like this actually exist?"

I think this is a place that will surprise you once with the price, once with the taste, and once more with the atmosphere. I want to go back again before the price goes up.

Brownie rating: 5 out of 5. My standard is clear — if I'm in Euljiro 4-ga with family, would I bring my picky family members here? Hotel Kukdo Patio is a must-bring spot, no question!!

• Value for money
• Emotional value for money
• Taste
• Service
• Cleanliness

All of it was satisfying. I think it's a hotel restaurant I can recommend to family.