Parents' anniversary dinner for four at Hado, a Suwon course

Suwon course dining for dates and anniversaries, Hado

An atmosphere and tableware built for celebrations — romantic dining done right

I wanted to celebrate my parents' wedding anniversary, so my brother and I set up a dinner together. I searched a long time for the best course-dining spot in Suwon and ended up booking Hado, near Haenggung-dong (Suwon's old palace district). After going, I kept thinking how special the whole evening had been.

A place where every table gets its own CD player

What surprised me the moment we walked in — every table has its own CD player you can put on yourself. Eating while a record spun in the background gave the whole meal a completely different feel. Since it was for my parents' anniversary, it felt even more special, almost like the dinner had been arranged just for our family.

We booked 8pm for four — my parents, my brother, and me. Hado's base course was 45,000 won, running through two starters, a main pasta, steak, and dessert. For the steak you can choose chicken breast sous vide or beef sous vide, with the beef costing 21,000 won extra.

Hado's base course lineup and drink prices

• Starter — Sweet pea tart / Sweet shrimp apple tart
• Main — Minari (water dropwort) yuzu bisque pasta (swappable)
• Protein — Chicken breast sous vide steak or beef sous vide steak (+21,000 won)
• Dessert — Earl Grey ice cream
• Beverage & Wine — House Wine (red/white) 8,000 won
• Green grape ade / lemon lavender ade / Earl Grey ade 6,000 won
• Cola, cider 3,000 won
• Raspberry red sangria / lemon white spritzer 10,000 won

1. Sweet pea tart and sweet shrimp apple tart

We got to watch the chef prepare each dish right at our table, and he explained every course, which made it feel even more special. The sweet pea tart had a crust made from ground peas, showcasing different textures of pea on one plate, paired with a slightly sweet potato purée to balance the tartness, he said. The sweet shrimp apple tart came as a bite-sized piece, easy to enjoy without any pressure.

2. Minari yuzu bisque pasta, swapped to taste

The default main is a minari yuzu bisque pasta, piled high with minari (water dropwort) so the aroma really came through. Fried quinoa on top added a fun crunch too. He said we could swap it for carbonara, vongole, bisque, squid ink oil, or pomodoro at no extra cost, so each of us picked something different and shared.

3. Chicken breast for three, beef for one — sous vide steaks

For steak, you choose between chicken breast sous vide and beef sous vide — three of us went with chicken and one with beef. It costs 21,000 won more, but cooking it sous vide kept it tender with the juices intact. The plating had carrots that pair well with chicken underneath, topped with potato purée, mini carrots, crushed garlic, and a red wine-based sauce. Having tried both, I'd honestly recommend the beef.

Partway through dinner, my mom said, "Should we book here for my birthday dinner with friends too?"

4. Earl Grey ice cream

The last course was Earl Grey ice cream — cream infused with Earl Grey tea, topped with salted caramel. Sweet with a subtle Earl Grey aroma, it wrapped up the meal cleanly right to the last bite.

Who this is for

The mood set by CDs and records, the open kitchen where the chef cooks and explains each dish himself, and a course where both the pasta and steak can be chosen to taste — nothing was missing for an anniversary dinner. It would also suit anyone wanting quiet, special surroundings for a real conversation. The base course alone adds up for four people, so I'd recommend saving it for a special occasion.

I felt genuinely proud being able to celebrate my parents' anniversary this way. If you're looking for a good course-dining restaurant in Suwon, especially for a meaningful family occasion, Hado is worth a visit.