Seongbuk brunch with truffle risotto: 37.5 Signature Mia Branch

A late brunch after getting our nails done

Wow... the weather was seriously gorgeous... My sister and I got our nails done nearby, then went out for a late brunch :) I’d been looking around the neighborhood for something to eat lately, and I was craving brunch so badly! The place we chose was 37.5 Signature Mia Branch.

Sudden hand photo... haha. My sister and I had just finished getting our nails done, but the timing had somehow slipped past lunch... It felt a shame to just grab anything quick, and since we wanted to sit down and eat at leisure for once, I searched for somewhere with brunch dishes and found 37.5 Signature Mia Branch.

I was surprised there were quite a few people when we arrived. We came later than the usual lunch rush, so I thought it would be quiet, but so many tables were still eating! I guess it really is a popular neighborhood brunch spot.

A spacious, comfortable atmosphere

The overall atmosphere was clean and comfortable. It wasn’t overly formal, so it was great for an easy meal with my sister; I also thought it would be nice for brunch with friends or a family meal. More than anything, getting our nails done and then eating something delicious somehow put me in an even better mood, hahaha. Isn’t that exactly what the little joys in life are?

I took a few photos of the clean, spacious interior~ The first thing I noticed upon entering was how tidy everything was and how much room there was. When you go out for brunch, you know those places where the tables are crammed together, so you become aware of the next table’s conversation, or the place feels chaotic as soon as there are a few people...? But at 37.5 Signature Mia Branch, the tables were nicely spaced out, which I loved~

There were plenty of customers when I visited too, but because the restaurant itself was so spacious, it never felt stuffy. The tables were neatly arranged overall, and the place felt bright and pleasant, so it was fine to linger over brunch. With so much space, it also looked good for visits with friends or family, and there really were diners of all ages when we went.

Sharing pasta, risotto, and salad

That day, we ordered three things: one pasta, one risotto, and a salad. When two people visit, I think it’s best to order one dish each and share! (Well, the salad doesn’t really count as a menu item... it’s a side, haha.) Ordering two different mains and eating them together lets you try more things than each person having only one dish~

If you go to 37.5 Signature Mia Branch, you absolutely have to get the truffle risotto..♥

It’s known as a great brunch place, but the portions were bigger than I expected~???? The two of us didn’t leave anything, but we ate until we were seriously stuffed haha.

What was the Caesar salad like?

Whenever I have brunch, I personally like ordering a salad alongside it. Eating some between bites of the mains feels like it refreshes my palate, which I love. The Caesar salad had crisp vegetables with a great texture, and it felt fresh overall.

There was just enough dressing on top, so it wasn’t bland, and it had that distinct Caesar flavor—nutty and nicely salty.

I especially liked that it came with croutons; the crunchy bites throughout made it more interesting than eating only soft vegetables. With the nutty cheese added too, it was less simple than expected, and the flavors went together well!

Chicken cream risotto with a gentle truffle aroma

The dish I remembered most from that day was the truffle chicken cream risotto. I usually like dishes with mushrooms, so I ordered it without much hesitation, and the mushroom flavor went even better than expected with the nutty, smooth risotto~ Above all, I loved how the distinctive truffle aroma came through gently, giving every bite a fragrant lift. Truffle can be divisive when the aroma is too strong, but for me it was mild enough to enjoy comfortably, haha.

The risotto wasn’t overly soft—the rice grains still had some texture, so it was creamy while still giving you something to chew. The creamy sauce was well absorbed into the rice, making each bite taste rich and nutty! Pieces of mushroom added texture here and there too, and the truffle aroma paired with the mushroom flavor gave the whole dish a slightly refined feel.

Cheongyang anchovy oil pasta with a subtle kick

We also tried the Cheongyang anchovy oil pasta as our other main. Oil pasta can sometimes taste a little plain, but perhaps because it had Cheongyang chili peppers and anchovies, the flavor was much more distinct than I expected~

The oil sauce coated the noodles nicely, so it was moist and easy to eat overall, while the anchovies added a gentle savory, salty umami. The anchovies didn’t taste strongly fishy; they felt more like they held the whole flavor together. Then the Cheongyang chili peppers brought a little heat at the finish, and it went so well with the light flavor of the oil pasta!! It wasn’t intensely spicy, but it built into a subtle warmth as you ate, which was just right for us since we like spicy food~

We also added two slices of rye bread. Topped with risotto sauce, it was insanely good.

If you’re looking for somewhere near Gireum Station to enjoy a leisurely brunch with friends, family, or your partner, it could be nice to stop by 37.5 Signature Mia Branch. We ate delicious food, chatted away to our hearts’ content, and left feeling like we’d finally enjoyed a proper brunch for the first time in a while★