Gangseo, Seoul Italian restaurant for kids' late lunch: Romaok Magok

The weather has been absolutely fantastic lately, hasn't it? The breeze is so gentle that it feels like a waste to stay home—perfect weather for being outdoors—so we often take the kids out to Magok Plaza. Whenever we walk through the park beside Seoul Botanic Park, the grand LG Arts Center Seoul building always catches my eye, and I had been curious about it.

Then the kids suddenly said they wanted pasta, so I looked up a good restaurant near Magoknaru Station. There was a restaurant with incredible atmosphere on the building's third floor, so off we went to Romaok Magok without a second thought!

Why the third floor of LG Arts Center Seoul?

Romaok, a restaurant near Magoknaru Station, is inside a building designed by the world-renowned architect Tadao Ando. Maybe that is why I could feel the beauty of its architecture from the walk in—it gave me such a special feeling.

Once we reached the entrance, the blend of old-world European charm and sleek modern style made me go, “Wow...” all on its own.

There are outdoor terrace seats too, and I thought they would be truly romantic around sunset.

If you are driving, you do not need to worry too much about parking. Dining guests receive two hours of free parking, and after that it is ₩6,000 per hour—but Romaok guests get a 50% discount, paying ₩3,000 per hour. We planned to spend time on the lawn at Seoul Botanic Park after our meal, so we added one hour to the free two hours. We only paid ₩3,000 in additional parking.

👉 If you are planning to visit Seoul Botanic Park after your meal, two free hours plus one additional hour for ₩3,000 gives you plenty of time. Come without parking worries in Magok! The building itself is so pleasant, and getting around in the elevator with the kids was really easy too.

Are the reservation perks and restaurant atmosphere really that good?

I booked the day before our visit, and it turns out there was a great little tip! Reservations for 1:00 PM or 1:30 PM qualify for the late-lunch benefit.

We tend to eat late after the kids' naps, so I booked right in that time slot and we received a mini Caprese salad on the house.

It is even listed in the Blue Ribbon Survey, so you know my confidence level shot right up before we had even eaten!

The interior has such high ceilings that it feels wonderfully open.

Each table has a tablet, so it was convenient to browse the menu and order at our own pace without having to call over a staff member.

How were the signature dishes and the new menu item?

We got down to ordering in earnest, but do keep in mind that last orders are at 2:00 PM and dining is available until 3:00 PM, so you need to pace your meal well.

The green onion ciabatta served as pre-meal bread was warm, and its fragrant green onion aroma was perfect for waking up our appetites. It was so soft and nutty that the kids devoured three of the four pieces in no time, and I barely got one bite myself, haha.

The complimentary Caprese salad was also a lovely fresh start—the cheese was incredibly fresh.

Finally, the star of the show: fresh truffle Korean beef white ragù pasta! It arrives with fresh truffle grated over it, and that aroma!!! Such a luxurious fragrance hit my nose.

“Wait, doesn't this taste like galbijjim (braised short ribs)?”

They tell you to mix it with the brown sauce around the edge of the plate, and the sweet, savory, deeply umami flavor was amazing! Who knew the truffle aroma and Korean beef ragù would work this well together? My husband and I were so impressed that we scraped up every last bit of sauce.

The other star, abalone geu pasta, came topped with plump abalone dusted with paprika powder. You mix it well with the garlic scapes underneath, and honestly, it was a real standout. The rich geu sauce, full of sea flavor, was more than enough to earn this place its good-restaurant-near-Magoknaru-Station title.

Is it a good place to visit with kids?

Honestly, the atmosphere was so nice that I worried it might be a no-kids zone, but not at all! It was a warm place with thoughtful touches for children everywhere. The reservation form said to leave a request if we needed a high chair and baby tableware, so I did—and they had everything set up in advance~!!

We used a free coupon for the children's mushroom cream risotto, and its quality was seriously impressive! The mushrooms gave it a nice texture, and it was mild rather than heavily seasoned, so I felt really reassured serving it to young children. The kids seemed to love it too and ate far better than usual, which made this mom so proud.

The cutlery was neatly set as well, so it was a day when we truly felt looked after. If you want a Magok restaurant that delivers atmosphere, flavor, and care for kids all at once, Romaok Magok seems like an excellent choice! Next time we come to Seoul Botanic Park, I would love to bring my parents and try more of the fusion dishes too, haha.