Hapjeong Station Italian restaurant for date nights in Seoul: Riike

These days I'm pretty swamped growing my blog and juggling a bunch of side projects. On this day my boyfriend and I went out to Hapjeong Station and stopped by a Western-food restaurant that turned out to be a great date spot, so I wanted to share it! It's called Riike, located near Hapjeong Station. "Leek" as in the vegetable, haha — it's a food ingredient so it fits a restaurant, and the sound of it is pretty, so I think that's why they went with it as the name haha!

Finding Riike in an alley near Hapjeong Station

This Hapjeong Station favorite sits in an alley just off the busy main street, so instead of a bustling atmosphere it felt like a relaxed spot for just the two of us to have a leisurely dinner. 😊 That makes it even more recommendable as a blind date spot!

It's a small place, but the exterior felt sleek and modern even from a distance. You can see the contrast with the general construction company building right next to it, haha? Choosing a blind date spot is kind of a measure of your taste, right? If you pick Riike near Hapjeong as your blind date spot, you'll probably get complimented on your good taste haha!!

Doesn't the entrance, lined with wine bottles, give off a stylish vibe right away? With the small sign and open kitchen blending together, it felt like discovering a hidden gem tucked in an alley near Hapjeong Station. 🍾 Best of all, it's only about a 5-minute walk from Hapjeong Station, so accessibility was pretty good too. It was also a great spot for a stroll around Hapjeong or Mangwon after the meal, or to head to a nearby café. 🚶🏻‍♀️

Inside Riike: warm lighting and 16 seats

Walking in, the neatly set tableware and warm-toned wood tables caught my eye. It wasn't fine-dining level, but it had that neat, tidy feel unique to Western restaurants, which won me over from the first impression. 🤎

Since it's an open-kitchen layout, we could catch glimpses of the cooking happening. Being able to see the food being prepared made even the waiting time not feel boring at all. 👩🏻‍🍳

The overall lighting was soft and warm, so I think the mood gets even better if you visit in the evening. It wasn't too dark or too bright, which made it easy to naturally take food and portrait photos too. 📸

The interior, decorated with white walls and green plants, was also simple and pretty. Do you see the little squirrel figure stuck on the tree? Haha, it was so cute I had to snap a photo — there were cute little objects like this hidden here and there, which made looking around the space while waiting for food a small extra pleasure. 🌳

Bread before the meal and Riike's review event

After ordering, we were first served nicely toasted bread and a soft spread. The outside was crispy and the inside was mild, making it a great light way to whet the appetite before the main dishes arrived. 😋

The bread came out in generous, bite-sized pieces, plenty for the two of us to share. Piling the soft spread onto the perfectly toasted bread made for a small but satisfying start to the meal. 🧈 I just ordered this as an appetizer without much thought, but it was so good that lol both my boyfriend and I inhaled it!!

The restaurant was also running a review event. If you participate, you can choose between a grapefruit ade or a green grape ade, so it might be worth checking out if you visit. 🍊🍏

What does Riike's gamtae (sea lettuce) vongole taste like?

The dish that stood out most that day was Riike's signature menu, the gamtae (sea lettuce) vongole. With the gamtae piled generously on top of the noodles, it had a clearly different charm from an ordinary vongole, even just visually. 🍝 By the way, you could choose the spice level when ordering — mild, medium, or spicy! We went with medium, and it felt just right haha.

The pasta was packed with plump clams and squid, and the fragrant ocean flavor unique to gamtae blended naturally with the oil sauce. It starts off light but the deeper savory flavor comes through the more you eat. 🐚

It was a bit of a shame that the clams seemed small, maybe because it wasn't quite the season, but they were well de-sanded so they were pleasant to eat! The gamtae mixing evenly through the noodles and sauce, adding a subtle aroma, was also impressive. It's a combination you don't often find at other pasta specialty restaurants, so I'd recommend this Hapjeong Station dish to anyone who likes trying new menus. 💚

That said, if you're not a fan of gamtae or seafood aromas, this dish might be a bit polarizing for your taste. On the other hand, if you like vongole and ocean flavors, this is likely the dish that best captures Riike's identity, and you'll probably be very satisfied. 😊

Jambon pecan rigatoni: nutty, creamy and generous

The jambon pecan rigatoni we ordered alongside had chunky rigatoni piled high with jambon toppings, cheese, and pecans. Rigatoni is my favorite type of pasta, so I ordered it hoping for the best, and the moment I saw it, I knew it was a win. 🤍

The thick, nutty cream sauce, combined with the salty richness of the cheese and the crunchy texture of the pecans, made it feel even more indulgent. The cream sauce was rich and the toppings were generous, so every bite felt satisfying and filling.

If you're going with two people, I'd recommend ordering one oil-based pasta and one cream-based dish to share. 👩🏻❤️👨🏻

Since the flavor direction is clearly different from the gamtae vongole, alternating bites between the two dishes made for an especially good combination. 🥜

After a satisfying meal, when we stepped outside it had already gotten dark, making the exterior of this Hapjeong Station favorite, Riike, feel even more atmospheric haha~!

Why Riike suits a first date or blind date near Hapjeong Station

Riike has a fairly cozy scale, with about 16 seats total. If you prefer a space where you can focus on conversation rather than a huge, noisy restaurant, it's worth keeping in mind as a blind date spot near Hapjeong Station. 💬

The tables were neatly set and the atmosphere of the space wasn't intimidating, so it suited a first meeting well. A very fancy, heavy fine-dining spot can feel awkward, while a too-casual restaurant can seem like you didn't put in much effort. Riike felt like it struck a good balance in between. ✨

It's also a plus that you can naturally keep the conversation flowing over pasta and wine in a relaxed atmosphere. So it seems like a great spot not just for a couple's date in Hapjeong, but also for a first meeting or a blind date follow-up. 🥂 That said, since the place isn't large, seats can fill up fast during popular evening hours. If you're planning an important blind date or an anniversary visit, I'd recommend checking reservation availability in advance!