Wood-fired pizza at a Gangnam Station Italian restaurant: Mano di Chef

While looking for a nice-atmosphere restaurant in Gangnam, I found Mano di Chef Gangnam. Thanks to its distinctive yet elegant interior, it seemed like a great spot for blind dates, date nights, anniversaries, and even business dinners or gatherings.

Corkage is one free bottle of wine, and up to two bottles if you spend over ₩100,000. Hours and policies can change, so I'd recommend double-checking with the restaurant before you visit.

What is the interior of Mano di Chef Gangnam like?

Mano di Chef Gangnam is on B1 of the Bithumb Finance Tower, and inside it's a luxurious space that's great for blind dates and dates.

Once inside, the vibe felt different from the exterior. From the tables and chairs to the walls, the overall color scheme was warm yet calm, giving it an upscale feel. The chandelier-style lighting elevated the mood even more.

So it seemed like a great spot for a date with a partner, but also well suited for blind dates, anniversaries, business meetings, or office gatherings.

Margherita pizza: crisp edge, chewy wood-fired dough

The first dish out at Mano di Chef Gangnam was the margherita pizza.

The big pizza was topped with red tomato sauce, white mozzarella, and green basil, so it looked delicious just from the colors alone.

The dough was crispy outside and chewy inside. The edges were well cooked in the wood-fired oven for a crispy texture, while the chewiness came through more toward the center. If you like thin-crust pizza, this one will especially appeal to you.

The tomato sauce was sweet and tangy with a subtle acidity. On top of that, the generous mozzarella added a soft, savory note. The cheese had firmed up a little so it wasn't the super-stretchy type, but it was plenty delicious. I especially liked how the basil aroma really came through. The freshness of the tomato sauce, the savoriness of the mozzarella, and the fragrance of the basil balanced really well together.

Red shrimp aglio e olio: plump shrimp on squid ink pasta

Ordered alongside the pizza, Mano di Chef Gangnam's red shrimp aglio e olio pasta stands out for its striking black squid ink noodles.

When the dish first arrived, the black noodles immediately caught my eye. It wasn't regular spaghetti — it was pasta made with squid ink. On top of the ink noodles sat garlic, pepperoncino, and some seriously large shrimp.

And the highlight of this dish was definitely the red shrimp. They were so big you could tell their size even from the photos, and the flesh was plump and firm. Taking a bite off the fork, I could really taste the springy texture and the shrimp's distinctive savory sweetness.

I especially loved twirling the chewy ink noodles in the oil sauce and eating them together with the red shrimp. The flavor of the garlic and pepperoncino really came through, and with the big shrimp added in, it was a very satisfying pasta.

Mano di Chef Gangnam location, hours and corkage policy

• Location: 129 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Bithumb Finance Tower B1
• Mon–Fri 11:00–21:30 / break time 15:00–17:00 / last order 14:50, 20:00
• Saturday 11:00–21:30 / break time 15:50–17:00 / last order 14:50, 20:30
• Sunday 11:00–21:00 / break time 15:50–17:00 / last order 14:50, 20:00

Corkage is one free bottle of wine, and up to two bottles if you spend over ₩100,000. Hours and policies can change, so I'd recommend double-checking with the restaurant before you visit.

Is Mano di Chef Gangnam worth a visit? My verdict

Mano di Chef Gangnam is known for its pasta, and after visiting I could see exactly why it's such a popular date or blind-date spot.

If you're near Gangnam Station or Yeoksam Station looking for an Italian restaurant with a great atmosphere — for a blind date, a date, or an anniversary dinner — Mano di Chef Gangnam is worth checking out.