Kappo Japanese dining in Apgujeong: futomaki and garlic crab, Gatpojun

I was looking for somewhere with a nice atmosphere for a meal in Apgujeong and ended up at Gatpojun (갓포준, JUN). I'd heard "kappo dining" and worried it might be a bit intimidating, but once I walked in I thought, "Oh, this would be perfect for a date." I went with a friend this time, though, haha.

Where is Gatpojun, and what's the first impression?

Gatpojun is a 3-minute walk from Apgujeong Station Exit 4. Super close. It feels upscale right from the entrance, and the clean, stylish look had me excited before I even went in.

The moment you step in, colorful ceramics catch your eye, and the interior is nicely divided into separate zones.

Each space is partitioned with ramie-like fabric, and it looks really classy. If you had to define "tidy, refined interior," this would be the feeling.

Private rooms and bar table: good for dates and family meals?

Gatpojun has a lot of private rooms. It takes groups comfortably, and if you want a quiet, private meal, booking a room seems ideal. So I'd recommend it both as a date spot and for taking your parents out.

We ate at the bar table. It's fun to eat while watching the chef move around.

Gatpojun menu and prices: what did two people pay?

You order on a tablet, and the menu is huge. It's hard to list everything, so here are just the main dishes we ordered, for reference.

• Uni and sweet shrimp cold pasta ₩38,000
• Volcano garlic crab ₩38,000
• Futomaki (thick seaweed roll), 5 pieces ₩20,000
• Highball, Suntory ₩12,000
• Highball, Earl Grey ₩12,000

The total for two came to ₩120,000.

Futomaki, 5 pieces: is it enough?

First out was the futomaki (5 pieces, ₩20,000). It was the most generous, biggest one I've ever seen. I wondered if 5 pieces would be too little, but wow, each piece is enormous. They say it's made with plenty of same-day seasonal sashimi and pickles, and maybe that's why the freshness really came through.

How does the uni and sweet shrimp cold pasta taste?

Second was the uni and sweet shrimp cold pasta (₩38,000). Sweet shrimp and capellini noodles come together with a shiso dressing, and the savory richness of the uni on top goes really well with it. We finished it in no time.

Volcano garlic crab: so good you eat the shells too

The third dish, the volcano garlic crab (₩38,000)... do I even need to say anything? The spicy seasoning soaks into the shrimp and crab so well that you end up eating the shells too. I thought, "Isn't it right not to eat the head?" but it was so delicious that I ate every bit, heads included.

How were the highballs at Gatpojun?

My friend picked the highballs (Suntory and Earl Grey, ₩12,000 each). This friend knows highballs pretty well, and after one sip was happy that the ratio was just right. Both the Suntory and the Earl Grey were gone in a flash, haha.