Seongsu Italian brunch, candied walnut truffle gnocchi

Why go back to Billadeubeulleu Seongsu for Seoul Forest brunch

When you're on a blind date or a regular date, Seoul Forest or Seongsu is usually where people go. If you ask me for a brunch spot around here, it's Billadeubeulleu. This place blew up in Haebangchon with 23 million views for its cheese-waterfall lasagna and a wallet-friendly T-bone steak, even landing TV appearances (Live Today, Lee Jang-woo's YouTube with Hong Seok-cheon, etc.), and now it's opened a Seongsu / Seoul Forest branch too. This was my second visit — the first time I had the polpo (octopus) and lasagna and my eyes went wide, so I had to come back.

Today I'm giving you my honest thoughts on the signature polpo, which had been on my mind ever since May, and the new gorgonzola truffle cream gnocchi.

My first visit was around May, when they still had a terrace, which made it even more romantic. Perfect for anyone looking for an outdoor-terrace Italian restaurant in spring or fall.

Inside Billadeubeulleu Seongsu: interior and seating

True to the name "Billadeubeulleu," the interior is done in blue and wood-toned European dining style. It's really comfortable, and the floor-to-ceiling windows let in great natural light.

Can you bring a baby or a dog to Billadeubeulleu Seongsu?

Billadeubeulleu Seongsu has baby chairs and cutlery, and it's a dog-friendly restaurant. Please check the photo for the rules on bringing pets. Corkage is ₩30,000 per bottle of wine.

How to book Billadeubeulleu Seongsu, plus its signature dishes

For up to 6 people, you can book through Naver Reservation; for 7 or more, call ahead. The deposit is ₩15,000 per person, ₩30,000 total, and walk-ins are also welcome. Click the menu here and images pop up, so it's easy to choose. The signature dishes are the aligot cheese lasagna and the butter sizzling steak.

Being an Italian restaurant, they have quite a wide range of wines too. As mentioned, corkage is ₩30,000 per bottle.

Polpo mammo: crispy octopus that stood out the second time

Polpo mammo is a combination of octopus leg, potato, and green peas — the octopus is really large, so it's enough to fill you up on your own.

Last time, the tenderness impressed me most, but this time it was the crispiness and chewiness. The outside of the octopus was grilled golden and crispy, so you get that crunchy texture on the outside, and then a springy, chewy bite of octopus underneath. Even though I'd had it before, it felt like a different charm this time — interesting.

Gorgonzola truffle cream gnocchi: candied walnuts make the dish

They combine a gorgonzola cream sauce with a truffle-scented sauce. It's not just a simple cream gnocchi — it's a cream flavor you can only get at Billadeubeulleu, and I felt glad I ordered it.

I feel like gnocchi texture is different everywhere you go, but at Billadeubeulleu you really get the potato's natural softness. Kind of like a hearty hash brown feel? The outside is crispy, then it melts softly into the taste of mashed potato.

There's bacon and candied walnuts mixed into the cream — the bacon brings a sweet-and-salty balance, and the sweetness of the candied walnuts pairs so well with the cream, I could cry. Sweet candied walnuts eaten together with truffle gorgonzola cream... I just kept scooping this up.

Today I actually enjoyed the gorgonzola truffle cream gnocchi even more than the polpo mammo. It's a flavor I want to eat again next time.