Gyo-dong, Suwon casual dining spring course with free parking: Hado

One weekend, my husband and I wanted a little atmosphere, so we headed to Hado (HADO), a casual dining restaurant in Suwon. We didn't want stiff fine dining; we wanted somewhere comfortable, good for talking, with a satisfying meal. I heard there was a place in Gyo-dong where you can have a course meal at a reasonable price, so I made a reservation and went.

Where to park at Hado in Gyo-dong, Suwon

The entrance to the Gyo-dong public parking lot is right beside the building, big and obvious, which made a very convenient first impression. According to the sign, you get 1 hour of free parking when you dine at the restaurant, and if you go over, it's ₩300 per 10 minutes.

It's also within walking distance of Exit 6 of Maegyo Station on the Suin-Bundang Line, so public transport access is good too.

Hado's atmosphere: wine, a turntable and a cozy, toned-down room

Inside Hado, several kinds of wine are on display. What caught my eye was a small cabinet holding a turntable and vinyl records (LPs).

Overall the mood is toned-down, calm and cozy.

Sitting down, I noticed the neatly prepared cutlery setting. The fork, knife and spoon were wrapped in a fabric napkin and held with a cute ring with a little red flower on it. Details like this show the owner's thoughtful sense. Love it!!

How much is the Hado spring course, and what's included?

Hado serves a seasonal course for ₩45,000 per person, which seems quite reasonable. The basic order is a starter (signature salad), a main pasta, a steak and dessert.

On the menu, the pasta and steak options are marked in red so you can choose to taste. We wanted to try different dishes, so we each ordered a different one.

• Starter: signature salad
• Main (pasta choice): bisque pasta & pomodoro pasta
• Protein (steak choice): chicken breast sous vide steak & top blade sous vide steak (+₩18,000)
• Dessert: Earl Grey ice cream

Starter: Hado's bouquet-like signature salad

Hado's starter, the signature salad, felt like getting a marriage proposal with a bouquet before the meal even started? Hahaha

It had a unique look: fresh green vegetables and egg crumbles wrapped in a thin, soft tortilla-like wrapper. The crunchy vegetables and the rich, smooth cheese-based sauce made for an unusual flavor and a good appetizer.

Main pasta: bisque pasta vs pomodoro pasta

For the main pasta, we picked one bisque pasta and one pomodoro pasta.

The pomodoro pasta is a classic tomato-based pasta.

It's garnished with fresh basil leaves and bacon chips, and the sauce clings to the noodles instead of sliding off. My husband preferred the pomodoro, the more familiar flavor.

The bisque pasta I chose came topped with one plump shrimp, prepared so it's easy to eat.

The deep, rich savoriness of shellfish blended well into the noodles, so I liked the bisque better. The noodles were cooked to just the right chew, and every bite had a subtle seafood umami from the sauce.

Steak: top blade sous vide upgrade (+18,000 won)

For the main protein, two steaks came out: a top blade sous vide steak and a chicken breast sous vide steak. All of Hado's meat dishes are reportedly cooked sous vide (low-temperature cooking) to maximize tenderness.

This is the top blade sous vide steak I ordered with the extra charge.

A staff member poured the wine sauce on for us. Dipped in the sauce and eaten with the mild mashed potatoes, the meat's tender juiciness really came through. The slightly sharp, spicy kick of the grilled shishito peppers kept the flavor of the meat clean, so it was well balanced.

Best dish: chicken breast sous vide steak with sweet pumpkin purée

Honestly, I didn't expect much from the chicken breast sous vide steak, which was the default choice, but it was the best dish.

A yellow sweet pumpkin purée sauce is spread wide across the plate, topped with chicken breast whose surface is crisped with grains. There was no dryness at all, and the inside was moist. Dipping it generously in the sweet yellow purée felt satisfyingly like eating something very high-end.

Dessert: Earl Grey ice cream

The Earl Grey ice cream that finished off the Hado course came prettily set in the center of a white plate.

It has a cookie-like garnish on top. When I took a spoonful, the fragrant, rich black tea flavor melted away and blended with the crunch of the crumble. It seemed to leave my mouth clean rather than heavy after the meal.

As we paid and left, they handed me a single-use mouthwash pack. Touched by the owner's many thoughtful touches.

Is Hado in Gyo-dong, Suwon good for a weekend date?

Hado, a casual dining restaurant in Gyo-dong, Suwon, is a place to enjoy a reasonably priced course in a cozy setting. The food wasn't overly strong and let the natural flavors show, and the serving pace was just right, so my husband and I finished a pleasant meal. The public parking lot next door made parking easy too, so it worked well as a weekend date.

• Address: 138 Hyanggyo-ro, Paldal-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea (1st floor, Hado)
• Hours: Tue–Sun 11:00–21:30 / Mon 16:00–21:30 (Monday is dinner only)
• Break time (Tue–Sun): 14:20–16:00

A good-value casual dining course that packs solid basics and care into a comfortable mood, so you feel well looked after