Gyeongju Italian restaurant for Toowoomba pasta: Midam Kitchen

I had pasta and risotto at Midam Kitchen (미담키친) on Gyeongju’s Hwangnidan-gil. As a Western restaurant with a hanok and garden, it was also enjoyable to look around before and after the meal.

Where is Midam Kitchen, and how does parking work?

The address is 33 Cheomseong-ro 49beon-gil, Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. I thought it would also suit an itinerary that starts with brunch before exploring Hwangnidan-gil.

At the time of the original post, it was listed as open from 10:30 AM to 9 PM and closed regularly every Wednesday. Visitors were directed to park at the Hwangnidan-gil public parking lot before coming over.

What is the hanok and garden setting like for a date?

The hanok interior and well-kept landscaping made it nice to take photos before going in. A garden notice said it was a space cultivated over a long time by placing rocks, planting grass, and creating an onggi jar terrace.

Inside had a quiet hanok atmosphere. In addition to the entrance-side seating, there were private rooms farther in, which looked good for an intimate meal with your group. Sunlight came in well through the large interior windows, and it was fun to watch people passing by.

How do you order, and what do menu items cost?

The tables were large, so they looked convenient for setting out several dishes. Each seat had a kiosk, where I took my time looking over the menu, then ordered and paid in advance.

At the time of my visit, there was also a notice saying that writing a Naver photo review came with a Coke or Terra beer.

At the time of the original post, menu prices were as follows. In addition to pasta and risotto, there were salads, pizza, and donkatsu (Korean-style pork cutlet) to choose from.

• Salads: ricotta salad ₩12,900; chicken salad ₩13,900; beef salad ₩14,900
• Pizza: arugula tomato pizza and quattro cheese pizza ₩18,900 each; Kkokkio pizza and pepperoni pizza ₩17,900 each
• Pasta: cream chicken rigatoni, Toowoomba pasta, basil cream pasta, basil oil pasta, and chadol oil pasta ₩15,900 each
• Risotto: beef risotto ₩15,900; basil shrimp risotto ₩16,900
• Donkatsu: pork loin donkatsu ₩14,900; kkangpung donkatsu and cheese roll donkatsu ₩15,900 each

What did the Toowoomba pasta and beef risotto taste like?

The meal came with radish and jalapeño pickles. They were crisp and refreshing, which was a good way to wake up my appetite before the pasta and risotto.

Was the Toowoomba pasta’s cream sauce too rich?

The Toowoomba pasta had plenty of shrimp. The thick cream sauce had a spicy kick, so it did not feel too rich to me. I tend to prefer cream pasta to oil pasta, and the sauce soaked well into the pleasantly chewy noodles, so I enjoyed it with the shrimp until the end.

Did the beef risotto pair well with the pasta?

I also considered the basil shrimp risotto, but chose the beef risotto because the Toowoomba pasta already had shrimp. The risotto was thick and the cheese stretched in long strands; to me, it tasted clean rather than overly rich.

The beef was tender without any off smell, and the mix of ingredients gave it a pleasing texture. Alternating between the slightly spicy pasta and soft risotto kept me from getting tired of either, and I liked the combination.

Does it also suit a family meal?

It suited a date where you can look around the hanok and garden while having a meal. With salads, pizza, and donkatsu on the menu, I felt families could choose dishes to suit their tastes, and I did see guests visiting with children.