Jamsil Italian restaurant: vongole pasta for 3 cousins, Mano di Chef

I had errands in Jamsil this weekend, and after searching and searching for a lunch spot, I finally visited Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch (마노디셰프 잠실점), a Blue Ribbon restaurant I'd had my eye on for a while~

For anyone who doesn't know what Blue Ribbon means, put simply it's a kind of certification given to good restaurants. I believe it's reviewed anew every year. A Blue Ribbon place in Jamsil should be worth some expectations, right? haha

Where is Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch? Location, hours and parking

Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch is on the first basement floor of Tower 730, a one-minute walk from Jamsil Station Exit 7. The building's car park is free for 2 hours, but you have to register your car at the restaurant.

• Address: 570 Songpa-daero, Songpa-gu, Seoul (Tower 730, B1)
• Getting there: 1 minute on foot from Jamsil Station Exit 7
• Hours: Mon–Sat 11:00–21:30 / Sun 11:00–21:00
• Break time: Weekdays 15:00–17:00, weekends 15:50–17:00
• Parking: 2 hours free in the building's car park (registration at the restaurant required)

Come out of Jamsil Station Exit 7 and head down to the first basement floor of Tower 730, and you'll see Mano di Chef right away.

How to book a table at Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch

You can book through both Naver and CatchTable, and walk-ins are said to be fine too. We reserved by phone beforehand, and even though it was a weekend there were seats to spare, which was nice.

What is the atmosphere like at Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch?

The interior is calm and elegant! Lighting is placed nicely here and there, and above all the big windows make the whole space feel wide open!

Vongole aglio olio pasta with extra noodles: why it was my top pick

Of the three dishes we ordered at Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch, my top pick was the vongole aglio olio pasta (₩27,900). It was the one I kept reaching for, and the reason is its huge depth of savory flavor!

For ₩27,900 it's generously loaded with Manila clams, and the noodles were perfectly al dente! A little chewy, just how I like it. Aglio olio can easily end up bland, but the seasoning here was spot-on. I scraped the plate clean, haha

Crab & shrimp pasta: is this cream pasta too rich?

The crab & shrimp pasta at Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch is also ₩27,900. It's a cream pasta in a garlic cream sauce made with fresh cream and garlic, with two kinds of shrimp and crab meat.

The whole shrimp were plump and bouncy, and the crab meat was in big pieces, so you could get full just picking out the seafood! Even if you don't like cream sauces, give this one a try! It isn't heavy or greasy, and the garlic leaves a clean aftertaste! I scraped up all the sauce on this one too~

What does the signature gamtae pesto & seafood barley risotto taste like?

Last was the signature gamtae pesto & seafood barley risotto (gamtae is a type of seaweed)! My cousins, who came along, picked this as their top choice~

Golden-seared scallops sit on top of green gamtae pesto, and the scallops were chewy outside and tender inside, with a great texture. I worried that seaweed might taste fishy, but there was no fishiness at all, just a fragrant aroma. It uses barley instead of rice, so there's a fun popping bite to it. Besides scallops, it's packed with shrimp and octopus too~

Was the portion enough for three at Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch?

Two pastas (one with extra noodles) and one risotto was just the right amount for three adult women. Not too little, nothing left over! Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch really gave me the feeling of being back in Italy after a long time~

Who Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch is best for

• People looking for a spot for a family gathering in Jamsil
• People looking for a Jamsil Station restaurant with parking
• People who want to enjoy both pasta and risotto
• People who want a meal somewhere quiet with a nice atmosphere

If you're hunting for a Blue Ribbon restaurant in Jamsil, go to Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch! It's perfect for a family meal :)