Anguk date restaurant: doenjang risotto & mushroom soup, Concasse

Walking near Anguk Station, an unfamiliar sign tucked among the old hanok catches your eye. This is Concasse Anguk, the second location of Concasse, which first made its name in Seongsu-dong!

My sister works nearby and told me this place has quite a reputation among the office workers around here?! And apparently so many people come here on blind dates and birthdays!!

Set inside a quiet 100-year-old hanok, where you can enjoy good food surrounded by nature... a meal in a place like this just has to put you in a good mood! So today I'm finally sharing the review I've been looking forward to writing, centered on what I actually ordered at Concasse Anguk.

What does the name Concasse mean?

Concasse is a French culinary term for tomatoes peeled and finely diced — a basic ingredient in Western cooking. Built on the chefs' years of hands-on experience, the brand's philosophy is to make hard-to-find classic dishes approachable for everyday diners, and you could feel that philosophy throughout the restaurant and the menu.

Inside Concasse Anguk: a 100-year-old hanok in Bukchon

Concasse Anguk makes the most of the hanok's wood tones and natural light. Sitting at the courtyard bar seats under the light pouring in from the ceiling, it barely felt like I was in the middle of downtown Seoul — such a peaceful atmosphere!!

Ah, this vibe is just so good,,, no wonder it's popular for dates or lunch gatherings too. If you're someone who really cares about atmosphere... I especially recommend it for blind dates or wedding-invitation get-togethers.

What we ordered at Concasse Anguk and what it cost

On this visit I ordered soy crab pasta (₩16,000), flounder steak with doenjang risotto (₩28,000), and a side of mushroom soup (₩8,000).

• Soy crab pasta ₩16,000
• Flounder steak with doenjang risotto ₩28,000
• Mushroom soup ₩8,000

Soy-marinated crab pasta, 16,000 won

The soy crab pasta takes ganjang gejang (soy sauce marinated crab), a classic Korean ingredient, and works it into a Western pasta — the salty, savory flavor of the crab gave it a charm completely different from a cream or oil base.

With such a familiar Korean flavor sitting on top of pasta, opinions could definitely be split, but for anyone who loves unexpected combinations, this could be a genuinely appealing choice.

I'm someone who loves that distinct umami of seafood, so this dish was a perfect match for me.

Flounder steak with doenjang risotto, 28,000 won

Flounder steak with doenjang risotto was an unusual-sounding dish from the name alone.

Mild flounder was seared like a steak and served alongside a risotto made with doenjang (fermented soybean paste), a staple Korean seasoning.

The flounder's soft texture and the deep umami of the doenjang worked surprisingly well together, and the plating was elegant enough to justify the ₩28,000 price tag.

The surprise winner: mushroom soup, 8,000 won

Personally, the dish I ended up enjoying most that day was, unexpectedly, the side mushroom soup (₩8,000).

It had an impressively rich flavor, like several kinds of mushrooms had been simmered for a long time, with a smooth texture. If the mains lean toward experimental combinations, the mushroom soup was a classic flavor that pretty much anyone would like.

If you visit Concasse Anguk, I strongly recommend ordering the mushroom soup as a side — don't skip it.

Next time at Concasse Anguk: gnocchi, lasagna, beef Wellington

I couldn't try everything this time, but looking through other visitors' reviews of Concasse, the gnocchi and lasagna got especially high praise.

The squid-ink potato gnocchi was widely said to pair its chewy texture nicely with savory fried cheddar cheese, and the lasagna, rolled up into a unique spoonful presentation with a creamy flavor, was named 'the best dish of the day' in multiple reviews.

Beef Wellington, tenderloin steak wrapped in crispy pastry, also came up often as a popular menu item you can order even without a reservation.

I was sad I couldn't try these today! So I'm jotting them down as homework, already planning to try them on my next visit.

Concasse Anguk location, hours, parking and corkage

Concasse Anguk is located at 14-3 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, right in the alley next to Kkangtong Mandu, so it's not hard to find.

• Weekday hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (break 15:30–17:00)
• Weekend hours: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM (break 16:00–17:00)
• Parking 1. Hyundai Gyedong building: ₩6,000/hr; day rate ₩13,000 weekdays, ₩15,000 weekends
• Parking 2. Anguk Station Exit 4: ₩5,000/hr weekdays, ₩4,000/hr weekends; day rate ₩25,000
• Corkage: ₩30,000 per wine bottle, ₩50,000 per whisky bottle
• Note: No-kids zone (ages 10 and up allowed!)

How to skip the wait at Concasse Anguk

Concasse Anguk takes reservations through Catch Table, and walk-ins are also welcome — if you walk in, you can join the Table-ing waitlist!