# Gongdeok salad restaurant dine-in with pumpkin soup set: Why Starve - By Doyoon Baik (https://superchart.com/en/@yeonhui-side-kitchen/) - Written Sep 19, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written as part of a paid visit sponsorship. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@yeonhui-side-kitchen/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@yeonhui-side-kitchen/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/index.md) ## In short Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is a salad and protein box restaurant on basement level 1 of the Lotte Castle President building by Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul. Eaten in the shop, the chicken protein box with pasta was tender with a tasty sauce, while the steak protein box was generous but a little chewy, and the sweet pumpkin soup set filled out the meal. With doors open at 7am and 1 hour of free parking, Why Starve Diet works well as a late breakfast or early lunch. ## Good to know - **Location**: B1, Unit B131, Lotte Castle President, 109 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul - **Hours**: Mon–Sat 7am–10pm, closed Sundays - **Parking**: 1 hour free at Lotte Castle President (enter via Lotte Hotel B2, park on B3) - **Price**: Chicken protein box from 7,900 won - **Menu**: Chicken / steak / salmon / mala protein boxes - **Seating**: Many two-seat tables in a row, about two tables for four - **Price reference**: ₩7,900 ≈ $5.7 (2026-09-20) *as written by the visitor on Sep 19, 2026* I've been eating a lot of salad poke bowls for my diet lately, so today I want to introduce a salad spot that I, your resident salad addict, recently visited ~ ## Where is Why Starve Diet Gongdeok, and what are the parking and hours? Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is walkable from Gongdeok Station, and you can also get 1 hour of free parking at Lotte Castle President ~ The address is B1 B131, Lotte Castle President, 109 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The parking lot is a bit confusing — it's Lotte Hotel B2, and you head down to parking level B3 and it's easy to spot from there ~ Having parking on site was super convenient. Hours are 7am–10pm, Monday through Saturday, closed on Sundays. ![Entrance to Why Starve on the basement level of Lotte Castle President in Gongdeok](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup-01-u4mlz-900.webp) ![Exterior of the basement-level Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup-02-1fo66-900.webp) Take the elevator up to basement level B1 and you'll find it easily ~ ## Inside Why Starve Diet Gongdeok: is the seating good for solo diners? The Gongdeok branch isn't huge, but it seemed especially good for solo dining! There were rows of 2-person tables lined up, plus about 2 larger 4-person tables. ![Interior of Why Starve Gongdeok with rows of 2-person tables](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup-03-15f57-900.webp) ![Seating area at Why Starve Gongdeok with 4-person tables](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup-04-qrk6k-900.webp) ## Menu and prices: chicken protein box from 7,900 won ![Menu board listing chicken, steak, salmon, and mala protein boxes](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup-05-hs2so-900.webp) The menu was broadly divided into chicken / steak / salmon / mala protein boxes. The prices really stood out — the chicken protein box started at ₩7,900 ~ Being so affordable felt like a real plus, no big financial burden. For people trying to diet healthily, the constant question is always 'how do I hit my protein target' — and this place was exactly right for that. Haha. Being able to hit my protein goal was great, and getting fresh vegetables and meat on top of that was even better! We picked the chicken protein box, the steak protein box, and a pumpkin soup set ~ ![Table with ordered protein boxes and pumpkin soup set](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup-06-1og55-900.webp) ## Chicken or steak protein box with pasta: which tasted better? We ordered the chicken protein box + pasta, and the steak protein box + pasta. ![Table spread of chicken protein box and steak protein box with pasta](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup-07-k0w5q-900.webp) It really came out generous. I wondered if it might not be enough, but I ended up really full.. the amount of meat was seriously so, so, so much.. ![Close-up of a protein box packed with a generous amount of meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup-08-6shyj-900.webp) ### Chicken protein box with sweet barbecue sauce Chicken protein box + sweet barbecue sauce? The sauce alone was so good! I was expecting plain chicken breast, but it was so tender and had just the right chicken flavor! It was delicious enough to make me question whether this was really diet food! The pasta was topped with tomato sauce, which paired really well with the chicken, and being able to enjoy it alongside various vegetables like kidney beans and olives was a big plus!! I liked the chicken more than the steak! ![Chicken protein box with sweet barbecue sauce and tomato pasta](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup-09-eczag-900.webp) ### Steak protein box: big portion, slightly chewy The steak protein box had a really generous amount of steak, but it was a bit chewy. Still, I enjoyed eating it. It tasted even better paired with the vegetables, and the combination with kidney beans, chickpeas, and olives was great. The oriental sauce I chose to go with it also felt like a nice match ~ And just like before, the pasta was topped with tomato sauce, which paired really well with the chicken, and being able to enjoy it alongside various vegetables like kidney beans and olives was a big plus!! ![Steak protein box served with vegetables and beans](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup-10-1ajhr-900.webp) ![Why Starve protein box with warm pumpkin soup](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup-11-1p1n9-1200.webp) ## Pumpkin soup set and Why Starve Diet as a 7am breakfast The sweet pumpkin soup we had alongside was especially a treat — warm and sweet, perfectly satisfying! 😆💛 If you want a light lunch in the middle of a busy modern life, this seems like a great place to visit. The location is good right by the station, the food is tasty, and since it opens at 7am, I thought it'd be perfect as a breakfast-lunch after a morning workout! ![Final spread of a protein box meal eaten at Why Starve Gongdeok](https://img.superchart.com/images/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup-12-1iss2-900.webp) I especially think this place suits people who want a simple but filling meal during a busy morning. The menu isn't heavy on the wallet, so it's easy to eat light, and being close to the station makes it convenient to stop by while on the move. It's also nice for a relaxed solo meal, or for a quick bite during a packed schedule. I want to try other menu items next time, so if I'm ever in the area again, I'll definitely be back! ## Where it is - Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch (와이스타브 다이어트 공덕본점) - 109 Mapo-daero, B1 B131, Lotte Castle President, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 마포구 마포대로 109 롯데캐슬프레지던트 지하1층 B131호 - 37.5447098, 126.9504093 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%99%80%EC%9D%B4%EC%8A%A4%ED%83%80%EB%B8%8C%20%EB%8B%A4%EC%9D%B4%EC%96%B4%ED%8A%B8%20%EA%B3%B5%EB%8D%95%EB%B3%B8%EC%A0%90/@37.5447098,126.9504093,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@yeonhui-side-kitchen/gongdeok-salad-protein-box-pumpkin-soup/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt