Italian restaurant in Pocheon for 6-piece blue crab risotto: Eoneu Dal

There's a place that fueled us up right at the start of a trip to escape busy Seoul for some healing. On the day my husband and I headed to Pocheon, we picked Eoneu Dal, an Italian restaurant, as our first stop. It started as a small storefront in Gasan-myeon and has since moved to its current spot on Jeongmun-dong-gil, apparently keeping regulars coming back with its food. Here's an honest rundown of the garlic shrimp pasta, blue crab risotto, and two glasses of ade I tried.

The vibe and seating at Eoneu Dal

The white-toned interior with high ceilings felt bright and open, not cramped at all. Sunlight poured in through the big windows, so if you visit during the day, there are plenty of photogenic spots. Flowers and plant accents were scattered throughout, so if you're looking for a good-atmosphere restaurant in Pocheon, this one deserves a spot on the list. It also worked well as a Pocheon date course — even honeymoon-worthy — and as a family dining recommendation.

With several baby chairs on hand and generous spacing between seats, it also seemed like a solid pick for a Pocheon restaurant that welcomes kids. Ordering runs through a QR code stuck to each table, so you can browse the menu comfortably without having to flag down staff.

Menu lineup

※ Prices above are from the time of visit and may change depending on the restaurant. Beyond what's shown here, there was a much wider range of dishes — pilaf, risotto, steak, and more — too many to list in text, so I've also put together a video where you can browse the full menu more broadly.

Garlic shrimp pasta: shrimp piled like a mountain

The first thing we ordered was the garlic shrimp pasta. The moment it landed on the table, I was surprised at how the shrimp were piled up like a mountain — looking closer, there were two kinds mixed in, plump whole shrimp and chewy small ones. The noodles were cooked al dente, with a satisfying snap in every bite, and the sharp garlic scent with a gentle spiciness kept it from feeling heavy, so I kept going back for more. Above all, the portion was huge — plenty even for two people to share.

Blue crab risotto with 6 pieces of crab

Honestly, this dish alone is why I wanted to write this review. I ordered the blue crab risotto, and when I counted, there were a full 6 pieces of crab in it. I've had crab dishes elsewhere, but I'd never seen a place that piled on crab this generously. The crab meat clung together with a chewy texture, making it fun to pick apart with a spoon, and the risotto grains were fluffy yet moist, soaked up with crab broth. The clean ocean flavor with no fishy smell, balanced with a subtle saltiness, hit the mark so well that I emptied the bowl in no time.

Cheonggyul ade and omija ade

Since both the pasta and risotto were on the heavier side, we ordered one cheonggyul (green citrus) ade and one omija (schisandra berry) ade to cool things down. The cheonggyul ade had bits of fruit pulp and a sweet-tart flavor that refreshed the palate, while the omija ade carried a gentle sweetness and fragrance underneath its tartness — each had its own distinct charm.