Gongdeok salad shop office lunch: mala beef tofu noodle, Why Starve

I'm a working mom in Mapo. I bet a lot of you have made dieting a permanent lifestyle like me, haha. I used to be super skinny too... dieting really is a lifelong thing, I guess. Anyway, lately I like keeping lunch simple, so let me introduce a salad spot I go to a lot near Gongdeok Station: Why Starve.

Where is Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch? Parking and hours

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is at B131, basement 1F, Lotte Castle President, 109 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's in the basement of the Lotte Castle building at Gongdeok Station Exit 2. It's directly connected to the subway station, so it's great for grabbing a quick bite!

For parking, you can use the mall's parking lot. Search "Lotte Premium Food Market Gongdeok" in your navigation. Make sure you go into the mall's parking, not the apartment or hotel parking! Once you're in the basement 1F arcade, the orange storefront stands out, so it's not hard to find.

Hours are 10:00 to 22:00, and on weekends it runs until 20:30.

A salad spot near Gongdeok Station: Why Starve

I always eat lunch a bit after the typical lunch rush, so I had plenty of room.

I noticed a lot of people picking up takeout or delivery orders too.

Solo dining seats at Why Starve Gongdeok

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is really good for eating alone. There are tables for groups, but also plenty of seats for solo diners, so you can eat comfortably without feeling self-conscious.

I usually eat lunch alone, so I'm always on the hunt for restaurants good for solo dining. That's part of why I come to Why Starve so often.

Why Starve menu and prices near Gongdeok Station

• Chicken Light ₩7,900
• Chicken Pasta / Chicken Oat ₩8,900
• Chicken Tofu Noodle / Chicken Cauliflower Rice ₩9,900
• Smoked Duck Light ₩9,900
• Smoked Duck Pasta / Smoked Duck Oat ₩10,900
• Smoked Duck Tofu Noodle / Smoked Duck Cauliflower Rice ₩11,900
• Beef Light ₩12,900
• Beef Pasta / Beef Oat ₩13,900
• Beef Tofu Noodle / Beef Cauliflower Rice ₩14,900

The main menu is a base salad plus your choice of chicken, duck, beef, or salmon, and then you pick a base of pasta, oat, tofu noodle, or cauliflower rice.

At least 150g of meat in every protein box

Whatever menu you pick at Why Starve, it comes with over 150g of meat.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who still wants to make sure I get enough protein even when eating simply. I've been eating whatever I'm craving that day without worrying about protein. If you're curious about the nutrition facts, check the photo below.

The prepayment event at Why Starve Gongdeok

Why Starve Diet Gongdeok Main Branch is currently running a prepayment event. I noticed a lot of people using it like a cafeteria pass, coming in every day after prepaying.

Mala beef tofu noodle protein box with wasabi mayo, packed for the office

I usually get chicken pasta, but today I was torn between beef with pasta or something else. Since I wanted even a bit more protein, I went with beef plus tofu noodle. I figured mala would go really well with tofu noodle, so I picked the new mala salad, and for the sauce I went with the recommended wasabi mayo. :)

I packed it up to eat at the office today, and I was so hungry. I opened it up the second I got to my desk!

There's beef piled generously on top, with tofu noodles laid underneath. The mala sauce went surprisingly well with the tofu noodles — I kept going back for more.

My stress levels were pretty high today, and I still had to stick to my diet, haha. This mala sauce blew all that stress away.

True to the name Why Starve, you feel full and satisfied once you finish it. Who even diets by starving anymore... :)

The beef was tender with no gamey smell either, which I really appreciated — I'm one of those people who can't eat meat if there's any gamey taste at all.

If you want a meal that's simple but still filling, I recommend Why Starve near Gongdeok Station.