Gyeongju restaurant for cream chicken rigatoni: Midam Kitchen

I went to Gyeongju with a college friend of ten years, a place where the quiet charm of old hanok houses coexists with a trendy vibe.

(Trumpet vine flowers I spotted in Gyeongju on the way to Midam Kitchen)

After looking around, I found a new Italian restaurant tucked inside an alley off Hwangnidang-gil, with a warm, tasteful interior and neat plating. It felt like a great spot for a date, but also plenty solid for a comfortable, filling meal. Here's my honest review from visiting and tasting it myself.

(If you're looking for a relaxed restaurant on Hwangnidang-gil in Gyeongju, or hunting for a can't-miss place to eat there, this one's worth a look)

Where is Midam Kitchen in Gyeongju, and what does it look like?

Midam Kitchen sits in a spot you can naturally wander into while strolling the main road of Hwangnidang-gil in Gyeongju. The address is 33 Cheomseong-ro 49beon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Step just slightly off the busy center and a clean, beautiful exterior appears.

Inside Midam Kitchen: how far apart are the tables?

The tables inside Midam Kitchen really are spaced generously apart. It felt like a perfect Gyeongju date restaurant for having a cozy, intimate conversation over a meal.

What is on the Midam Kitchen menu?

This Hwangnidang-gil restaurant, Midam Kitchen, had a wide-ranging menu — from wood-fired style pizzas loaded with varied toppings, to Hwangnidang-gil pasta, hearty risotto, and crispy house-made cutlets.

That day I ordered what's said to be the signature combo — arugula tomato pizza and cream chicken rigatoni — and got to try the ricotta salad too. (The owner gave it to us as a treat..♡)

How was the arugula tomato pizza at Midam Kitchen?

The arugula tomato pizza at Midam Kitchen came out fresh from the oven, generously piled with vibrant green raw arugula on the dough — fresh looking from the first glance.

The edge of the crust was crispy yet chewy, and the tangy tomato-based sauce along with the slight bitterness of the fresh greens balanced out the richness of the cheese nicely.

It's a pizza I'd recommend to anyone who wants a satisfying meal that isn't overly heavy.

Cream chicken rigatoni: the dish to order (highly recommended!)

The cream chicken rigatoni I picked from the pasta menu had a depth of richness that would satisfy any cream-sauce fan. The rigatoni, a short tube-shaped pasta, held plenty of savory, thick cream sauce all the way inside.

Large, tender chunks of chicken breast filled it out, giving this Hwangnidang-gil pasta both a satisfying bite and plenty of substance.

The zucchini, mushrooms, and other vegetables made it even tastier. And honestly, the chicken was really tender.

Right about then I took a sip of the lemonade, and it was genuinely refreshing 🍋 — it tasted like real ground lemon, not syrup. Totally my style.

The complimentary ricotta salad from the owner

The ricotta salad served alongside stood out for the soft, cloud-like lightness of the ricotta cheese.

The dressing wasn't overdone, so the crisp, natural texture of the vegetables came through, and it worked as a great palate cleanser between bites of pizza and cream rigatoni.

Verdict: a Hwangnidang-gil restaurant made for catching up with a friend

Midam Kitchen turned out to be a truly fitting Hwangnidang-gil restaurant in Gyeongju for a relaxed, warm meal. The owner was genuinely kind 💐, which made it even more memorable. It was a great Gyeongju date restaurant for focusing on conversation.

Poof!