Gangneung burger restaurant for comparing two burgers: Moana Burger

When I think of Gangneung, the foods that come to mind are Chodang sundubu (soft tofu), jangkalguksu (spicy knife-cut noodle soup), and makguksu (buckwheat noodles), maybe..? I had makguksu on this Gangneung trip, wasn’t really craving jangkalguksu, and was wondering if there was something a little different to eat. Then I suddenly wanted a handmade burger, so I went to Moana Burger, supposedly a great Gangneung spot. The name Moana Burger is so cute haha.

I took this after we finished eating—the red sign really catches your eye lol. We love burgers so much that we eat them often, and we especially love handmade burgers..😍 They say Moana Burger is a Gangneung handmade-burger favorite, so how could we resist~~

Moana Burger location and parking

Moana Burger is at 228-33 Nanseolheon-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon State, South Korea. It is beside Chodang Tofu Bread, near Gangneung High School, and is open Monday through Sunday from 11:00 to 21:00, with last orders at 20:30. It is regularly closed every Tuesday, may close early when ingredients sell out, and has parking.

Chodang-dong in Gangneung doesn’t really have many convenient places to park, so I loved how easy it was to park right in front of the restaurant.

The kitchen you see right as you walk in is open, so you can watch the food being prepared. An open kitchen somehow makes it feel even more trustworthy, right?

The restaurant was bigger and more spacious than I expected. It was clean and comfortable, so it was really nice to eat there.

I especially liked how the ceiling lights, concrete-look walls, and stainless-steel tables came together for a pretty hip vibe. There was a huge screen on one side showing scenery with palm trees, so for a moment it even felt like we were abroad. The interior is totally, totally my style..haha. So hip and so pretty.

Ordering two burgers to compare

Moana Burger does not offer burgers on their own; a burger and fries come as the standard set. Drinks are not included, so you need to order those separately. Burger choices included the Moana Burger and Hawaiian Burger, while sides included buffalo wings, chili bean sauce potato wedges, and fries.

That day, we ordered two burgers—the Moana Burger and Hawaiian Burger—plus a Coke Zero! Since there were two of us, we decided to order different burgers and try one each. Looking at the menu, there wasn’t much of a price difference between the Moana Burger and Hawaiian Burger, so they were great to order together and compare.

Ta-da. The tray was lined with checkered wax paper, with the burgers and fries served together on top, and it looked seriously appetizing from the start. They thoughtfully gave us wet wipes and plastic gloves too.

It wasn’t too hot out, and the folding doors were open, so the airy feeling made the meal even nicer.

For drinks, you can take the ones you ordered from the refrigerator inside the restaurant.

How the Moana Burger and Hawaiian Burger tasted

The Moana Burger is on the left and the Hawaiian Burger is on the right. The patties were quite thick, with cheese properly melted over the top. They were generously filled with fresh-looking lettuce, plus tomato and onion.

They give you plastic gloves, and you just put them on, press the burger down tightly, and dig in. Handmade burgers really do taste best eaten with your hands haha.

The classic Moana Burger

The Moana Burger is ₩13,000. It comes with romaine, red onion, tomato, cheese, and Moana special sauce. When I picked it up and took a bite, the patty, cheese, and vegetables all came together for that satisfying handmade-burger experience. It was truly bursting with juices..👍🏻 It tasted like a classic handmade burger through and through.

The refreshing Hawaiian Burger

The Hawaiian Burger is ₩14,000. It has pineapple, bacon, cheese, and Moana teriyaki and ranch sauce. The pineapple made it fresher and cut through the richness, which was delicious. If you visit as a pair, I think ordering different burgers and sharing them like we did would be a good idea. Comparing two burgers made it more fun than having only one.

The fries were super crispy too..!! Having a fry while eating the burger and taking a sip of Coke Zero—this burger combination just never fails. Moana Burger was seriously so good. A lifetime-best handmade burger👍🏻

When looking for Gangneung restaurants, famous dishes such as makguksu or raw fish tend to come to mind first. But sometimes, it was nice to have a filling meal like this with handmade burgers instead. If you want a simple but satisfying meal while traveling, or are looking for a Gangneung handmade-burger spot with a great atmosphere, definitely give Moana Burger a visit!!