Mapo Italian restaurant for gamtae vongole pasta: Riike

Riike’s exterior, found down a quiet alley

As you walk through a quiet alley near Hapjeong Station, a white-toned restaurant with its softly lit interior visible through large windows catches your eye. This is Riike!

The many wine bottles lined up outside, the atmospheric standing sign, and the lush green plants had me wanting to snap photos from the entrance onward. Its clean yet charming exterior put me in such a good mood before I had even stepped inside.

What is the date-friendly interior like?

Inside, a stylish yet cozy space in wood and white tones opens up. The window seats, with gentle sunlight streaming in, are the perfect atmospheric spot! There is plenty of space between tables too, making it a great Hapjeong date course for chatting away together.

A wine refrigerator is neatly stocked on one side of the restaurant, so it looked perfect for an evening wine gathering too. They even provide bag storage—such thoughtful attention to detail! ♥

There is a sign on the table explaining the receipt review event: write a Naver receipt review and you can receive either a grapefruit ade or green grape ade for free, so definitely give it a go if you visit!

Let me show you the menu too!

The pre-meal bread spread

The first dish to arrive after we ordered was the bread spread!

The rich aroma of ricotta and truffle drifting up as soon as it reached the table automatically made me smile. Take a bite of generously spread, thick and creamy truffle ricotta on nutty, crisply toasted bread, and the nuttiness and truffle flavor burst through your mouth. The combination of crisp and soft was truly that perfect crispy-outside, tender-inside texture, ideal for whetting the appetite before the meal.

Grapefruit ade and Coke Zero

While we enjoyed the bread spread, our drinks arrived. We chose Coke Zero along with the grapefruit ade we received through the review event.

The grapefruit ade was incredibly refreshing, with tangy grapefruit juice popping through and cleansing the palate! It was not just sweet; it had a real juicy character that paired wonderfully with the pasta and lasagna.

Gamtae vongole pasta and classic lasagna

Finally, the highlight of today’s meal! The main dishes arrived one after another.

Gamtae vongole pasta

It was full of fresh baekhap clams, so even the broth was clean-tasting and deeply flavorful. The green gamtae (seaweed) pesto blended beautifully with the noodles; take a generous forkful and a gentle, nutty taste of the sea spreads across your palate.

Even the noodles were cooked perfectly al dente, and I understood why Riike has a reputation as a great pasta spot in Hapjeong.

Classic lasagna

The deep, rich flavor of the house-made ragù sauce and the thickly melted cheese came together in a truly authentic Italian style.

Cut into it with a big forkful and you can see ragù sauce packed densely between the layers of lasagna sheets, bringing deep flavor with every bite. Tangy pickles are served alongside too!

Next time, with evening wine

From the clean, atmospheric setting to the pre-meal bread, ade, and main dishes, it was a perfect meal without a single disappointment! Since I visited for lunch, the only regret was not being able to enjoy a glass of wine with such delicious food—next time, I am definitely coming in the evening for a bottle. If you are looking for a dependable Hapjeong date spot or delicious pasta near Hapjeong, I highly recommend Riike!