Hawaiian burger family lunch at a Gangneung burger spot: Moana Burger

Handmade burgers instead of sundubu in Chodang-dong

I went out for lunch with my family in Chodang-dong over the weekend.

Chodang-dong is famous for sundubu (soft tofu stew), but did you know there's an amazing burger place here too?! I'd heard a lot about Moana Burger and finally got to visit! Let's start the review with photos.

Where Moana Burger is, and what to see nearby

Moana Burger is located near Chodang Sundubu Village. Chodang-dong is close to Gangmun Beach, and nearby you'll find the birthplace of Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon, Gyeongpo Lake, and more — great for a walk after eating. It's also close to Arte Museum and Gyeongpo Aquarium, making it a neighborhood you really should include on your trip!

What the place looks like from outside

Such an exotic-looking building exterior! Even the awning gives off that exotic vibe!?🖤🤍 Black and white with a bold sign❤️🔥♨️

It used to be in Sacheon but relocated to Chodang-dong (honestly an upgrade). You can park in the dedicated lot right in front of the restaurant. If it's full, roadside parking nearby is also possible.

What is the dining room like?

The interior has this metallic feel plus a checkerboard floor for a chic vibe haha🖤🤍 There's comfortable seating set up on both sides for dining.

A hip-feeling burger joint🍔 Drinks are self-serve, and there's a self-bar set up next to the fridge case.

Oh, and there are surfboards on both sides — it kind of felt like being in Yangyang, haha. There are also mirrors hung around here and there for taking photos. Feels like there are fun little details everywhere.

Besides surfboards, there's a skateboard too — the owner must have great taste!

You order at the counter!

The whole place is stylish and cool, but personally I thought this part was the coolest, haha. Next to the pretty logo, the menu looks handwritten. So much effort!!! If you want a closer look, click on the photo to zoom in!

The menu and how to order

The menu board next to the POS machine is also so pretty haha, and I really enjoyed reading the comments highlighted here and there haha. Anyway, we ordered the Moana Burger, Hawaiian Burger, chili beans, and two colas.

There were also two really cute dogs in the restaurant, and even though it was brief, they helped me relax. Such friendly pups — Yeoreum and Hari~~~!! See you again next time.

Burgers cooked to order

The Moana Burger, cooked fresh right after we ordered🍔. After playing with the dogs and washing our hands, the burgers arrived and I grabbed them right away. It looked so appetizing — honestly, even while it was cooking, the amazing smell already had me thinking this was going to be delicious. Seeing it, that feeling made total sense haha, sob.

The burger spot that hands out Hawaiian flower pins

They also give you wet wipes, vinyl gloves, and a Hawaiian flower (plumeria) pin. A place that gives you a flower pin with your burger,,?! Yes, it exists‼️‼️‼️ The pin is like a little souvenir to take home. The owner's sense of style is top notch.

Back to the burger. The bun and patty were so glossy! The vegetables were fresh too, and the rich, melty cheese was a work of art. The Moana Burger is the signature burger, and the density is amazing.

Pineapple and bacon in the Hawaiian Burger

And then the Hawaiian Burger. Random tidbit — I went to Hawaii for my honeymoon, but come to think of it, I never got to eat a burger there. So thanks to this, I finally got to try a Hawaiian burger! The Hawaiian Burger has pineapple and bacon inside, giving it a refreshing taste!

Chili beans, best tucked inside the burger

They told us the chili beans were made a bit spicy, and honestly that was a plus. It paired even better with the rich, cheesy burger.

Try putting it inside the burger and enjoying it that way. They told us to press it down firmly, so I put on the vinyl gloves and pressed down hard, haha.

How did the burgers taste?

Look at that cross-section👀 The soft bun, the savory patty, and the vegetables with that satisfying crunch — I genuinely enjoyed every bite.

Every bite had amazing juices, and you could really tell the ingredients themselves were fresh. I tried to cut it neatly for a photo but was too busy eating and failed, haha. The Hawaiian Burger had great flavor too, and as mentioned, with the pineapple and bacon inside, it had an even richer taste. If two of you are visiting, I'd recommend trying the Hawaiian Burger + Moana Burger combo like I did!

Amazing burgers enjoyed in a stylish space~ The owners were so kind and explained everything so well, making this a really pleasant brunch.

I genuinely recommend Moana Burger to anyone looking for an amazing lunch in Chodang-dong. I'll definitely be back‼️‼️‼️