Gangnam Korean restaurant lunch and truffle potato pancake: THE GIWA

Last weekend, I went along for my younger cousin's wedding-dress fitting for her shoot, and we had lunch together too. There are lots of wedding-dress shops around Apgujeong and Cheongdam-dong, you know. So I found myself back in Apgujeong Rodeo for the first time in ages.

Once the fitting was all done, we looked for a good place for lunch. I was happy to spot THE GIWA Apgujeong Main Branch (더기와 압구정본점), since I had also seen it in Yongsan, and it had so many Korean dishes I like. So that is where we went for lunch.

THE GIWA Apgujeong Main Branch: Basic Information

Looking at the hours, THE GIWA is open from lunchtime until late at night. It is a Korean restaurant in Apgujeong Rodeo where you can have lunch, then after dinner hours it transforms into an atmospheric outdoor-drinking spot where you can enjoy a glass of makgeolli.

An Interior with a Traditional Korean Feel

I hardly ever have reason to go to Apgujeong, so it had really been a long time since I was in Apgujeong Rodeo. Wow... when I entered THE GIWA Apgujeong Main Branch, I was surprised by how many international guests there were. The traditional Korean feel of the interior really stood out. It seems to be popular with overseas visitors as a Korean restaurant in Apgujeong Rodeo.

We Ordered Lunch Set Meals

Let's take a look at THE GIWA's menu. When I visited the Yongsan branch, it was dinnertime, so rather than rice dishes I ordered dishes to have with makgeolli. This time, we ordered the lunch set meals.

Bossam, Pork Belly, Eel Pot-Rice Sets, and Makgeolli

We each ordered one lunch set, and because it had been a while since we had all met up, we wanted a glass of makgeolli too. So we ordered Jangsu Makgeolli with added honey as well.

Bossam and Pork Belly Sets

These are the bossam (boiled pork slices) set and pork belly set that my younger cousin and her partner ordered. THE GIWA's meal dishes arrive as neatly arranged full-table settings.

Eel Pot-Rice Set

The eel pot-rice set I ordered. Eel has been so delicious lately. THE GIWA had an eel dish, so I ordered this eel pot-rice set without a second thought.

I think the food at THE GIWA Apgujeong Main Branch is made a little(?) less intensely seasoned overall to suit international guests' tastes. Even the kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) that came with the set did not have the spicy, robust flavor Koreans tend to love. Still, it was delicious.

The Best Dish: Truffle Cheese Shredded-Potato Pancake

After ordering one lunch set per person, we also got one à la carte dish: the truffle cheese shredded-potato pancake. Partly as something to snack on with the makgeolli, of course.

The truffle cheese shredded-potato pancake was chewy, with the nutty richness of truffle cheese too. I think this potato pancake was the most delicious thing we ate that day. If you visit THE GIWA, this is a dish I definitely recommend ordering.

Korean Food by Day, an Outdoor Drinking Spot by Night

A great Korean restaurant by day, an outdoor drinking spot by night: THE GIWA Apgujeong Main Branch

We spent the whole day around Apgujeong Rodeo, and as I passed THE GIWA Apgujeong Main Branch on my way home that evening, it had transformed into an outdoor drinking spot! Seeing it like this, it felt like a completely different place. Next time, I want to go back for a drink in the evening. THE GIWA Apgujeong Main Branch is an Apgujeong Rodeo outdoor drinking spot, and also a great Korean restaurant there.