Jung, Seoul lunch buffet with a main course: Hotel Kukdo Patio

I visited Hotel Kukdo Patio (호텔국도 파티오) for a lunch appointment in Euljiro. At the time of my visit, the Asian buffet with one main dish cost ₩29,800. What caught my eye was that, along with the buffet dishes, organic matcha and sake were included.

Where is it, and is parking available?

Patio is inside Hotel Kukdo at 164 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul. Parking is available if you drive, and the valet fee listed in the original post is ₩2,000.

The weekday hours listed in the original post are 07:00–14:00, with a break from 09:30–11:30 and last orders at 13:30. On weekends, it is listed as open only from 07:00–09:30, with last orders at 09:00.

What are the interior and child-friendly facilities like?

When I walked in, I felt the calm, upscale atmosphere typical of a hotel. The space was not especially large, though, and it had the feel of an older hotel.

There were quite a few guests even at weekday lunch. The tables were well spaced, and the interior was tidy. The staff were kind and I was comfortable throughout the meal.

There were plenty of high chairs. I was also told that strollers were allowed, which may be useful to know when dining with a child.

What is included for ₩29,800?

At the time of my visit, the lunch set paired the Asian buffet with a choice of flat iron steak or tomato pasta. Both sets were ₩29,800, and we ordered one of each.

Which buffet dishes were good, and which were disappointing?

The salad corner had vegetable salad and mushroom salad. Grapefruit, oranges, and tteok (rice cakes) were also available, making nice accompaniments during or at the end of the meal.

Among the hot dishes, the chicken teriyaki made with chicken thigh stood out. The meat was tender under its sweet-savory sauce, and the kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) were crisp.

The sea eel dish had tender fish. The stir-fried udon was springy and familiar in flavor.

The dish I went back for most was the abalone-shrimp dish. The shrimp were plump and the abalone pieces were large, which I liked.

The grilled eel was disappointing. It was thin and not very tender, so I reached for it less than the other dishes.

The futomaki (thick sushi roll) at the Japanese-food corner was so large that it was difficult to eat in one bite.

Are noodle dishes and rice available?

There was a separate station where I could cook Japanese-style ramen to my preference.

The udon was portioned into small bowls in advance, which made it easy to take.

The udon broth was especially good. It was rich and refreshing with plenty of blue crab, and the fish cake in it was tasty too.

Cold soba was also available, so there were several noodle options.

Rice, gim (roasted seaweed), kimchi, and side dishes were available as well. I also liked wrapping gim around warm rice.

What drinks are available besides matcha and sake?

The drink station had apple juice and tangerine juice. There were no carbonated drinks.

Green tea and black tea bags were available for hot tea.

I could also make a café latte with the coffee machine, and the coffee was decent.

At the time of my visit, organic matcha and sake were unlimited. I found it notable that both were included with the lunch buffet.

How were the main pasta and steak?

The main dishes we ordered arrived one after another while we ate the buffet. The tomato pasta had more seafood than I expected and was good with the sauce.

The flat iron steak was a little dry, which was disappointing. Still, I was satisfied with the overall ₩29,800 set of buffet and main dish.

How satisfying was the lunch overall?

After sharing several dishes and talking, I finished the meal feeling full. I also liked that empty dishes were replenished right away, so I could eat food while it was warm and fresh. The textures of the grilled eel and steak, along with the slightly dated interior, were disappointing, but I was satisfied with the lunch set that included the buffet, main dish, and drinks.