Gangnam Chinese restaurant with Tokyo tangsuyuk show: Samsin

A reserved fusion Chinese meal near Sinsa Station after a fasted run

On the morning of Saturday, September 5, I went for a 5 km fasted run from Jamwon Bridge. Once I had worked up a sweat, my body was craving protein. I had plans in Sinnonhyeon at 2 p.m., so while looking for somewhere to eat beforehand, I visited Samsin Garosu-gil (삼신 가로수길점), a popular spot near Sinsa Station that I had reserved for 12:30.

The moment I entered, the grand stone statue on the first floor caught my eye.

The East Asian-inspired interior, where black and mint colors came together so beautifully, was truly distinctive. It felt just like stepping into fine dining.

I had heard it was a fusion Chinese restaurant where chefs with Michelin two-star and hotel-dining backgrounds combine Chinese, Korean, and Japanese flavors, so I was hugely excited even before going in.

Location and visitor information

For anyone considering it for a work dinner, family meeting, or gathering, here are the essentials.

• Location: 2F–3F, 46 Gangnam-daero 156-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (a 3-minute walk toward Garosu-gil from Sinsa Station Exit 8)
• Hours: Daily 11:00–23:00 (open until 24:00 on Friday and Saturday)
• Parking and valet: First-floor valet parking available (₩5,000 for 2 hours, then ₩1,000 per 10 minutes)

• Reservations: Naver Booking and Catch Table available
• Amenities: Seven fully equipped private rooms; corkage available (one bottle free with D Course or above); separate restrooms for men and women, Wi-Fi, and high chairs

When I went up to the second floor and took the seat I was shown to, an individual plate, cutlery, and wet wipes were already set out.

The complimentary sides were neatly plated danmuji (pickled yellow radish), kimchi, and a fragrant soy sauce.

Looking over the menu, the selection was impressively full, from the signature galbi-jjim jajangmyeon (black bean noodles with braised short ribs) to handmade dim sum and a wide range of noodle and rice dishes.

I really wanted to try the Hokkaido milk cream shrimp too, but I ordered the tangsuyuk that couples at other tables were also enjoying so much.

Tokyo tangsuyuk with warm sauce poured at the table

Tokyo Tangsuyuk (medium) The first dish to arrive was Tokyo tangsuyuk (sweet-and-sour fried pork). It is Samsin’s original main, inspired by Tokyo steak and adding Japanese dining trends to traditional Chinese tangsuyuk.

They came right to the table and poured the warm sauce themselves. As the hot plate and sauce met with a loud sizzle, the rising steam made my appetite go absolutely wild.

A pat of butter sat on top of the tangsuyuk, along with a generous mix of carrots, cucumber, pineapple, and wood ear mushrooms.

Samsin-sang Cake and review-event ice cream

After filling up on meat, I added the signature Samsin-sang Cake because I really do love cake.

The cake is shaped like a Samsin-sang ceremonial table and arrives generously dusted with bittersweet, sweet tiramisu powder. I carefully cut into it with a spoon and took a bite—the sweetness that melted softly in my mouth was exceptional.

The ice cream I received after joining the receipt-review event was better than expected too.

Chewy yet almost sherbet-smooth, it went down softly and left my palate feeling clean and refreshed.

Overall, the plates and tableware the food arrived in were so pretty that taking photos was a big part of the fun here.

There was a real mix of guests, from families and groups of friends to couples out on dates.

If you want private, upscale fusion Chinese food near Sinsa Station or Garosu-gil, I definitely recommend stopping by at least once.