Jung-gu hotel restaurant for a quiet lunch: Hotel Kukdo Patio

A hotel lunch buffet in Euljiro 4-ga

This time, I visited Hotel Kukdo Patio (호텔국도 파티오) in Euljiro 4-ga. It’s a fantastic-value restaurant near Euljiro 4-ga Station that keeps the upscale feel of a hotel buffet while even serving steak.

First, I visited Hotel Kukdo Patio with a reservation. When booking, you can choose either steak or seafood pasta. We reserved two steak meals, but it seemed we could switch to seafood spaghetti upon arrival. I heard the seafood spaghetti is a little spicy, so if you’re not good with heat, I recommend the steak! 😊

• Hotel Kukdo Patio, 2F, 164 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 중구 을지로 164 2층 호텔국도 파티오)
• Weekday lunch buffet: ₩29,800
• Choose one: flat iron steak or seafood tomato pasta
• First 2 hours of parking free; ₩1,000 per additional 10 minutes
• Valet parking required; valet fee ₩2,000
• 120 m from Euljiro 4-ga Station Exit 10

Window seats and a calm lunch atmosphere

Let’s get seated first.

We were shown to a window seat, and I loved the open view and the sky outside. True to a hotel buffet, the ceilings were high and there were luxurious chandeliers too—the atmosphere was so good... ♡ It felt like a buffet women would really enjoy. Unlike noisy buffets, it was calm enough to have a nice conversation, so I think it would be great for a lunch gathering too. 😊

It’s already surprising that steak is included for ₩29,800, but sake and matcha are unlimited too. I drove, so I passed on the sake, but take note if you enjoy a drink, haha.

Hot flat iron steak

The hot flat iron steak came out quickly. It was cooked close to well-done, so that may be a matter of taste, but I enjoyed it.

Maybe because I didn’t expect much, I was surprised that the steak was better than I thought. With mashed potatoes and sauce, it was absolutely delicious...! Even well-done steak can be good. This is definitely not the kind of steak you’d expect for ₩29,800. 🤭 I already felt satisfied with just this, but we hadn’t even started the buffet yet, right? Buffet, let’s go!

From grilled abalone and shrimp to futo maki

• Grilled abalone and shrimp
• Chicken teriyaki
• Buta kakuni (braised pork belly, similar to seasoned bossam)
• Stir-fried udon
• Mulgmegi fish
• Kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers)
• Spicy grilled eel
• Futo maki (thick sushi roll)
• Fish cake soup

And, uniquely,

there was also a Japanese buckwheat soba corner and a ramen corner. I was curious about the Japanese ramen and wanted to try it, but I was too full—maybe next time... 🥺

I carefully took a little of each thing and ate it all. 🤗 Shrimp and abalone at this price! The buffet didn’t have a huge number of dishes, but the food was quite satisfying for the price.

Unlimited juice and matcha are available too, so they help keep the meal from feeling too rich.

Even more satisfying when you consider the price

I just can’t stop thinking about the price: a hotel buffet in the ₩20,000 range... and when you make sure to have fruit too, you can’t help thinking it’s amazing value. 🤭 These days even regular buffets are well over ₩30,000, but Hotel Kukdo’s lunch buffet by Euljiro 4-ga Station is ₩29,800 with steak included...!

Maybe because it’s a hotel buffet, the staff were incredibly kind, and I enjoyed the whole meal. If you have a weekday lunch gathering, are looking for a team lunch venue, or are going on a date, please do visit. For a great weekday lunch in Euljiro, Hotel Kukdo Patio. This is the place, this place.