Hello, I’m Choi, a Seoul-based travel influencer.
I visited three Mano di Chef Seoul locations in Gangnam, Samseong near COEX, and Jamsil. Across the three branches, I tried steak, gnocchi, risotto, pasta, salad, and drinks to compare the locations, menus, and overall dining experience.
Mano di Chef is a Korean Italian restaurant brand with several locations in Seoul. Its menus combine familiar Italian dishes with ingredients such as gamtae seaweed, jalapeño, Korean mushrooms, and carrot hummus.
If you are looking for an Italian restaurant in Seoul, this guide compares the three locations I visited and explains what I ordered at each one.
Mano di Chef Seoul Locations: Gangnam, COEX and Jamsil
The three branches are located near major business, shopping, and entertainment areas in Seoul.
Mano di Chef Gangnam
- Korean name: 마노디셰프 강남점
- Address: B1, 129 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Korean address: 서울특별시 강남구 테헤란로 129 B1
- Nearest subway: Yeoksam Station, Line 2
- Good for: Business lunches, group dining and steak
📍 View Mano di Chef Gangnam on Google Maps
Mano di Chef Samseong
- Korean name: 마노디셰프 삼성점
- Address: B1, 21 Teheran-ro 87-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Korean address: 서울특별시 강남구 테헤란로87길 21 동성빌딩 B1
- Nearest subway: Samseong Station, Line 2
- Good for: COEX lunches, dates, private gatherings and gnocchi
📍 View Mano di Chef Samseong on Google Maps
Mano di Chef Jamsil
- Korean name: 마노디셰프 잠실점
- Address: B1, Tower 730, 570 Songpa-daero, Songpa-gu, Seoul
- Korean address: 서울특별시 송파구 송파대로 570 타워730 B1
- Nearest subway: Jamsil Station, Lines 2 and 8
- Good for: Jamsil dates, family meals, wine gatherings and meals near Lotte World Mall
📍 View Mano di Chef Jamsil on Google Maps
Opening hours, break times, corkage policies, menu items, and prices may change. Check the latest information before visiting.
Mano di Chef Menu and Prices
The menu includes steak, pasta, gnocchi, risotto, pizza, salads, and wine. There were familiar Italian dishes as well as recipes featuring ingredients more commonly associated with Korean or Asian food.
These are the dishes I tried during my three visits:
| Location | Menu | Price during my visit |
|---|---|---|
| Gangnam | Steak Carrot Hummus Plate | KRW 29,900 |
| Gangnam | Dolce Baguette and Garden Salad | KRW 8,900 |
| Gangnam | Wine Ade | KRW 7,900 |
| Samseong | Cham Songi Mushroom Cream Gnocchi | KRW 28,900 |
| Samseong | Dolce Baguette and Garden Salad | KRW 8,900 |
| Samseong | Jameson Highball | KRW 9,900 |
| Jamsil | Gamtae Pesto Seafood Barley Risotto | Check current menu |
| Jamsil | Jalapeño Aglio e Olio | Check current menu |
| Jamsil | Dolce Baguette and Garden Salad | KRW 8,900 |
Prices and English menu names may change. The translations used here explain the dishes I ordered during my visits.
Mano di Chef Gangnam: Steak and Carrot Hummus
The Gangnam branch was the first Mano di Chef location I visited. It is in the basement of the building at 129 Teheran-ro, approximately a five-minute walk from Yeoksam Station.
I arrived at around 1:30 p.m. Some tables were empty after the main lunch rush, but I still saw groups dining together. Office workers were having lunch in a private room, while another group was meeting in the main dining area.
The restaurant felt suitable for a business lunch, company dinner, or private gathering in Gangnam.
My main dish was the Steak Carrot Hummus Plate.
Hummus is a Middle Eastern spread traditionally made by blending chickpeas with ingredients such as tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. Mano di Chef served its version with carrot.
At first glance, the carrot hummus resembled mashed potatoes. It was smooth, mild, and nutty, with enough sweetness from the carrot to complement the savory steak.
The plate also included carrot râpée, a shredded carrot salad commonly dressed with an acidic vinaigrette. Its light, refreshing flavor balanced the richness of the meat. Tomatoes, greens, and plenty of olives made the plate more varied than a standard steak dish.
I was wearing braces, so the steak required more careful chewing than usual. Still, I liked the seasoning and the balance between meat, vegetables, and hummus.
This was the most substantial single plate I tried at Mano di Chef.
Dolce Baguette and Garden Salad
I ordered the Dolce Baguette and Garden Salad at all three Mano di Chef locations.
The set included warm garlic baguette with a small salad of fresh greens, olives, tomatoes, chickpeas, and cheese.
I originally considered ordering only bread at the Gangnam branch, but I wanted more vegetables and chose the salad set instead.
The baguette was warm and soft, with a generous garlic coating. The fresh salad and tangy dressing made it a good appetizer while I waited for the main dish.
Although listed as one serving, my sister and I shared it during our Jamsil visit. It worked well as a starter for two people when followed by pasta and risotto.
Of all the side dishes I tried across the three branches, this is the one I would order again most confidently.
Mano di Chef Samseong Near COEX
I visited the Samseong branch after enjoying my first meal at the Gangnam location.
The restaurant is within walking distance of COEX and Samseong Station. It is not inside the COEX Mall itself, so check the map before visiting.
The entrance led to an interior that felt separate from the busy streets outside. I noticed a wine storage area, open tables with a greenhouse-like atmosphere, and private rooms suitable for meetings or group dinners.
I arrived at approximately 1:30 p.m., when the lunch crowd had started to leave, and was able to look around the restaurant more comfortably.
The branch displayed Blue Ribbon Survey stickers from 2020 through 2026 at the time of my visit.
The stickers caught my attention because they showed that the restaurant had been included over several years, rather than appearing only once.
Cham Songi Mushroom Cream Gnocchi at Samseong
I had changed the wire on my braces the day before visiting, and my teeth were sore. Instead of ordering steak or another dish that required a lot of chewing, I chose the Cham Songi Mushroom Cream Gnocchi.
Gnocchi are small Italian dumplings commonly made from potato, flour, and sometimes egg. Although they are often grouped with pasta, they do not have the shape or texture of noodles.
The pieces can vary considerably between restaurants. Some are light and soft, while others are dense and chewy.
I first tried gnocchi in Switzerland during my 2011 backpacking trip through Europe. At the time, preparing potatoes as small dumplings and serving them like pasta felt completely new to me. Eating gnocchi again still reminds me of that journey.
The gnocchi at the Samseong branch were browned on top and served in a creamy mushroom sauce. They were soft enough for me to eat comfortably despite my sore teeth.
The mushrooms added a chewy contrast and a deep earthy aroma. Their flavor remained noticeable even after I finished the meal.
I ordered a Jameson Highball with the gnocchi. It initially looked small, but the alcohol was stronger than I expected and became more noticeable as I drank it. For a lighter lunchtime drink, I preferred the Wine Ade I had ordered at the Gangnam branch.
Among the three locations, Samseong would be my choice for creamy gnocchi and a quiet meal near COEX.
Mano di Chef Jamsil Near Lotte World Mall
I visited the Jamsil branch with my sister while she was traveling in Seoul.
It is in the basement of Tower 730, close to Jamsil Station. The location makes it easy to combine lunch with Lotte World Mall, Seokchon Lake, or other attractions around Jamsil.
I had already tried the Gangnam and Samseong branches, so I deliberately chose two dishes I had not eaten before: Gamtae Pesto Seafood Barley Risotto and Jalapeño Aglio e Olio.
The interior had generous space between tables and a calm, polished atmosphere. It felt suitable for couples, families, friends, and small groups.
Gamtae Pesto Seafood Barley Risotto
Gamtae (감태) is a type of delicate green seaweed appreciated in Korea for its deep ocean aroma and savory flavor. It is often dried into thin sheets, but it can also be used in sauces and seasoning.
Mano di Chef used it to create a green pesto for its seafood barley risotto.
The dish was topped with seared scallops, while barley gave the risotto a more noticeable texture than one made only with soft rice.
The first flavor I noticed was saltiness. As I continued eating, the deeper taste of the gamtae became more apparent.
The scallops added a soft, pleasantly chewy texture, while the green pesto gave the dish a distinctive ocean flavor. It was very different from an ordinary cheese-heavy risotto.
I often watch cooking programs and wonder how a properly prepared restaurant risotto should taste. After this meal, the Jamsil dish became one of my personal reference points.
Jalapeño Aglio e Olio
The Jalapeño Aglio e Olio provided a sharp contrast to the rich gamtae risotto.
Aglio e olio is traditionally made with pasta, garlic, olive oil, and chili. Mano di Chef added jalapeño, giving the dish a more direct and familiar spicy flavor.
The pasta was savory, garlicky, and spicy without becoming creamy or heavy. The sauce coated the noodles evenly, so the flavor remained consistent until the final bite.
Alternating between the nutty seaweed risotto and spicy oil pasta made both dishes more enjoyable. The two flavors did not compete with each other.
If you find cream pasta too rich or prefer food with some heat, the Jalapeño Aglio e Olio is worth considering.
Which Mano di Chef Location Should You Choose?
All three locations serve the same broader style of Italian food, but my visits had different strengths.
| Location | Best for | My recommended dish |
|---|---|---|
| Gangnam | Business lunch, meetings and group dining | Steak Carrot Hummus Plate |
| Samseong | COEX date, gnocchi and drinks | Cham Songi Mushroom Cream Gnocchi |
| Jamsil | Lotte World Mall itinerary and sharing several dishes | Gamtae Risotto and Jalapeño Aglio e Olio |
Choose Gangnam if you want steak
The Gangnam location is convenient for meals near Yeoksam Station and the Teheran-ro business district. The private rooms also make it suitable for office gatherings.
Choose Samseong if you are visiting COEX
The Samseong branch is the easiest to combine with COEX, Bongeunsa Temple, or Starfield Library. The creamy mushroom gnocchi was also one of the softest and most comforting dishes I tried.
Choose Jamsil for a date or day out
The Jamsil branch works well as part of a longer itinerary around Lotte World Mall and Seokchon Lake. I also found its contrasting risotto and pasta combination the most interesting meal to share.
My Favorite Mano di Chef Dishes
My personal ranking from the three visits is:
- Gamtae Pesto Seafood Barley Risotto
- Cham Songi Mushroom Cream Gnocchi
- Dolce Baguette and Garden Salad
- Steak Carrot Hummus Plate
- Jalapeño Aglio e Olio
The risotto ranked first because the combination of gamtae, barley, and scallops was the most distinctive. The gnocchi was a close second for its soft texture and mushroom aroma.
The Dolce Baguette and Garden Salad was the most dependable side dish and the only menu item I ordered at more than one branch.
Is Mano di Chef Worth Visiting?
Mano di Chef is a useful option when you want Italian food in Seoul without choosing a formal fine-dining restaurant.
Its advantage is the variety. A group can order steak, pasta, risotto, gnocchi, pizza, and salad according to individual preferences. The branches I visited also had interiors suitable for dates and gatherings.
The menu is not focused on strictly traditional Italian recipes. Ingredients such as gamtae and jalapeño create flavors that may feel more familiar to Korean diners. Travelers seeking a highly traditional Italian restaurant may prefer another option, but those interested in Italian dishes adapted with local ingredients may enjoy it.
After visiting three locations, I would not choose a branch based only on the restaurant name. I would choose according to the neighborhood and the dish I wanted to eat.
For steak, I would return to Gangnam. For gnocchi near COEX, I would choose Samseong. For risotto and pasta during a Jamsil day out, I would return to Jamsil.
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