Gangnam Station Abiko Gangnam Gwell Tower Branch - I've Fallen for the Charm of 100-Hour Crafted Curry!

Finally Visited Gangnam Station Abiko!

My coworker kept recommending it, so I finally visited Gangnam Station Abiko! I've seen it so much on Instagram, and I finally got the chance to go. I went late Friday afternoon with a friend, and as expected from a famous restaurant, there was a wait ㅠㅠ

Located in Gangnam Gwell Tower 101, Abiko looked a bit different from the outside, but once inside, it definitely had that unique Abiko vibe. The signboard was also impressive, making me drool ㅋㅋ

Waiting and Store Atmosphere

Even though we went around 6 PM on a weekday, there was about a 15-minute wait. As expected from a famous place, people kept coming. While waiting in front of the automatic door, I peeked inside and was relieved to see more seats than I expected. Most were table seats, and there were sofa seats along the wall, which looked comfortable.

Finally, it was our turn, and as we entered, the staff greeted us with "Welcome to Abiko!" and showed us to our seats. The store had that cozy atmosphere typical of Japanese curry houses.

Unique Ordering Method

One of Abiko's features is its ordering method! You write down your desired menu on paper to order. It was a bit novel at first, but I realized it was more convenient.

The ordering process is as follows:
1. Choose a main dish from curry rice, curry udon, cream curry pasta, or hayashi rice
2. Choose the spice level (from baby level to supreme level!)
3. Choose toppings (there are free toppings too)

Finally, the Food Arrived!

I ordered the herb chicken curry rice at level 2, and my friend ordered the hamburger curry rice at level 1.5. Being able to adjust the spice level was really nice. Since it was our first time, we ordered something mild.

Wow... the aroma was amazing when the food arrived! They say the curry is brewed for 100 hours, and it truly had a unique scent. Just by looking at the color, you could feel the spiciness, making my mouth water.

The hamburger curry rice my friend ordered also looked delicious. The hamburger was bigger than expected, and the juices were flowing, making it incredibly appetizing.

How Did It Taste?

The moment I took the first spoonful... it was truly addictive! Even at level 2, it was spicier than I thought. They said the chili powder was spicier this year, so the overall spice level was upgraded, so keep that in mind.

The curry itself has that soft and sweet taste typical of Japanese curry, with added spiciness, making it truly unique. The herb chicken was tender and fragrant, pairing perfectly with the curry. Eating it with vegetables made it even more delicious!

And the best part is that you can refill the rice and curry! However, when refilling, the curry only comes at the baby level. I found level 2 a bit spicy, so I refilled to neutralize it while eating ㅋㅋ

The Charm of Toppings

Adding the free toppings of garlic flakes and green onions enhanced the flavor even more. The garlic aroma blended with the curry to create an addictive taste.

Next time, I want to try adding cream croquettes or other toppings. The cream croquettes looked really delicious with the cheese stretching out!

Value for Money and Practical Information

The herb chicken curry rice is 9,800 won, and considering the refills, it seems like great value for money. The portion is ample, and the taste is good, so the satisfaction level was high.

It's about a 5-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 5, so it's easily accessible. It's close to the subway station, making it convenient to meet friends.

Places to Visit Nearby

After eating, we went to Baekmidang nearby to cool down the spiciness with melon ice cream ㅋㅋ Since it's around Gangnam Station, there are many cafes and dessert shops, making it great for a course.

There are many shopping places and a cinema nearby, making it a good date course as well.

Honest Overall Review

It's been a long time since I've had such satisfying curry! There's a wait, but it's worth it because it's so delicious. The ability to adjust the spice level is great, and with refills, the value for money is excellent.

However, it's better to choose the spice level conservatively at first. It was spicier than I expected, which surprised me ㅋㅋ But it's okay because it's delicious!

Next time, I plan to try the curry udon or cream curry pasta. I think I'll visit again when I'm craving Japanese curry. Now I understand why my coworker recommended it so much!