The True Charm of a Michelin 2-Star - A Perfect Fine Dining Experience at 알라프리마

Searching for a Special Place on a Special Day

With a friend's birthday approaching, I wanted to celebrate at a special place. I've always been interested in fine dining but found it challenging to take the plunge. This time, I gathered the courage to book a table at the Michelin 2-star restaurant, 알라프리마! I was really nervous while making the reservation, but once I got there... I felt like I'd discovered a restaurant of a lifetimeㅠㅠ

Getting There and First Impressions

알라프리마 is about a 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Hakdong Station. It's located in the back alleys of Nonhyeon Furniture Street, so I got a bit lost at first, and when I arrived, I was even more surprised to see there was no signㅋㅋ But as I got closer, I saw the golden logo and the glass facade, and realized, ah, this is it.

At the entrance, there were Michelin plaques displayed from 2017 to the present, which made me even more nervous. Valet parking is available, so it's convenient for those driving!

The Overwhelming Atmosphere of the Venue

As soon as I opened the door and walked in, I couldn't help but say wow... The space is about 30 pyeong, with an open kitchen in view, bar seating in the front, and tables in the back. We reserved a table seat, and the spacing was so generous that we could dine comfortably without worrying about bumping into other guests.

The lighting was slightly dim, creating a really nice atmosphere, and all the staff were dressed in suits, exuding a luxurious feel. The ceiling was a bit low, but the glass walls prevented any sense of confinement!

Menu and Price Information

알라프리마 offers a single course menu: lunch for 190,000 won and dinner for 310,000 won. Initially, the price seemed a bit daunting, but I heard it's relatively cheaper compared to other Michelin 2-star places. The menu changes with the seasons, and the lunch menu is decided at 10 AM, while the dinner menu is set at 3 PM on the day.

Note that children under middle school age are not allowed as it's a no-kids zone. If you mention it's a special occasion when booking, they offer a lettering service, so be sure to mention it if you're visiting for a special day!

The Service is Truly Exceptional

As soon as we sat down, they provided a warm towel, which was really touching. For someone like me with cold hands and feet, it was heavenㅠㅠ They also changed the cutlery appropriately with each dish, and the water was constantly refilled like an endless spring, so there was no inconvenience at all.

I especially appreciated the detailed explanations for each dish, and all the servers felt incredibly professional.

The Moment of Awe When the Food Arrives

I was really surprised when the first dish arrived. The plating looked like a work of art! The appetizer used yellowtail, pear, persimmon, and culatello, and the freshness of the yellowtail combined with the sweetness of the persimmon was truly fantastic. I was genuinely amazed at how they came up with such a combination.

The second dish, a salad with 36 kinds of herbs, is said to be 알라프리마's signature menu, and it was truly impressive! They provided a paper listing all the herbs and vegetables in the salad, which was really fun. The most surprising part was the dressing... it was a warm dressing made from Emmental cheese!

I'm not usually a fan of salads, but I couldn't help but finish this one. They said you could eat the dressing like soup, so I drank it all upㅋㅋ

The Perfect Harmony of Main Dishes

The paella topped with golden tilefish was also really impressive. It was made with Carnaroli, Italy's finest rice, and had a slightly chewy texture, which felt odd at first but became more charming as I ate. The golden tilefish was so tender and moist that it would fall apart with just a gentle press of the spoon.

The beef steak was also a complete hit! It was cooked almost rare, melting in the mouth like a work of art. The spinach mille-feuille was truly amazing... layers of spinach and cheese, and I've never tasted spinach this delicious!

Special Pasta and the Finale

The pasta with cod roe was a flavor I'd never experienced before. It had a unique taste due to the yuzukosho (yuzu pepper), which might be a bit polarizing. Personally, I'm not a fan of citrus flavors, so it was a bit disappointing, but it was still an intriguing experience.

The final dessert, a tiramisu, was truly a work of art! It was a newly reinterpreted tiramisu, and breaking the crispy chocolate to eat with mascarpone cheese and strawberries was an incredible texture experience. Both my friend and I kept saying this dessert was the most memorableㅠㅠ

Value for Money and Revisit Intentions

Honestly, the price of 190,000 won felt burdensome, but after eating, I felt it was worth every penny. For a Michelin 2-star, it's really reasonably priced. Other fine dining places are much more expensive.

Each dish was like a work of art, and the service was perfect. It seems like a place where you can create unforgettable memories on a special day. I definitely want to revisit when another special occasion arises!

Visiting Tips and Precautions

Reservations are essential, and especially the bar seats in front of the open kitchen are very popular, so you need to book at least a month in advance. You can reserve through Catch Table, but it was already fully booked for several weeks ahead.

There's no specific dress code, but it's better to dress neatly. The atmosphere is luxurious, so going too casual might feel a bit awkward.

Valet parking is available, and you can also reach it by public transport from Hakdong Station Exit 6 or Nonhyeon Station Exit 10. We took the subway, and it wasn't as hard to find as we thought.

Overall Impression and Recommendation

It was truly an unforgettable meal in my life. Experiencing proper fine dining for the first time, I feel other restaurants might now seem lackingㅠㅠ Each dish was perfect, and the service was truly top-notch.

It's a great place to visit for a special occasion, a meal with someone important, or as a gift to yourself. The price might be daunting, but I think it's worth it!

The Michelin 2-star title is well-deserved, and it was a joy to taste Chef Jin-hyuk Kim's creative dishes. I highly recommend experiencing it at least once! ♥