Top 3 Restaurants in Apgujeong! Honest Reviews from Dosan Butcher to Knotted

Apgujeong Restaurant Tour Started with a Colleague's Recommendation

Lately, my colleagues at work have been talking a lot about Apgujeong restaurants, so I was curious. Especially, the marketing team senior kept recommending it, saying, 'Apgujeong has many hidden gems,' so I finally started a restaurant tour in Apgujeong with a friend last weekend!

I'll introduce the top 3 Apgujeong restaurants we discovered over three weeks of exploring. Honestly, there was a lot of waiting, and the prices weren't cheap... but each place had its own charm, haha.

1st Place: Dosan Butcher Cheongdam Main Branch - The Restaurant Featured on TVN!

Location: 4 minutes from Apgujeong Rodeo Station (12, Seolleung-ro 155-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul)

Business Hours: Daily 17:00-24:00 (Last order 23:00)

First of all, here... be prepared to wait! We went on a Saturday evening at 6 PM and waited for 1 hour and 20 minutes. But I heard it's famous enough to be featured on TVN's 'Restaurant with a Line.'

While waiting, I looked around and saw many foreign tourists and people who looked like celebrities. It made me even more excited!

Ordered Menu and Prices

Dosan Set (Jeju Pork Neck + Jeju Pork Belly + Pork Jowl)

72,000 KRW - Enough for 2-3 people

Jeju Black Pork Ribs

39,000 KRW - Tender and juicy

Kimchi Fried Rice

8,000 KRW - A must-have finishing dish

Soju, Beer

4,000 KRW each

What really surprised me was that the staff grilled all the meat for us! They said the meat was wet-aged for 72 hours, and it was so tender and juicy... words can't describe it. I didn't expect much from the pork jowl, but it was chewy and savory, just to my taste.

The Jeju pork neck literally melted in my mouth. It wasn't greasy, so I could eat a lot without feeling heavy. The pork belly was on a different level compared to regular pork belly. Just the smell of the meat grilling made my mouth water.

The kimchi fried rice was also really delicious! It's fried at the end after eating the meat, and the kimchi had just the right amount of tanginess that paired well with the meat. The rice soaked in meat oil was really savory.

2nd Place: Knotted Studio Cheongdam - The New Hot Spot in Apgujeong for 2025!

Location: 2 minutes from Dosan Park on foot (15, Dosan-daero 53-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul)

Business Hours: Daily 08:00-22:00

A friend saw it on Instagram and insisted we go. I knew Knotted, but it was my first time at the newly opened studio in Cheongdam!

We went around 2 PM on Sunday, and there were quite a few people. As expected from a new hot spot, there were many young people. It seemed like a popular date spot for couples.

Ordered Menu and Honest Review

Original Glazed Donut

3,500 KRW - Knotted's signature, the epitome of crispy outside and soft inside

Matcha Cream Donut

4,200 KRW - Limited menu, rich matcha flavor with lots of cream

Salt Bread

3,800 KRW - French-style salt bread, sweet and salty charm

Iced Americano

4,500 KRW - Moderate acidity, perfect harmony with donuts

As expected, Knotted donuts didn't disappoint! The original glazed was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, just the texture I love. The glaze wasn't too sweet, so it wasn't overwhelming.

The matcha cream donut is a limited menu these days, and I liked that the matcha flavor was rich but not too sweet. The cream was really smooth, and the matcha aroma lingered subtly in my mouth.

The salt bread was tastier than I expected! The salt on the outside was just right, giving it a sweet and salty charm. The butter aroma was really savory, and the texture was chewy. The Americano had moderate acidity, which paired well with the donuts.

The store atmosphere is also really pretty. The minimalist interior and neatly arranged donut display made it great for taking photos. There's also a second floor, so there's plenty of seating.

3rd Place: TITOLO - A 7-Year-Old Italian Wine Bar

Location: 4 minutes from Apgujeong Rodeo Station Exit 3 (27-3, Seolleung-ro 162-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul)

Business Hours: Daily 17:30-24:00 (Kitchen last order 23:00)

The last place we visited was TITOLO. I didn't know at first, but it turns out it's been a beloved pasta spot in Apgujeong since 2018!

We made a reservation for Friday evening at 7 PM, and the store atmosphere was really cozy. There was a long bar table and 2-person tables, making it a great place for a date. The wine display was also beautiful!

Ordered Menu and Detailed Review

Ragu Pappardelle

31,000 KRW - 12-hour simmered beef ragu sauce, fresh pasta

Uni Cream Pasta

34,000 KRW - Harmony of fresh uni and cream

Burrata Cheese

24,000 KRW - Imported from Italy, served with bread

House Red Wine Glass

9,000 KRW - Medium body, pairs well with pasta

They said it was fresh pasta, and it was really chewy and bouncy! The ragu pappardelle sauce was really rich but not too heavy, so I enjoyed it until the end. The ragu sauce, simmered for 12 hours, had a really deep flavor.

The uni cream pasta... to be honest, I thought it was expensive, but when I tried it, it had a lot of uni. The cream sauce was really smooth, and the unique sea flavor of the uni filled my mouth.

The burrata cheese was also creamy and fresh. The outside was chewy, and the inside was soft like cream cheese, giving it a real Italian feel. It was even better with bread. The wine paired well with the pasta, making for a romantic evening, haha.

The staff were really friendly and gave great wine recommendations. They explained the menu in detail, and the atmosphere was so nice that it seemed like the perfect place for a special occasion.

Summary of the Apgujeong Restaurant Tour

What I felt after a 3-week Apgujeong restaurant tour is... Apgujeong is indeed different! The price range is a bit higher than other areas, but the quality was definitely worth it.

Dosan Butcher

Long wait but worth it for the meat. Great for special occasions! Budget 30,000-40,000 KRW per person

Knotted Studio

A dessert cafe full of SNS vibes. Perfect for a date course with Dosan Park! Around 10,000 KRW per person

TITOLO

A quiet and atmospheric Italian place. Recommended for mature dates or anniversaries! Budget 40,000-50,000 KRW per person

Personally, Dosan Butcher left the most impression on me. The wait was long, but once I started eating, I forgot all about it, haha. I've already recommended it to my friends!

I want to go back to TITOLO for a date and might visit Knotted alone from time to time. Each place has its own charm, so you can choose based on the situation.

Next, I'm thinking of doing a cafe tour in Apgujeong. I'm also planning to explore more restaurants in Cheongdam. It was a really enjoyable 3-week restaurant tour!