Quick answer
- What: traditional (not Korean-adapted) Italian in a Gwanghwamun basement, with a separate weekday lunch menu.
- Price: about 30,000 won (about $21) per person.
- Getting there: 1-minute walk from Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) Exit 1.
A Gwanghwamun business lunch: an Italian restaurant in the basement of an old building, one minute from Gwanghwamun Station Exit 1, with a separate weekday lunch menu.
Come out of Gwanghwamun Station Exit 1 and the Royal Building is right there. The restaurant is on B1. The building is old, but inside it is a high-end restaurant.
The food is not adapted to Korean taste. It is closer to traditional Italian. Rich flavors, on the salty side.
Before you order, the staff ask how salty you want it. We went "normal" for the pasta and "low" for the rest. Even "normal" tasted good. Next time I would pick normal for everything.
Truffle risotto
The winner of the day. The grains of rice have bite. It is not the soft, mushy risotto you often get. Each grain is plump and firm. It is the texture Napoli Matfia (the chef from the TV show Culinary Class Wars) described as how risotto is supposed to be.
Truffle pasta
Thick rigatoni. Plenty of sauce, with a slice of prosciutto on top.
Margherita
The dough is chewy. Tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil. Just those three.
Burrata prosciutto salad
Burrata in the middle, with plenty of grated cheese on top. Arugula, cherry tomatoes and prosciutto around it.
Price
About 30,000 won (about $21) per person. A bit much for lunch. But it works for a business lunch or when hosting guests.
Good to know
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Osteria Radici / 오스테리아 라디치 |
| Address | B1 Unit 58, 19 Saemunan-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Royal Building) / 서울 종로구 새문안로5길 19 로얄빌딩 지하1층 58호 |
| Station / exit / walk | Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) Exit 1, 1-minute walk |
| Price | About 30,000 won (about $21) per person |
| Hours | Break time 15:00-17:30 (from the Naver listing, check before you go). full hours not confirmed, check before you go |
| Reservation | Catchtable and Naver Reservation, private room available |
| Closed | Sundays (from other visitors’ reviews, check before you go) |
| Weekday lunch | A reduced menu, run separately |
| Phone | 0507-1345-6941 |
Map: search 「오스테리아 라디치」 in Naver Map
The price is on the high side. Still, I’d go back for the risotto.