Narrowing down the best restaurants in the COEX underground complex is harder than it sounds once you actually stand in the concourse and see how many doors line the corridors. The COEX underground complex, connected directly to Samseong Station (Line 2, Exits 5 & 6) and Bongeunsa Station (Line 9, Exit 7), is one of the largest underground retail districts in Asia, and its dining floor alone can occupy an entire afternoon of decision-making. Korean, Japanese, Italian, and Mexican-American kitchens all sit within a few minutes’ walk of each other, which is exactly why so many visitors end up circling the same block twice before choosing where to eat. After returning to this stretch of Gangnam multiple times, a handful of restaurants stand out for consistency rather than novelty — places where the food, room, and service hold up regardless of the day of the week. This guide narrows the choices down to eight, spanning genres and occasions, all within or a short walk from the COEX complex.
Key Takeaways:
- COEX Mall connects directly to Samseong Station (Line 2) and Bongeunsa Station (Line 9), so most of these restaurants can be reached without stepping outside.
- The eight picks cover Korean, Japanese, Italian, and Mexican-American cuisine, so mixed-taste groups usually find something workable.
- Cipolla Rosso, Park Hyatt Cornerstone, Soltrang Steak, and The Italian Club sit just outside the mall footprint but within a short walk of the COEX complex.
- A few spots, like The Taco Booth and Cipolla Rosso, are set up well for larger groups and private-room dinners.
- Subway access is simpler than driving into this part of Gangnam, especially during weekday lunch rushes.
Hoho Sikdang Starfield COEX (호호식당 스타필드코엑스)
Featured Menu
Sake-don (salmon rice bowl), hire katsu (pork fillet cutlet), and fried king prawn are the dishes that show up again and again on tables here.
Description
The kitchen leans into Japanese home cooking rather than formal kaiseki, plating rice bowls and fried cutlets that stay consistent visit after visit. Bright wood finishes and simple table settings keep the room casual, making it a comfortable stop whether you’re eating solo before a movie at Megabox or sharing dishes with family. Its location near the mall’s main basement corridor makes it an easy first stop after arriving from Samseong Station.
Address: 서울특별시 강남구 영동대로 513 B1층 H103A호
The Kitchen Il Forno COEX Mall (더 키친 일뽀르노 코엑스몰점)
Featured Menu
Wood-fired pizza and hand-made pasta form the core of the menu, in the tradition of a straightforward Italian trattoria.
Description
Expect the kind of familiar Italian plates — pizza, pasta, and simple starters — that work well for a relaxed lunch between shopping stops. The dining room keeps an open kitchen layout so you can watch dishes come together, adding a bit of theater to an otherwise low-key meal. It suits small groups looking for something dependable without overthinking the menu, and it fits naturally into a broader afternoon spent browsing the COEX Mall area.
Address: 서울특별시 강남구 영동대로 513 P105호
The Taco Booth NYC COEX (더타코부스 NYC 코엑스점)
Featured Menu
Birria taco, quesadilla, and the Empire Fajita Tower — a shareable spread built for groups — anchor the menu, alongside a prime rib burrito for heavier appetites.
Description
The interior borrows New York subway styling, with tiled walls and signage that give the space a lived-in, city-diner energy rather than a typical mall food court feel. It’s well suited to groups and dates alike, and dishes like the fajita tower are built specifically for sharing across a table. The restaurant has drawn enough attention to appear on Korean food broadcasts, which says something about how consistently its technique holds up.
Address: 서울특별시 강남구 영동대로 513
California Pizza Kitchen COEX (캘리포니아피자키친 코엑스점)
Featured Menu
California Pane Pasta, Super Supreme Pizza, and California Club Pizza are the standing favorites, with vegan options available on request.
Description
The dining room is bright and open, with large windows, warm lighting, and greenery that lean into the brand’s Californian identity, plus an open kitchen where you can watch pizzas come out of a large stone oven. It’s a reliable, no-fuss choice for families with children or anyone who wants a menu everyone already recognizes. Set on the mall’s first floor, it’s one of the easier restaurants to find without navigating the deeper basement levels.
Address: 서울특별시 강남구 영동대로 513 코엑스몰 1층
Cipolla Rosso Samsung Main Branch (치폴라로쏘 삼성본점)
Featured Menu
Rucola Margherita Pizza, Shrimp Rosé Pasta, and Seafood Tomato Pasta are the dishes most often ordered together for the table.
Description
Low lighting, wine racks, and a black-and-wood interior give this branch a quieter, more grown-up feel than most mall restaurants, and private rooms make it a practical choice for business dinners or larger parties. It sits just outside the COEX Mall footprint, close to Bongeunsa Station, which keeps it connected to the wider complex without feeling like part of the food court. Valet parking is available for anyone arriving by car rather than subway.
Address: 서울특별시 강남구 영동대로114길 5 이브자리 B1층
Park Hyatt Seoul Cornerstone (파크 하얏트 서울 코너스톤)
Featured Menu
Seasonal house-made pasta and grilled lamb chops anchor the à la carte menu, alongside the Nobile and Signature multi-course Italian dinners.
Description
Set on the second floor of Park Hyatt Seoul, the room uses floor-to-ceiling windows, natural wood, and stone finishes to create a calmer, more formal Italian dining experience than anything inside the mall itself. It’s built for special occasions and business meals rather than a quick bite between errands, and the multi-course dinners give structure to an evening that’s meant to be lingered over. Being directly connected to the COEX complex means it’s still an easy walk from Samseong Station despite the more elevated setting.
Map
Address: 서울특별시 강남구 테헤란로 606 파크 하얏트 서울 2층
Soltrang Steak Samsung (솔트랑 스테이크 삼성)
Featured Menu
Grilled steak cuts prepared to order, served with classic steakhouse sides, make up the core of the menu.
Description
This is a straightforward, grill-focused steakhouse rather than a fine-dining spectacle, which makes it a solid pick after a long day of walking through the COEX Mall area. The basement-level setting near Samseong-dong’s office towers keeps the atmosphere calm on weekday evenings and busier at lunch. It works well for a hearty dinner without needing a reservation for a formal tasting menu.
Address: 서울특별시 강남구 테헤란로 610 B1층
The Italian Club Hyundai Department Store Trade Center (더이탈리안클럽 현대백화점무역센터점)
Featured Menu
Seasonal anchovy pasta, Korean beef sirloin carpaccio, and truffle gnocchi represent the kitchen’s focus on fresh, house-made pasta.
Description
Set on the tenth floor of Hyundai Department Store’s Trade Center branch, the space aims for a comfortable, friendly atmosphere rather than a stiff fine-dining format, with private rooms available for smaller gatherings. Its pasta-forward menu and rotating seasonal dishes make it a good pick for a date or a small group dinner that wants something a step above casual. Reservations are worth arranging in advance, particularly for the private rooms, given its popularity as a date spot in the wider COEX area.
Map
Address: 서울특별시 강남구 테헤란로 517 현대백화점 10층
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there Korean barbecue near COEX if I only have a short layover?
COEX Mall itself doesn’t specialize in Korean barbecue, but the streets around Samseong and Bongeunsa stations have several grilled-meat restaurants within about a 10-minute walk. This makes it workable even on a tight schedule, especially if you’re staying near the mall for other reasons like an overnight layover.
Which of these restaurants works best for a large group?
The Taco Booth NYC COEX and Cipolla Rosso Samsung Main Branch are the two best suited for bigger tables. The Taco Booth’s Empire Fajita Tower is built for sharing, while Cipolla Rosso offers private rooms that make group bookings easier to arrange.
Is the COEX area big enough to spend a full day there?
Yes — between shopping, the Starfield Library, COEX Aquarium, Megabox, and a meal at one of these restaurants, most visitors can comfortably fill a half or full day. Pairing a meal here with a walk to nearby Bongeunsa Temple is a common way to round out the visit.
How do I avoid getting lost inside the mall?
COEX Mall’s underground layout is genuinely large and can feel like a maze on a first visit. Following the colored floor lines, laser directional signs, and interactive digital kiosks placed throughout the mall makes navigation noticeably easier, and sticking close to your entry exit number helps when it’s time to leave.
How do I get to the COEX underground complex?
It connects directly to Samseong Station on Line 2 (Exits 5 and 6) and Bongeunsa Station on Line 9 (Exit 7), both of which lead straight into the underground concourse. Taking the subway is generally recommended over driving, since parking and surface traffic around this part of Gangnam can be heavy, especially at lunch.
In Conclusion
Choosing where to eat in the COEX underground complex isn’t really about a lack of options — it’s about having too many good ones packed into one underground complex. These eight restaurants were chosen for holding up consistently across genres, from Hoho Sikdang’s Japanese comfort plates to Park Hyatt Cornerstone’s more formal Italian courses, so there’s a reasonable fit whether you’re grabbing a quick lunch, hosting a group dinner, or planning a date night. Most are reachable within minutes of Samseong or Bongeunsa Station, which keeps the whole plan simple even if you’re only in the area for a few hours. Save two or three names before you arrive, since deciding on the spot in a crowded corridor rarely goes smoothly, and pair your meal with a stop at the Starfield Library or a short walk to Bongeunsa Temple to round out the visit.
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