Gangnam Restaurant — Restaurant in Oslo

We have ordered the 4 course menu number 2, it came with one Kimchi pancake and one Kimchi and Beef dumpling each as the appetizer. All tasted excellent. As the Entrée, we have received a bowl of Topokki in chili sauce, also fantastic. For our main course we had Korean fried chicken and thinly sliced beef stir fry. The fried chicken was crispy and tender although thoroughly marinated in an astonishing sauce. The entrecôte was tender and juicy. Since the two dishes shared a plate the spices of both meats and the accompanying vegetables were mixed beautifully and harmonized heavenly. I couldn’t have wished for a better desert sweet and refreshing the plate was the best possible finish. The green tea ice cream took the heat, of wich there could have been more, away from your tastebuds. The mushy pancake and the sticky rice cake cleansed you mouth of any remaining oils.

Alongside the meal we enjoyed 20cl of Jinro‘s fruit Soju. The only one available at the time was plum, wich in my opinion, having tried all other flavors, is the best. If you’ve never tried Soju before or only drank Lotte Liquor‘s Chum Churum, Jinro‘s Chamisul Fresh, the basis for the fruit version, is way softer and rounder. While Chum Churum is an after dinner drink, Jinro’s Soju can be enjoyed all throughout. If you’ve never tried Korean Soju before, think of it as a milder yet more tasteful/ rich version of Japanese sake (Sake recommendation: Urakasumi Junmai Misty Bay - is the way to go).

The atmosphere was very calm, with rather unspectacular furniture, the mood was set by some quite K-Pop, such as Ribbon by BamBam, music in the background and several paintings and pictures showcasing Korea, in all it’s glory. Since all light sources were aimed at the wall the room was well lit but still very soft and diffused.

Regarding the service, it was, as expected very kind, willing to help and accommodating. We were greeted by a nice Korean gentleman. Our food was served by a, non Korean, young Asian gentleman who told us all he could about the foreign Food. As we left I’ve asked for a small Korean lesson and a nice lady came from the kitchen to teach me how to properly say hello and goodbye in Korean. My previous knowledge turned out to be quite wrong.

Continuing with my bad Korean skills: I would describe this whole experience as, to put it simple, daebak. Wich, as I’ve been told, means awesome. If I wouldn’t be leaving this city tomorrow I could see myself eating here weekly for the...

I recently visited Gangnam, hoping for a pleasant dining experience with my family, but unfortunately, it was far from it. I am extremely disappointed with the service and the apparent lack of family-friendliness at this establishment.

We brought along our two young niece/nephew, aged 1 and 3, and were met with behavior from the chef/owner that made us feel unwelcome from the moment we sat down. When my 1-year-old niece was playing with a spoon and lightly banging it on the table — as any curious toddler would — the chef/owner abruptly took the spoon away and told us, “This is not a toy.” This level of unprofessionalism and insensitivity toward a child’s natural behavior was shocking.

Meanwhile, my 3-year-old nephew was watching a show on his iPhone, making normal noises that any young child might make. The chef/owner repeatedly shot annoyed, exasperated glances in our direction, making us feel incredibly uncomfortable. When he came to take our order, his irritation was palpable, and he made no effort to hide his frustration.

To make matters worse, after our food was served, he did not check on us once to ensure everything was satisfactory. Instead, every time he passed our table, he continued to make those same visibly annoyed faces. This was not only unprofessional but also deeply insulting, as we had done nothing unreasonable to warrant such treatment.

At the end of the meal, the chef/owner had the audacity to ask if we were satisfied with our experience. Needless to say, the question felt disingenuous given how unwelcome we were made to feel throughout the evening.

As a parent, I understand that dining with young children can sometimes be challenging, but a family-friendly restaurant should have the patience and understanding to accommodate families. The behavior we experienced was neither welcoming nor professional. If you are looking for a place to enjoy a meal with your children, I strongly advise looking elsewhere.

This experience was disheartening, and I cannot recommend Gangnam to families. Hospitality should be at the core of any restaurant, and sadly, this establishment fell far short of...

Gangnam Korean Restaurant in Oslo offers two tasting menus, featuring a selection of traditional Korean dishes.

Appetizer: The entrée was pleasant but lacked distinctive flavors.

Kimchi Pancake: The kimchi pancake lacked the characteristic tang and crispness expected from traditional kimchi pancakes, where the fermented kimchi should impart a pronounced flavor and a crispy texture.

Tteokbokki: The rice cakes had the desired chewy consistency, but the accompanying sauce/soup was bland and lacked the expected spiciness, and it was also getting quite cold (should serve it on different type of plates/bowls probably)

Main Course: The bulgogi and Korean fried chicken were flavorful and generously portioned. However, the bulgogi could have benefited from a stronger garlic presence, and the fried chicken might have been enhanced with additional spiciness.

Banchan: The limited serving of banchan, particularly the small portions of kimchi and pickled radishes, was disappointing. Banchan are essential side dishes in Korean cuisine, typically served in generous amounts to complement the main meal.

Dessert: The matcha ice cream accompanied by mochi filled with bean paste was enjoyable.

Presentation: The use of outdated, western 1990's plate designs detracted from the authenticity of the dining experience.

Overall, while the meal was satisfactory and reasonably priced, it seemed tailored to suit Western, possibly Norwegian, palates, potentially compromising the authenticity of traditional Korean flavors. I would love to come back and try other dishes. Hopefully they will up the...