더 마켓 키친 The Market Kitchen — Restaurant in Seoul

Went for the holiday buffet on 12/29/22 during lunch. Things that stood out:

Atmosphere. It’s was not too crowded, as there aren’t many tables on the floor, so the flow of the room is controlled. Also, the space is really large, so it felt as though it was spacious enough to hold everyone. Private rooms and an interesting mix of decorations, (think ancient Korea plus European kitchen), kept things fresh and lively.

Service. The waitstaff was discreet yet prompt. There was never a dirty dish on the table, and anything we needed was handled quickly and with care. Friendly, yet professional, and could speak English as well.

The food quality. We’ve dined at other high end buffets in Seoul, and the food quality here is pretty high. The attention to detail is great…Food is presented beautifully. You don’t get mounds of stuff sitting around either. You get small portions that are refilled once they look a bit sparse, however, no station was lacking any dish, which was great to see. No waiting for what you wanted…no que and no cold food.

The selection of food was indeed not as robust as other buffets, BUT, since the quality and presentation was much better, we didn’t mind at all. Everything we wanted was there, along with an excellent cheese selection, charcuterie station and ample raw seafood, which was really fresh.

The desserts were mainly mini, which was appreciated, but these were the low point of the meal, as they lacked flavor. Also, there were no strawberries at the fruit bar, which was disappointing, especially since it’s strawberry season. The coffee however, was strong and delicious. They did not skimp here, which many buffets do, & it’s a mistake. They also offer non dairy alternatives, like oat, almond and soy, which I appreciated.

Overall great experience. We’ll definitely be back, and want to try their breakfast, as we felt this was an “intimate buffet” experience amongst the giants in Seoul, so...

We have tried both the seafood buffet and the regular breakfast buffet. The quality of the food is excellent. The seafood buffet had so much to enjoy - I still think about the salt baked fish.

The regular weekday breakfast has an excellent range of cold to hot dishes. The cooked to order omelet and French toast stations were "perfect" per my dining companion (and better than the Shilla, for the record). I especially liked the Korean hot dishes, which included kimchi chigae, superlative seasonal banchan, and delicate house-made mandu. The baked goods were also delicious. There was more than enough to keep the vegetarians in our group happy, although they missed the food allergy warnings from the Shilla.

The salads are, admittedly, a little plain and the fruit selection wasn't uniquely Korean. Those are areas where the Shilla distinguishes itself. And while both had excellent A+ baked goods, I would award the Shilla an A++

The Four Seasons has a wonderful, large, well lit space with an archaeology site visible below the floor. And it's an easy walk north or south to one of the palaces to burn off the calories from your meal. Many thanks to the Market Kitchen staff for a warm welcome and delicious...

We had a Memorable Birthday Celebration at Four Seasons Hotel, Seoul!

I recently celebrated my partner's birthday with a buffet dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, and it was an unforgettable experience! The staff were exceptionally friendly, polite, and helpful, even offering to take photos for us.

The food was diverse and delicious, with a wide range of cuisines to choose from, including crab, lobster, beef, sashimi, and more. As seafood lovers, we were particularly impressed by the grilled lobsters, which were big, meaty, and juicy, with just the right amount of garlic.

I had preordered a fresh cream mango cake in advance, which was absolutely divine and fresh. Although it was too large for the two of us, we enjoyed every bite. With the cake and the generous buffet spread, we were too full to try the many enticing desserts on offer.

What truly made our experience special was the accommodating staff, who allowed us to continue celebrating beyond the dining time limitation. We appreciate their kindness and look forward...