1 Day in Gangnam: Michelin Soy Crab To Nudake

Join me for a full day in Gangnam on the first day of my dream vacation to South Korea! From Michelin recommended Marinated Crabs to TikTok viral Korean BBQ Hanmiok, Gangnam has no shortage of quality foods, and we’re here to eat them all! Plus, we got to try some of the trendiest cafes and desserts, like Gentle Monster’s Nudake, and award-winning Bunker Company Apgujeong. If you’re planning a trip soon to South Korea, don’t forget to save this Gangnam Itinerary on your Google Maps!

Korea Day 1: Trendy Cafes and Shopping in Gangnam

If there’s one place I’ve been dreaming of visiting for the past 5 years it is South Korea. This trip was like a dream come true and I did every touristy thing. Before coming to Korea, I asked around for the absolute best things to do here, and the answer was unanimous: eat, shop, beauty, and cafes

So, for our first day, we decided to do exactly that and explore our neighborhood Gangnam, first. Gangnam is a trendy business hub that’s super easy to navigate on foot and by subway. The streets connect smoothly between busy shopping areas, quiet cafés, and cultural destinations, making it a comfortable area to explore without much effort. It has a polished, modern feel, but there are still pockets of calm and tradition mixed in.

Gebangsikdang 간장게장 Marinated Soy Crabs

One of the dishes I’ve been drooling over forever is Korean Soy Marinated Crabs. So, the moment we landed, we went straight to Gebangsikdang 간장게장. Serving modern takes on traditional Korean marinated crab, shrimp and abalone, Gebangsikdang received the Michelin Bib Gourmand Awards from 2018 all the way to 2025. Their most popular items are the Soy Marinated (₩36000 or about $25) and the Spicy Marinated crab sets (₩38000 or about $27). Each set comes with a range of banchan, grilled crispy seaweed, rice, and a clam seaweed soup.

Before we even get to the crabs, we have to talk about the side dishes. The banchons in Korea are on another level. They’re so fresh, delicate, and perfectly curated with seasonal ingredients. The attention to detail in every tiny dish is incredible. Our assortment included:

• Dongchimi, Watery Radish Kimchi: A mild, refreshing kimchi made with radish and a clear tangy brine 
• Assorted Namul Seasoned Vegetable Salad: A mix of fruits and vegetables that varies depending on the time of year 
• Homemade Kimchi: seasoned with chili pepper garlic and other spices
• Ojingeochae Muchim: Seasoned dried shredded squid, chewy, sweet and spicy Korean side dish offering bold and savory flavor 

Now let’s talk about the star of the show: the crab. The raw crab soaks in all the rich, umami-packed soy sauce or bright, spicy marinade for days until the meat becomes super buttery soft. The soy version has a gentle savory flavor that really brings out the natural sweetness of the crab. On the other hand, the spicy version adds an extra heat that is so addicting with rice.

Wrapping each bite of deep briny flavors with the grilled seaweed makes every bite silky, salty, and bursting with all the natural sweetness of the ocean. Mixing the creamy crab roe with hot rice is the perfect bite to end the meal. I’ve always loved this dish, but having it here is next level.

If you get the chance to come visit Gangnam, definitely give this amazing marinated crab restaurant a try! They are open every day EXCEPT SUNDAY from 11:30 AM to 3PM for lunch, and 5:30 to 9PM for dinner. I definitely recommend getting a reservation ahead of time, because it can get packed!

Starfield Coex Mall

Since we’re in Gangnam, we have to explore the Starfield Coex Mall. This gigantic mall has EVERYTHING, including all your favorite international and Korean brands, plus attractions like a movie theater and aquarium. The most iconic view of this mall is, of course, the beautifully designed 2-story Starfield Library. Built with beautiful floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, it holds over 50,000 books! For a reader like me, this is paradise!

Dom and I spent our entire time here exploring all the cute little shops selling everything from wall clocks to stationary. We even got matching phone cases! You definitely won’t miss the giant golden Gangnam Style hands outside, and Dom and I had to do the dance in front! It’s open every day from 10:30 AM to 10 PM, If you’re in Gangnam, you can probably spend a whole day in this mall. You can get to Starfield Coex Mall via Samseong Station by the Green Line 2 or Bongeunsa Station by the Gold Line 9.

Bongeunsa Temple 

Directly across Starfield Coex Mall is Bongeunsa Temple, another Gangnam destination. This super peaceful and quiet Buddhist temple Is hard to miss, with its 23-meter statue of Buddha and that iconic canopy made of rows of colorful lotus lanterns. Bongeunsa Temple provides a peaceful moment of escape right in the heart of bustling Gangnam. There’s even an overnight temple stay program for those who would like to experience the daily life of a Buddhist monk.

Temples always give me a sense of calm, and Dom and I ended up staying for a while just to enjoy the peace. This temple is a must visit if you’re near Gangnam. Admissions to the temple is free, and it is open year round. You can get to Bongeunsa Temple from Bongeunsa Station, so it’s super accessible.

Bunker Company Apgujeong

Bunker Company Apgujeong was a total hidden gem! This industry-style cafe is known for homemade baked goods and high quality in-house roast beans. They’ve actually received the 2023 Korean Barista Award for the Best Coffee Bar. We of course had to try their Iced Americano (₩5000), which really highlighted that quality roast. Of course, I had to get my matcha fix in with their Matcha Latte (₩6500).

Another thing that caught our eye was Bunker Company’s beautiful array of impeccable looking baked goods. We honestly weren’t expecting much, because let’s be real, pretty desserts don’t always taste great. The strawberry croissant looked almost too good to eat! But wow, it was amazing! So flaky on the outside, creamy on the inside, and not too sweet at all. Just the right little treat to wash down with our drinks.

If you’re looking for a chill cafe to relax in for a quick, but quality coffee and snack, Bunker Company’s the one. It’s open daily from 10AM to 9PM, so you can get your pastry fix even after dinner.

Nudake Haus Dosan (7/10)

One viral cafe I’ve been dying to visit is Nudake Haus Dosan, located in the basement of the iconic Gentle Monster. The cafe itself looks almost like an Apple Store, with giant screens playing visual art and a model display of all the desserts. They’re known for their super bold, artistic pastries and cakes, blending in high-end design with super creative pastries. Honestly every drink and dessert here is a work of art.

Everything looked so unique, We ended up ordering a little bit of everything:

• Peak Green Tea Latte (₩8,000): A sweet latte swirled with thick matcha cream, from Nudake’s signature “Peak” matcha croissant.
• Dutch Latte (₩9,000): Dutch cold brew coffee ice shaped like Pieta, their iconic dessert, served with milk.
• Tart Moon (₩8,000): A round almond cream-filled squid ink tart, topped with a wasabi-flavored mochiri-dofu.
• Nu Brûlée (₩8,000): Nudake’s version of crème brûlée—with a caramelized top and subtle notes of cinnamon and whiskey.
• Microissant (₩2,500): A set of 4 tiny, bite-sized, flaky croissants glazed with agave syrup.

Nudake’s desserts and drinks are so aesthically pleasing, they’re almost too artistic to eat. The mini croissants in particular were amazing – super flaky, and taste just like mini croissant cereals. On the other hand, some of these desserts can be a bit too sweet. The Peak Green Tea Latte was so tasty, but since it’s made with the matcha cream from their viral pastry Peak, it’s also on the richer, sweeter side.

Overall, this cafe was an experience, but not really a must visit for the actual food and drinks. Still, it was such a fun stop and a perfect little break before heading out for more exploring and shopping. They also opened a different croissant-themed branch in Gangnam as well, where you can still try their bestsellers. The cafe is open daily from 11AM to 9PM. There’s often a line, so if you’re interested in visiting, come early before they sell out!

Wiggle Wiggle Flagship Store

Another fun store we encountered while walking around was Wiggle Wiggle Flagship Store. This 4 story store is covered in quirky paintings and murals – like an eccentric museum. It sells literally everything you can possibly buy as a souvenir or gift, from keychains to mugs in that same signature cheery design. It even has a little silicon croc charm bar so you can choose your favorites to add to your crocs!

Wiggle Wiggle has actually expanded throughout Korea, and even to other countries! Many of the flagship stops have themes and photo ops like this one. Their Dosan location in particular has an upside-down room full of furniture on the ceiling – perfect for all the selfies. It’s a fun place to explore, take pictures, and collect a bunch of fun gifts for friends and family. It’s open daily, from 11 AM to 8 PM. If you’re walking around in Gangnam near Apgujeong Rodeo Station, you won’t miss this vibrant, whimsical store!

Granhand Dosan

Next, we headed to Granhand Dosan for some artisan fragrances. Granhand Is a Korean brand that sells everything that smells good, from perfume to home fragrance. The store is minimalistic and modern, with a variety of scents on display that you can test. Surprisingly, Granhand ended up having some of my favorite scents from this trip.

My absolute favorite was Susie Salmon, a slightly fruity floral scent that isn’t too overpowering. This multi-purpose fragrance spray can be used on yourself, or sprayed in rooms and fabrics. I also loved that they hand-stamp your name on the bottles to add a personalized touch. It’s a sweet reminder of how fun this trip was. Granhand Dosan is located 10 minutes away from the Apgujeong Rodeo Station, so definitely check it out while you’re in Gangnam.

Hanmiok (9/10)

After all the shopping and walking around all day, we headed another Tik Tok famous restaurant for dinner – Hanmiok. They are known for their unique take on traditional Korean barbecue, specializing in Chadul Gujeolpan, a barbecue platter of nine delicacies(₩59000 or about $41). This barbecue was next level. The dish starts with torching and sautéing thinly sliced beef briskets to release all the fats, before adding water spinach, fresh scallops, and seasonal vegetables to soak up all the flavors.

The real showstopper is this silky egg mixture that’s poured right into the center. First, the egg is torched to get a light, smoky char, then immediately covered to steam the eggs into the most fluffy cloud infused with rich, beefy flavors. I have never seen eggs cook like this before and I’m 100% recreating this when I get home!

The key to this dish is variety: fresh crunchy veggies, tangy fermented kimchi, and perfectly balanced flavors and textures in every single bite. To enjoy, layer and wrap everything in a thin pancake for a perfect bite. Don’t be like us and shove everything into your mouth, but the burnt tongue was totally worth it.

We definitely saved a tiny bit of room in our stomach to try a few other tasty treats. Their torched beef sushi (₩5000) literally melted in our mouths. But, the best decision we made was saving enough room for their kimchi fried rice (₩6000). It was spicy, fragrant, and the perfect way to close out our meal.

Hanmiok is open every day for lunch and dinner, but I definitely recommend making a reservation, or you can wait up to an hour in line. Hanmiok is a 10 minute walk away from the Apgujeong Rodeo Station. To get there, you can take the Bundang Line.

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