Gangnam Station Lunch, Fusion Korean Restaurant ‘Moa’ Visit Review #
I recently visited ‘Moa’, a new restaurant near Gangnam Station, for lunch with my colleagues. This spot was formerly a cafe run by an owner believed to be a ‘Bunnies’ (NewJeans fandom), but it recently changed its business to a fusion Korean restaurant.
At first, I thought it was a Western restaurant, but it actually serves fusion dishes based on Korean cuisine. I was a bit hesitant to choose from the menu because the genre of fusion Korean food was somewhat unfamiliar, but overall, the menu names were intuitive, so it wasn’t hard to imagine the flavors.
Reviews of Key Menu Items #
We ordered 4 dishes in total, and they were served as they were ready. Here are the characteristics of each dish:
1. Gang-doenjang (Soybean Paste) Bulgogi Arancini #
This was the most impressive dish of the meal. The sauce tasted more like a soft tofu stew base than typical Gang-doenjang, and the dish involves mixing deep-fried rice balls (Arancini) with the sauce. The combination of popular Korean flavors and the crispy texture of the fried rice balls was very satisfying. If I visit this place again, it will likely be for this dish.
2. Vongole Kalguksu #
The broth is clean, refreshing, and not heavy. It’s a perfect dish for cold weather or for a hangover. However, the taste was within the expected range, so its presence was relatively ordinary compared to the other dishes.
3. Spicy Flatfish Buckwheat Noodles #
The composition is similar to Mulhoe Makguksu (Cold Raw Fish Buckwheat Noodles). While it might seem small compared to typical sashimi restaurant portions, there was still a generous amount of flatfish sashimi. The flatfish seemed aged, offering a chewy texture along with a distinct savory and sweet flavor. I felt the quality of the sashimi was decent despite the strong seasoning.
4. Spicy Tomato Hanwoo Tteokgalbi (Forgot to take a photo while eating…) #
Although ‘Spicy’ is in the name, it wasn’t stimulating. The spiciness was about the level of the mildest option at a famous Korean Tteokbokki franchise (not spicy at all), so anyone could enjoy it comfortably. Three thick pieces of Tteokgalbi were provided, making the portion sufficient, and the combination of cheese and tomato sauce complemented the Hanwoo flavor well.
Overall Verdict #
Overall, it was a satisfying meal. I was concerned the taste might be vague due to the ‘Fusion’ label, but they successfully implemented popularly preferred Korean flavors.
- Pros: Intuitive menu composition, excellent flavor balance (especially the Arancini)
- Note: Dishes are not served simultaneously but come out as they are cooked, so it’s suitable for sharing with others.
If you are looking for a slightly different meal than your daily routine near Gangnam Station, I think it’s worth a visit. I especially recommend trying the Gang-doenjang Bulgogi Arancini.
