pork belly

Beastro is one of those places that I want to visit every weekend. This establishment would be quite at home in any foodie city, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to call it my favorite restaurant in Seoul. The menu is sophistication without pretense – unbelievable flavors in a wide spectrum of exciting combinations and simple dishes with amazing composition and top quality ingredients. I actually have found it quite difficult to review this place, because I don’t have enough synonyms for delicious to describe all their food and drink.

house bread with sweet garlic butter

old fashioned and 11PM – chamomile infused vodka, chamomile syrup, bay leaf

We started the night’s meal with a pair of drinks and the house bread and scrumptious garlic butter. The cocktail menu is both delicious and interesting, and the bar takes as much care with the ingredients of their drinks as the kitchen does with their food. The old fashioned would please any traditionalist, and the 11pm blew me away – the chamomile infused vodka and syrup produced a mellow and incredibly enjoyable cocktail.

pork belly with sage mashed potatoes, chestnut puree and rosemary vinaigrette

The fatty pieces of pork belly in our first dish melted in our mouths – I think Eric actually passed out for a moment from sheer happiness after a bite of this. My only complaint with the Brussels sprouts was they were too few in number. They were cooked perfectly, still just a little crunchy with nice browned bits, and when you combined them with the chestnut puree, they were absolutely delicious. The potatoes were the weak spot of the dish as the texture was a bit too pureed, but by no means were they a reason not to order this meal.

orecchiette with basil and mint pesto, stilton blue cheese, marinated peppers, walnuts, and roasted mushrooms

The orecchiette was a new menu item since our last visit. Blue cheese is the type of ingredient that can either overpower or play against other flavors to bring out contrast. In this case, the pesto, sweet peppers, mushrooms, and walnuts played heavenly against the strong cheese, and the house-made pasta got this carb-addict’s approval.

malt shoppe – apple pie milkshake, bourbon, cinnamon whipped cream and crumble

pretty in pink – vodka, pink lemonade, and carbonated lychee gelee

Waiting for dessert gave us another opportunity (or excuse) to sample a few more from the bar menu. The pretty in pink didn’t reach the level of my first drink, but it was a tasty lemonade based concoction. I did enjoy the gimmicky carbonated lychee gelee that popped in my mouth. The malt shoppe was a decent milkshake, but we both decided there was something a bit strange about the apple pie flavor. I found myself wanting an adult hot chocolate or hot toddy with the delicious cinnamon whipped cream on top. Hopefully, they’ll develop a few hot cocktails and use it for garnish.

avocado ice cream with olive oil, black salt, chili sugar, and tequila basil seeds

Dessert began with the avocado ice cream. I find myself without a proper description for this dish – it was altogether incredibly strange but entirely enjoyable. The ice cream was sweet and so smooth, and with the spicy sweet salty seasoning, it totally confused my senses and activated all my taste buds.

apple turnover with chestnut ice cream and cacao nibs

The apple turnover was the star of the night – another new menu item, Eric remarked that he was “incredibly angry” about how good it was because 1) “we’ve never been able to have it before” and 2) “we can’t have this every single night”. Delectable crust, tasty fruit filling, and the chestnut ice cream made a wonderful accompaniment. Pretty darn close to a perfect dessert.

The dining rooms of beastro, along with the rooftop patio during the warmer months, have a great ambiance for date night or a group dinner. Despite the sophistication of the menu, I guarantee even the pickiest eater can find something they’ll love.

I would be remiss if I didn’t share a few pictures of other incredibly delicious menu items we’ve sampled during past trips to Beastro. The following are constant entries on the menu and are all worth sampling if you decide to visit: