Hyundai Department Store elevates dining experience with top-tier restaurants

“Gastro Table” at Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong, southern Seoul [Photo provided by Hyundai Department Store]

Hyundai Department Store’s flagship location in Apgujeong, southern Seoul has recently unveiled an exquisite addition to its basement first floor’s food section.

The introduction of a premium gastronomic space named “Gastro Table” has attracted a plethora of top-tier restaurants in the South Korean market, catering to the discerning tastes of well-heeled consumers who frequent Hyundai Department Store while also capturing the attention of younger demographics on the hunt for “Instagrammable” dining experiences.

The debut of the new restaurants took place on Tuesday, with a total of 28 establishments gracing the halls of the department store.

This long-anticipated project, in the works for over two years, was conceived with the intention of providing the store with distinct and differentiated content that sets it apart. Collaborating with esteemed designer Jung Kuho, the interior of Gastro Table has been meticulously curated to heighten its overall allure.

“In response to the discerning tastes of customers who have a penchant for novel and refined dining experiences, we have undertaken a comprehensive renovation of our food section after a span of 18 years,” said Ryu Young-min, head of Hyundai Department Store Apgujeong.

“By offering an unrivaled gourmet lineup that is unparalleled in the country, we strive to elevate the prestige of our department store’s food section to new heights,” he added.

Hyundai Department Store has successfully enticed eight brand-new restaurants, each helmed by renowned chefs and esteemed restaurant brands in Korea.

One such addition is isokwoohwa, a prominent brand that ignited the hanwoo, or Korean beef, omakase trend in the wake of the Covid-19. The brand unveiled its teppanyaki specialty restaurant, Woohwaham.

Sandai, a distinguished Japanese-style restaurant listed in the 2023 Michelin Guide Seoul, graced Hyundai Department Store with its presence, now operating under the name Maki Sandai.

The original Sandai, curated by Chef Moon Seung-ju, is a kaiseki restaurant specializing in exquisite banquet course meals.

Notably, Jung Ho-yung, the owner chef of Caden, introduced Shabu Caden, a haven for shabu-shabu and skewer enthusiasts, in the department store. Additionally, Chef Woo Jung-wook unveiled the premium Korean snack brand Gaji Gaji.

Among the extraordinary dining options at Gastro Table, one will find globally recognized culinary brand Handed Recipes Seoul as well as the premium fusion Korean cuisine brand Doseulbak.

Ginger Bear, a specialist in delectable meat pies, made its first foray into the department store’s food court. Meanwhile, MERCER bis, renowned in Tokyo for its mouthwatering caramel chiffon cake, opened its first branch in Korea within the premises of Hyundai Department Store’s flagship location.

“At Gastro Table, our staff go above and beyond the conventional food court experience by personally delivering orders to customers’ tables,” said a Hyundai Department Store official. “Additionally, we offer a table order service, allowing customers to effortlessly check the menu, place orders, and settle payments via their mobile phone, all within a single, seamless process.”