Hannam-dong is a region in Seoul popular for shopping but it hides a few culinary gems, like cement. The unassuming pasta restaurant offers an omakase-style menu with freshly made pasta starting at only $45 a person!
Modern Industrial Interior
Cement is tucked away in an alley but boasts a sleek industrial design. It was stylish and comfortable with an open kitchen and full metal counter.
It is a small space and is by reservation only. We recommend getting counter-seats to watch the chefs prepare the food!
Cement Seoul Menu
There are only two tasting menu options: Lunch (45,000 won) and Dinner (85,000). The lunch menu has three pasta courses while the dinner menu offers five, with supplementary dishes. They also offer a la carte dishes for dinner that vary from 18,000 won to 35, 000 won.
The menu varies with season but focuses heavily on Korean-inspired flavours, so you’ll have a different experience every time!
We had their Lunch tasting menu with 7 courses.
Walnut Soup
Served with toasted focaccia, the Walnut Soup whet our appetites for the next course. It was creamy and fragrant, with a subtle lotus flavour from the foam.
There were walnut bits which provided a nice textural contrast!
Ankimo Tartare
The Ankimo Tartare was a simple one-bite course on a crunchy biscuit-like base. There was a zestiness from yuzu which complemented the richer ankimo for a refreshing bite.
Truffle Cream Tagliolini
The Truffle Cream Tagliolini was served with freshly shaved truffle and cheese in a neat pile. Despite the heavy-looking sauce, the dish was light and clean with a strong truffle flavour that wasn’t too overbearing.
Their pasta was also well-executed: perfectly al dente with a subtle egg fragrance, providing a good texture that carried the sauce.
Pistachio Pesto & Red Prawn
The second course featured charcoal-infused pasta with pistachio pesto and fresh red prawn.
We liked the nuttiness from the pistachio, and the prawns added a nice sweetness that balanced the overall savoury flavour profile.
Paprika Tomato & Sea Whelk
Our favourite pasta course was this one! The red paprika-based sauce was bright and spicy, with a deep umami that made it addictive.
It was so tasty that we literally licked our plates clean (we wish we had photo evidence).
Despite being more of a garnish, the sea whelk provided a pleasant chew to the dish. It didn’t have a distinctive flavour but carried the sauce well!
Black Pork With Red Wine-Braised Apple
The last savoury course looked like a modern art piece, presenting a trifecta of pork, apple and pickled baby cabbage.
The pork tenderloin was knife-tender and had a clean, sweet meatiness, further amplified by the richness and tartness of the red wine-braised apple.
It was a perfect bite when paired with the tanginess from the pickled cabbage – sweet, savoury, meaty and tangy. We liked how balanced it was!
Strawberry Granita
The meal ended with a refreshing Strawberry Granita. We liked the finishing touch of fresh basil and olive oil, which added a savoury contrast to the sweet strawberry.
Fresh Pasta Bar In Seoul
For the high quality of ingredients and eating experience, the meal at cement was worth every penny! We were shocked by the flavours for the price and think it deserves a place on your Seoul foodie list.
Check out more restaurants to visit in Korea!
Cement Seoul
57, Daesagwan-ro 11-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
서울 용산구 대사관로11길 57 지하1층 2호 (우)04400
Nearest metro station: Hangangjin, Line 6, Exit 3
Reservations on Catchtable.
Naver Maps | Kakao Maps
*This was an independent review by MiddleClass
*Follow MiddleClass.sg on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Telegram for more food, travel, and trending stories