It was quite hard to find restaurants in Seoul, especially for solo diners. So when I saw Alla Prima have a space for one, I decided to take it up and made a trip down. I had plenty of time to spare after I landed in the morning so I had some coffee run before my reservation at 12.30pm. The restaurant was actually quite big, with a counter space that occupied the area once you walked in, and a bigger dining space hidden inside

There were also lots of foreigners. I say, everyone sitting at the counter was a foreigner. lol

They also pride themselves as ambassadors of Krug so they had a long list of Krug on their menu. Unfortunately I cannot share the same sentiments as them. lol

Apple, Scallop, Kumquat

Starting with the first dish quickly. This was a light and refreshing dish. Yet the flavour fills up your palate with the sweetness of scallop, crunch of apples slices and the slight acidity of kamquat which in all, complements each other very well

Japanese Spanish Mackerel, Dragonfruit, Hazelnut

The mackeral was super good. It was seared right just so you can taste the smokiness. It somehow reminded me the way how Japanese cook their sawara. The fragrance of hazelnut was quite distinct as well. The dragonfruit was sweet yet not overpowering, sandwiched with a slight mustard sauce together with the fish, it has quite a nice balance overall

Whey

First reaction? That’s alot of vegetables. lol. But the highlight was the cheese sauce which was so umami with the vegetables. The sauce pairs exceptionally well with the pumpkin and mushrooms. For someone that wasn’t a fan of cheese, I enjoyed it alot. The whey was creamy, tasty but not too heavy. I didn’t finish the vegetables and they asked if there’s anything wrong with them. Well, it was just too much vegetables for me. Ha

Camaroll, Korean Cockle, Manchurian Angelica

This risotto was so good – cooked really well and flavourful at the same time. The Korean cockles were tender yet chewy and sweet. Topping off with the deep fried Angelica leaves which acted like chips, they were crisp, addictive, yet not oily. This was my favourite dish so far. It was a little salty on first bite but somehow, you just cannot stop

Tilefish, Burdock, Chopi

The fish broth was good, and the fish well-cooked. The fried burdock gave it a really nice fragrance. Overall a decent fish dish but the mochi was a little extra in my opinion. Cos the texture of the mochi gets too mushy after awhile that I felt like it really wasn’t needed

Rump

Rump was cooked medium, executed nicely there. I liked choice of rump being it was not too fatty by nature so you can taste the flavour of the protein. The cherry blossom leaf with black garlic was meant to give it an extra fragrance and flavour as you eat together with the beef, but honestly, the rump was just perfect on its own. No extras needed

Spaghetti, Korean Mallow, Sakhalin Surf Clam, Lemon

Actually this was quite good. The plate tasted fresh with a deep flavour of the spring vegetables but yet not too raw. Personally, I thought they can reduce the sauce a little. Overall, it was good but not wow

Salt

Almond foam with salt icecream with olive oil from Spain. This was actually quite good. I thought the flavours were balanced and cohesive

Hojicha, Buckwheat, Yirgacheffe

Desserts were honestly so-so. The cookie bit was a little thick so I wasn’t very impressed

Petite 4

And ending with petite 4 which I was so full by then

Honestly, the meal was better than I had expected. You could see the thoughts being put into each dish, how to bring out the flavour and the ingredients they want to, with the use of the seasonal vegetables. Execution was on point though sometimes simple might also be the best. I wouldn’t mind returning again if I have no restaurant to try for my next Seoul visit, though it felt very unlikely to be the case. lol

Alla Prima

13 Hakdong-ro 17-gil, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea