Osteria Sam Kim, Hapjeong: Celebrity Chef Sam Kim’s Fresh Pasta (Get the Vongole)

Sam Kim is one of Korea’s best-known Italian chefs, and his restaurant in Hapjeong is famous for fresh, handmade pasta. His vongole also went viral after it showed up in a Korean drama, so I walked in with very high hopes. Short answer: the hype is real, and the eggplant starter stole my heart.

Name	Osteria Sam Kim (오스테리아 샘킴)
Address	2F, Building A, 55 Yanghwa-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul 서울 마포구 양화로3길 55 에이동 2층
Getting there	Hapjeong Stn. (Lines 2 & 6) Exit 8, about a 10-minute walk, slightly uphill
Hours	Usually 11:30–22:00 · Break 15:00–18:00 · Closed Sundays
Price	Melanzane ₩22,000 · Vongole ₩28,000 · Truffle lasagna ₩35,000 (menu as of Nov 2025)
Reservations	Recommended on Fridays and weekends (Naver or the Catch Table app)
Phone	02-324-3338
Paid by	Me — this is not a sponsored post

A quiet street behind Hapjeong

From Exit 8 of Hapjeong Station, it is about a 10-minute walk. The restaurant sits in a side street behind the community center, a little away from the busy shopping streets. That makes it calm, which is perfect for a date or a slow dinner. Just know there is a small uphill bit on the way.

The building looks simple and classic from outside. Walk around to the side, take the elevator to the second floor, and you will see a shiny gold nameplate with the restaurant’s name.

Warm, cozy and a little bit starstruck

Inside, warm orange lights and wood everywhere make it feel snug and quiet. There are tables and bar seats. The room is on the small side and the tables are fairly close, but it never felt uncomfortable. Honestly, it would be a great spot for a first date.

The open kitchen is the fun part. You can watch the cooks plating pasta right in front of you, and on my visit Chef Sam Kim himself was in the kitchen. I am a fan, so yes, I was a little excited.

The menu (and a quick pasta-shape guide)

The menu is in Korean and English, split into antipasto, primo (pasta and risotto), secondo, dolce and drinks. Since this place is all about fresh pasta, it helps to know the shapes before you order:

• Tagliatelle — wide, long ribbons; great with rich meat sauces
• Tagliolini — thin and delicate; best with light cream or butter sauces
• Pappardelle — very wide ribbons; loves mushroom and cream
• Ravioli — filled pasta, like little dumplings
• Lasagna — wide sheets, layered and baked
• Gnocchi — small potato dumplings; good with butter, cream and cheese

A few prices from the November 2025 menu: melanzane ₩22,000, vongole ₩28,000, lasagna with truffle cream ₩35,000, and tiramisu ₩15,000. Corkage is ₩50,000 per bottle.

What we ate

Bread on the house

They start you off with complimentary bread. It is a little salty, which actually made it better, and it is perfect for wiping up pasta sauce later.

Melanzane — the surprise winner

Melanzane just means “eggplant” in Italian, so I expected something plain. Wrong. The eggplant was super soft, wrapped around mozzarella in tomato sauce, and every bite was juicy, nutty and melty at the same time. I literally thought, “How can a simple eggplant make me this happy?” I want the recipe.

Vongole — the signature

This was the dish I was most excited about, and it delivered. The clams are big and there are lots of them. The clam broth and olive oil come together into a clean, light sauce that is not heavy at all. One bite and you understand why it is the signature.

Lasagna with truffle

Most lasagna I know is all about tomato. This one is different: soft, creamy fresh pasta sheets topped with whole slices of truffle. The truffle smell hits you the moment the plate lands. Rich and nutty, with the sauce, cheese and pasta in perfect balance.

Tips before you go

– Book ahead for Friday nights and weekends via Naver or Catch Table. – Plan around the break time (15:00–18:00) and remember it is closed on Sundays. – The entrance is at the side of the building — take the elevator to 2F. – Prices are from November 2025, so check the menu for updates.

Zoapik’s verdict

– Fresh handmade pasta from one of Korea’s most famous Italian chefs – Vongole with big, plentiful clams in a clean, light sauce – Creamy truffle lasagna with real truffle slices on top – The melanzane starter was the surprise favorite of the night – Warm, quiet room on a calm side street, great for dates – Friendly service that never felt pushy – Heads-up: the room is small and fills up, so reserve on busy nights

Stable, delicious food in a calm little room. If you want proper Italian pasta in Hapjeong, this is an easy recommendation — and I already want that vongole again.