As soon as I got back from my trip to Japan, I headed straight to Bistro Polpo. Part of it is that I am friends with the owner-chef, but I also think it is the most easygoing bistro to use in Gangnam.

Sparkling wine

They have a lot of good-value wines. This sparkling was really tasty for the price too.

Gazpacho

Seems to be a summer dish. Nice and refreshing.

Bagna cauda salad

It comes in an easy-to-eat size. The presentation is simple too.

Steamed abalone

Abalone cooked until tender. It went well with the sparkling wine too.

Bread from Lee Boulanger

Bread that tastes great on its own or dipped in the sauce. Having a bakery this good right in front of the restaurant is a blessing.

Grilled cuttlefish

After the octopus, squid has made it onto the menu as well. Beautifully grilled.

Chawanmushi

A little breather at this point.

Hanwoo steak

They said this was the first time they had put it on the menu, and the Hanwoo was grilled absolutely perfectly.

Topped with fresh wasabi

Wasabi goes really well with fatty beef, but apart from showing up in Kodoku no Gurume, you almost never get the chance to actually eat it that way in Korea. The green stuff we all know from sushi restaurants is not wasabi at all but dyed horseradish, and the difference in taste from real wasabi is enormous. Having fresh wasabi on hand at a bistro is impressive enough, but getting to put it on charcoal-grilled beef.. could there be a greater joy?

Another cut

I really ate my fill of beef that day.

Wasabi and the grater

Everything is perfectly set up for eating fresh wasabi. The grater is the real thing, so the sweetness of the wasabi comes through.

Coriander salad

A popular dish.

Mashed potatoes

These seemed to come out to go with the steak.

Red wine

With the meat on the table, I had a glass of red as well.

Pork

The grilled pork neck is another signature dish. The beef and the pork are so good it is hard to say which is better.

Namul

It is nice that they have such a range of things to nibble on with your drinks. It felt like just about every dish Polpo could possibly serve was coming out.

Snacks

Dishes that practically tell you to drink some wine. Fits the bistro concept.

Bolognese

At Polpo the pasta comes out last. They follow the tradition of drinks first, noodles last, and I think it is a nice approach. Polpo’s bolognese is on almost the same level as Trattoria Molto, famous for serving the best pasta in Korea. Another plus is that it is not a seasonal special, so you can order it any time.

Clam pasta

The clams were plump and meaty and really delicious. I ate it in admiration.

Iced coffee

We finish with the best coffee. It tastes so good you wonder whether a bistro is even allowed to make coffee this well.

Regular coffee

The aroma was fantastic.

Get-togethers at Bistro Polpo are always satisfying. Since they only opened recently, the range of ingredients and dishes is still a bit limited, but I am really looking forward to seeing how far it develops over time. In that spirit, expect frequent posts about it from here on. In Gangnam, where there are so few places you can go without a second thought, this is a truly precious restaurant that serves good food at any time, so I will be keeping a fond eye on it.

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