Pomodoro Gwanghwamun – A Long-Loved Pasta Spot in the Heart of Seoul
Gwanghwamun is often considered the center of Seoul.
It’s a place you may have already heard of through popular Korean songs like Gwanghwamun Sonata or At Gwanghwamun, but its reputation comes from more than music. If you imagine starting a journey from “the center of Seoul,” locals naturally think of Gwanghwamun.
In this area, major landmarks and government buildings sit side by side—Sejong Center, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cheong Wa Dae, and the charming streets of Samcheong-dong. It’s both an administrative hub and a top travel destination.
The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony held at Gwanghwamun Gate even makes you feel like you’ve stepped back into the Joseon Dynasty.
Because Gwanghwamun is home to busy office workers as well as tourists, countless restaurants fill the area—some traditional, some designed for quick meals, and others catering to travelers. Among them, one long-standing favorite is Pomodoro (Gwanghwamun), a small but famous pasta restaurant known to almost anyone who has ever looked for good spaghetti in Gwanghwamun.
A Local Favorite With Constant Lines
If you visit Pomodoro during peak lunch or dinner hours, you’ll almost always see a line at the entrance. Many people come once and quickly become regulars.
The restaurant handles its crowds well—while you wait, the staff hand out menus so you can choose your dish before entering.
Thanks to this system, customers get their food quickly, and the restaurant maintains a fast turnover.
Inside the Restaurant
Unlike the cozy, romantic Italian restaurants you might imagine, Pomodoro focuses on efficiency.
The interior is simple and compact, with many small two-person tables placed closely to maximize seating. Everything—from the layout to the ordering process—is optimized for quick service.
The walls are filled with signatures and messages from Korean celebrities who have visited over the years, creating a nostalgic feel with names from both past and present.
Menus are placed on each table, but during busy hours you’ll likely need to look at one while waiting outside.
One noticeable update is their Instagram handle printed on the menu—something that wasn’t there in the past.
Prices have increased slightly with inflation, but the ordering system remains simple: because menu names are long, most customers order by number.
The Most Popular Dish
Among Pomodoro’s many dishes, the one I order most often is No. 9 – Spaghetti Con Filetto di Manzo (beef, bell peppers, mushrooms, and tomato sauce).
It’s a tomato-based spaghetti stir-fried with vegetables and beef. Despite many Korean restaurants offering tomato spaghetti or Pomodoro pasta, this one has a unique flavor that keeps me coming back.
Even dishes using the same tomato base can taste very different depending on other ingredients, and Pomodoro’s combination is especially satisfying.
Table Setting and Small Side Dishes
Once you order, the table is quickly prepared. Water is served in a filled cup, and staff often refill it without needing to be asked.
Instead of chopsticks, Western-style cutlery is set out, and the napkins are large enough to place on your lap.
Pickled cucumbers and jalapeños are provided on request—simple side dishes that pair well with pasta.
When the Food Arrives
Looking outside, the sky showed the deep blue of early autumn—a rare clear view in Seoul, where many seasons are filled with fine dust, rain, or haze.
When my spaghetti arrived, I noticed the tomato sauce was thicker than I remembered. In the past, the sauce felt lighter, but this time it was closer to a stir-fried style.
Because it was thicker, the dish tasted slightly saltier than usual. The beef also seemed less fresh compared to previous visits—perhaps cooked differently that day.
Pomodoro is known for its generous portions, often close to 1.5 servings.
This time, however, the amount of pasta felt a little smaller. It may still be larger than other restaurants, but different from what I was used to.
Still Irreplaceable
Even so, Pomodoro remains a restaurant that is hard to replace. High-end Italian restaurants may offer more refined flavors, but finding a place with this price, this portion size, and a taste familiar to Korean palates is not easy. The generous servings, fast service, and comforting flavors are exactly why so many people continue to visit.
📍 Pomodoro Gwanghwamun
Address: 1F, Ilseon Building, 19-1 Saemunan-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
