Restaurant in Seoul, South Korea
Gangnam steak done with Michelin-level consistency.
Two consecutive Michelin Plates (2024–2025) confirm Vault Steakhouse as a serious ₩₩₩₩ option in Apgujeong, Gangnam. The steakhouse format is strongest for group bookings where a private room is in play. For returning visitors, it's worth going back — but plan around the group experience to get the most from the price tier.
If you've already eaten at Vault Steakhouse once and enjoyed it, you should book again — but with a clearer plan this time. Two consecutive Michelin Plate recognitions (2024 and 2025) confirm this isn't a novelty act. For Apgujeong, where the dining room competition is fierce and the prices are honest about it, Vault holds its ground as a serious steakhouse worth returning to. The question for a second visit is less whether to go, and more how to go: the private and group dining arrangements here change the experience significantly compared to a standard table booking.
Vault Steakhouse sits on Apgujeong-ro 72-gil in Gangnam, one of Seoul's most densely concentrated fine-dining corridors. The neighbourhood context matters: Gangnam diners are used to high standards and operators here don't survive on novelty alone. The fact that Vault has earned back-to-back Michelin Plate recognition in 2024 and 2025 signals that it's meeting a consistent quality threshold, not just riding a launch-year buzz. With a Google rating of 4.0 across 485 reviews, the broader diner base largely agrees, though that score also suggests there's room for the occasional miss — something worth keeping in mind if you're arriving with refined expectations on a high-stakes night.
As a steakhouse in Seoul, Vault operates in a specific competitive niche. Korea's beef culture is deep , from the samgyeopsal joints to the Hanwoo-specialist restaurants , but Western-style steakhouse dining at the ₩₩₩₩ price tier is a different proposition. At this price point, you are paying for sourcing precision, dry-aging infrastructure, and a room that can carry a serious dinner. Vault's positioning in Apgujeong signals a target audience that expects the full format: appetisers, a focused main event around premium beef cuts, and a wine list that doesn't embarrass the food. For a sense of the broader steakhouse category in Seoul, RMW Carne is the most obvious peer comparison in terms of format and price tier.
For returning visitors, the private dining angle deserves real attention. At the ₩₩₩₩ level, group dinners at Vault carry different expectations than a solo or couples booking. A private room, if available, shifts the entire dynamic: the noise floor drops, the pacing becomes more deliberate, and the service-to-table ratio typically improves. For corporate dinners, milestone celebrations, or any occasion where conversation matters as much as the food, pressing the restaurant on private room availability when you book is worth the effort. Seoul's top-tier steakhouses at this price point generally accommodate groups of six to twelve in dedicated spaces, and Vault's Gangnam location and positioning suggest this is part of its offer , but confirm directly when reserving, as specific room configurations are not verified in current data.
For a broader night out in Gangnam and Apgujeong, it's worth knowing the surrounding options. Jungsik and Mingles are the benchmark contemporary Korean fine-dining options nearby if your group is split on format, and Kwonsooksoo and alla prima cover the innovative and tasting-menu end of the spectrum for comparison. If the group is committed to a steakhouse format and wants to evaluate Vault against its direct peer, RMW Carne is the clearest alternative. Internationally, the format compares broadly to venues like A Cut in Taipei and Capa in Orlando , both Michelin-recognised steakhouses at the leading of their local market.
One practical note on timing: Vault's Apgujeong address puts it in easy reach of the Cheongdam and Sinsa dining corridors, which means weekend evenings fill quickly across the entire district. Booking a week or two ahead for weekday dinners should be manageable; for weekend private dining or group tables, aim for at least two to three weeks' notice. The booking difficulty is rated Easy by Pearl, which is reassuring, but that rating reflects standard table availability , group and private dining requests operate on a different lead time in any market at this price tier.
For context on the broader Seoul dining scene, our full Seoul restaurants guide covers the full range of options across neighbourhoods and price points. If you're planning a multi-day visit, our Seoul hotels guide, Seoul bars guide, and Seoul experiences guide are useful alongside. For dining beyond Seoul, Mori in Busan, Double T Dining in Gangneung, and Market Café in Incheon are worth knowing about if you're moving through the country. More regionally, Baegyangsa Temple in Jangseong-gun, 권숙수 in Gangnam-gu, and The Flying Hog in Seogwipo round out the picture for serious diners touring Korea. Also see our Seoul wineries guide if the beverage side of a Seoul trip matters to you.
Yes, with conditions. Vault Steakhouse earns its Michelin Plate and its ₩₩₩₩ price tier through consistent execution in a format that Seoul's Gangnam dining scene takes seriously. For returning diners, the strongest version of this experience is a group booking with a private room , it's the format that gives the kitchen and service team the leading conditions to deliver, and gives your group the space to make the dinner worth the price. For solo or couples dining, it remains a credible choice, but the case for it over the neighbourhood's contemporary Korean and tasting-menu options is less clear-cut unless steakhouse is specifically what you're after.
Yes, particularly if the occasion involves a group. At the ₩₩₩₩ price tier with back-to-back Michelin Plate recognition in 2024 and 2025, Vault carries the credibility a celebration dinner needs. The format , premium beef, a serious room, Gangnam address , lands well for birthdays, anniversaries, and corporate milestones. For a couple celebrating alone, Mingles or Jungsik offer a more distinctively Korean fine-dining experience at comparable spend. Vault's edge is the group private-room format, which suits celebrations with four or more guests.
A steakhouse format at this price tier typically accommodates common dietary requests , fish-free, dairy-free adjustments to sides, for example , but the core menu is built around beef. If someone in your group has significant restrictions (vegan, severe allergies), contact the restaurant directly before booking, as specific accommodation details are not confirmed in current data. Vault's Gangnam positioning means the kitchen is likely experienced with varied guest needs, but don't assume without checking.
Bar seating availability at Vault is not confirmed in current data. At Seoul steakhouses in the ₩₩₩₩ bracket, bar or counter dining is uncommon compared to table service, and the primary experience is seated dinner. If a bar experience in Apgujeong is what you're after, our Seoul bars guide covers the neighbourhood options. For Vault specifically, confirm seating formats when you book.
Groups are where Vault likely performs leading. At the ₩₩₩₩ tier in Gangnam, the restaurant's format and positioning suggest private or semi-private dining is part of the offer. For parties of six or more, ask about private room availability when reserving , don't leave it as an afterthought. Lead time for group bookings should be at least two to three weeks, longer for weekend evenings. Specific capacity figures are not confirmed in current data, so call ahead to clarify room size and minimum spend requirements.
No dress code is confirmed in current data, but the price tier and Michelin Plate recognition set reasonable expectations: smart casual at minimum, and business casual or above for group or private dining occasions. Apgujeong is a neighbourhood where diners tend to dress well regardless of the venue. Turning up in casual sportswear at a ₩₩₩₩ steakhouse in this part of Seoul would read as underdressed.
Specific dishes are not confirmed in current data, so Pearl won't guess. What the Michelin Plate recognition does confirm is that the kitchen is producing food at a consistent quality threshold. At a steakhouse of this tier, the beef programme is the reason to visit , ask the service team which cuts are currently strongest and whether there's a dry-aged option. For returning diners, this is the most productive question to lead with, as sourcing and cut availability tend to shift seasonally.
Pearl rates booking difficulty as Easy, meaning standard tables are generally available without excessive lead time. For weekday dinners, one to two weeks ahead should be sufficient. For weekends, especially in Gangnam's busy autumn and spring dining seasons, two to three weeks is safer. For private dining or group bookings, aim for three to four weeks minimum. The Michelin Plate recognition means the restaurant appears in more travel itineraries than a similarly priced venue without it, so don't treat the Easy rating as an invitation to book the night before on a Saturday.
| Venue | Price | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vault Steakhouse | ₩₩₩₩ | Easy | — |
| Solbam | ₩₩₩₩ | Unknown | — |
| Onjium | ₩₩₩₩ | Unknown | — |
| 7th Door | ₩₩₩₩ | Unknown | — |
| L'Amitié | ₩₩₩ | Unknown | — |
| Zero Complex | ₩₩₩₩ | Unknown | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Yes, it is a solid choice for a milestone dinner in Seoul. Two consecutive Michelin Plates (2024 and 2025) confirm consistent execution at the ₩₩₩₩ tier, which is the range you want for a celebratory meal that needs to deliver. The Gangnam address on Apgujeong-ro 72-gil also signals a setting with appropriate weight. For a more Korean-rooted special occasion, Onjium would be a stronger cultural fit; for pure steakhouse occasion dining, Vault holds up.
No specific dietary policy is documented for Vault Steakhouse. At a ₩₩₩₩ steakhouse in Gangnam, kitchen staff will typically accommodate requests with advance notice, but confirm directly before booking if you have serious restrictions. A beef-focused format means pescatarian or vegetarian guests may have limited options regardless of goodwill from the kitchen.
Bar seating details are not confirmed in available records for Vault Steakhouse. At this price tier in Gangnam, most venues in the category are table-service focused rather than bar-dining oriented. check the venue's official channels before assuming a walk-in bar option exists.
Group-specific room or seating configurations are not documented for Vault, so confirm capacity before planning a party larger than four. For a celebratory group in the Gangnam fine-dining corridor, it is worth asking about private or semi-private arrangements at the time of reservation. If the kitchen confirms it can handle a larger table, the ₩₩₩₩ format translates well to a group setting where one menu direction suits everyone.
No dress code is formally published, but a Michelin Plate steakhouse at the ₩₩₩₩ tier in Gangnam sets an implicit standard. Business casual to dressed-up is the appropriate read for this neighbourhood and price point. Gangnam's fine-dining crowd skews put-together, so underdressing will read as out of place even without an enforced code.
Specific menu items are not available in confirmed records, so dish-level recommendations cannot be made here without risk of being out of date. As a rule at a ₩₩₩₩ Michelin Plate steakhouse, the primary beef cuts are the core of what you are paying for. Ask staff which cut is in best form that evening rather than defaulting to the menu description.
Book at least one to two weeks ahead for a standard dinner reservation, and further in advance for a Friday or Saturday in Gangnam's peak dining season. Vault's Michelin Plate recognition in both 2024 and 2025 keeps demand steady, and the Apgujeong corridor fills quickly on weekends. Online or phone reservation details are not publicly confirmed, so reach out to the venue directly to secure your date.
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