Buddha's Belly Itaewon 부다스벨리 이태원점

Near Exit 1 of Noksapyeong Station, Buddha's Belly fills a room of tall windows with tropical decor, plus terrace seating for evenings. A chef from a five-star Bangkok hotel runs the kitchen, and the spicing stays measured rather than loud. Alongside pad thai, the poo-nim pad pong curry stands out for a smooth, aromatic sauce. Tod man goong, fried cakes of minced shrimp, stay springy inside a crisp shell. Tables sit far apart, and a Royal Set for two covers several signature dishes.