Katto

ECCK CONNECT

TASTE OF EUROPE

Katto

November 15, 2022

Located near Yongsan station, in the heart of Seoul, Katto is a European-style brunch restaurant within a beautiful converted two-story house, where you can have a unique dining experience along with great food and a beautiful view.

(Courtesy: Katto)

Tell us about yourself

My name is Jongmi Yu and I am the representative of Katto, which is a European-style brunch restaurant located near Yongsan Station. Before opening Katto, I worked in overseas marketing for about 10 years. Following this, I worked as a consultant, and I am now both managing Katto and working as a barista at a local cafe in Australia.

Tell us about Katto. What would you say makes it special?

At Katto, customers can enjoy various types of European dishes. Plus, many of our customers tell me that the unique interior and beautiful view makes Katto special. When we established Katto, we found and renovated an old house in Yongsan, and decorated it drawing on a mid-century modern style, which provides visitors with a warm and cozy experience.

We provide tables in the outdoor yard, which is perfect for enjoying our delicious food and enjoyable atmosphere on a sunny day. From the second floor, customers can enjoy a clear view across traditional hanok roofs right in front of the restaurant. This is why we named the restaurant ‘Katto’, which means ‘roof’ in Finnish. You can see beautiful ‘Korean Katto’ here at Katto! We have been featured in a French magazine, and we are very proud to have been providing special food and experiences to customers.

(Courtesy: Katto)

What is the most fun you have had running Katto?

I enjoyed the process of transforming an ordinary old Korean house, including its garden complete with a persimmon tree, into a cafe/restaurant that is now loved by all generations. Older customers can revive their memories of the old days, while younger customers can experience the beauty of nature at Katto.

Also, it has been particularly rewarding to watch as my dreams and plans have come to fruition. One by one, the menu items I have planned and worked on have been experienced by customers and received compliments. This has made me feel both proud and rewarded.

What made you want to open your very own restaurant?

Having lived abroad for a long time as an overseas marketer, and having experienced life as a daughter-in-law in a multicultural family, I observed that there are many healthy and delicious Western and European foods and dishes that consumers can enjoy. This is the reason I decided to open Katto - to create a space where people of all ages and genders could comfortably enjoy European meals throughout the day in Seoul.

I also wanted to create a space where customers could experience authentic European food created through passion, time and effort. At Katto, our sun-dried tomatoes are slow dried over more than ten hours, our ragu sauce is boiled for more than four hours; and our jambon (ham) is salted and prepared over more than three days. Due to this process, customers can taste the authentic flavor of our ingredients, and enjoy delicious and healthy meals that place less of a burden on the stomach.

(Courtesy: Katto)

If you were to recommend one menu item to the readers, what would it be and why?

Chicken ratatouille is our signature menu item. With this dish, you can taste the perfect combination of chicken breast and seasonal vegetables. Tender chicken breast is cooked sous vide for over an hour, then cooked again in an oven with various seasonal vegetables. The combination of vegetables and tomato ragu sauce that has been simmered for more than four hours provides a hearty and healthy meal. Ciabatta bread and homemade blueberry compote, apple butter and olive tapenade on the side make the dish even more delicious when served together.

(Courtesy: Katto)

Before we wrap up the interview, would you like to say anything to your future customers?

Katto has been loved by many customers since its opening, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for that. I would also like to let those readers who are planning on visiting Katto in the near future know that we can sometimes be busy during weekday lunch time, and on the weekend. So to avoid waiting, I recommend coming early in the morning or in the evening. Once again, thank you for your interest, and we will continue to further become a place that provides healthy and enjoyable food for everyone.

About katto

Address: 22-7, Hangang-daero 7-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea, 04379

Contact: +82.507.1395.7397

Instagram: www.instagram.com/katto_yongsan/

To make reservations: app.catchtable.co.kr/ct/shop/katto_yongsan