Texas Roadhouse — Review by Strictly Dumpling
Pangyo, South Korea — American steakhouse
Mike Chen visited Texas Roadhouse in Pangyo, South Korea, one of only three locations in the country. While the steak was excellent and better than expected, the standout dish was the Andouille shrimp pasta, which the reviewer called one of the best plates of pasta he has ever had anywhere. He was so impressed he said he would make the one-hour trip just for the pasta.
What was great: The Andouille shrimp pasta was exceptional - creamy, spicy, with tender seared shrimp and perfectly al dente noodles. The cactus petals appetizer had superior crunch compared to onion blossoms. The ribeye steak was tender, juicy, and better quality than the reviewer's previous Texas Roadhouse experience in Florida.
What could improve: Nothing mentioned
The Dishes
The reviewer ordered several signature items starting with the cactus petals, Texas Roadhouse's Korean equivalent to the blooming onion. These came out perfectly crispy with no soggy bottom, something the reviewer praised as superior to the American version. He also ordered the legendary Texas Roadhouse rolls, which he confirmed were consistently good.
The main courses included a ribeye steak cooked medium-rare with mashed potatoes, steak fries, and fried rice. The steak was notably tender and juicy with a perfect pink center, a significant improvement from his previous Texas Roadhouse experience in Florida where the meat was barely edible. The reviewer emphasized how tender and juicy the cut was, and stated he would actually return to this location.
However, the standout dish was the Andouille shrimp pasta. The reviewer was visibly stunned by this dish, describing it as one of the most flavorful plates of pasta he has had anywhere. The pasta featured large seared shrimp, Andouille sausage, and a rich, creamy, spicy sauce that he compared to Cajun pasta. The noodles were cooked beautifully al dente, and he could taste real Parmesan cheese. He stated this pasta was ten times better than the steak and said if Olive Garden had pasta this good, they would not be struggling.
The Experience
The restaurant is located in a massive department store basement in Pangyo, the Silicon Valley of South Korea. The atmosphere maintained classic Texas Roadhouse styling with country music blasting, American basketball games on TV, and Western decor, though there was Korean lettering on walls and a painting of Texas Roadhouse with a Korean temple in the background. The restaurant provided free peanuts in a bucket, consistent with American locations. The overall vibe was authentically Texan despite being in South Korea.
Value and Pricing
While specific prices were not mentioned in detail, the reviewer emphasized tremendous value considering the quality of food, particularly noting that you could get this caliber of pasta for a fraction of what you would pay at fine dining establishments. He was so impressed he stated he would travel an hour just for the pasta alone.
Notable Moments
This pasta just roundhoused me in the face. Like I'm speechless. I'm stunned right now. That's how good this is.
I would come back to Texas Roadhouse again in Korea. I would just get this.
If Olive Garden had pasta that tasted this good, they would not be struggling.
1-hour travel for this pasta, I'd do it. This is incredible.
The Verdict
This Texas Roadhouse visit completely changed the reviewer's perspective on the chain. His previous experience in Florida left him thinking he would never return, but the Korean location proved him wrong. While the steak was genuinely good and better than expected, the real revelation was the Andouille shrimp pasta, which he crowned as the best item on the menu. The reviewer highly recommends visiting one of the three Texas Roadhouse locations in South Korea specifically to try this pasta. It is best for anyone seeking unexpectedly excellent pasta in South Korea or those looking for American chain food that has been elevated by local adaptation.