JW Marriott Seoul Flavors Buffet Review: A Comprehensive Guide to Luxury Dining in Banpo
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JW Marriott Seoul Flavors Buffet Review: A Comprehensive Guide to Luxury Dining in Banpo
Hello everyone! Mariaju here, and after numerous requests, I’m excited to share my latest hotel buffet experience. Following my previous tips on enjoying a buffet, I’ve prepared a second installment, diving into ‘Flavors’ at the JW Marriott Seoul in Banpo – widely renowned as one of Seoul’s most famous and luxurious buffets.
From the captivating barbecue aroma at the entrance, it’s easy to get lured by just a few main dishes. However, today, I’ll guide you through making the most of a diverse buffet experience. Let’s explore Flavors!
Flavors at a Glance: Location, Pricing & General Rating
Location: JW Marriott Seoul, Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Pricing:
- Monday – Friday Lunch: 105,000 KRW
- Friday Dinner, Saturday, Sunday Lunch & Dinner (Weekend Rate): 130,000 KRW
- Monday – Thursday Dinner (Weekday Dinner Rate): 120,000 KRW
General Rating: Highly Recommended (4.5/5 Stars). Flavors consistently impressed with its exceptional ingredient quality, freshness, and the chefs’ profound understanding of ingredients and cooking mastery. Standout dishes like the perfectly cooked lobster, pasta, and pizza truly elevate the experience. It’s an ideal destination for special occasions with family and friends, offering a superior dining journey.
A Culinary Journey Through Flavors’ Best
Appetizers & Seafood: A Fresh Start
My buffet journey typically begins with cold, light seafood. While Flavors’ pre-made appetizer selection was more focused on fresh vegetables for DIY salads compared to some other luxury buffets, I enjoyed crafting my own unique dishes. For instance, I created a carpaccio-style salad with white fish, salmon, onions, and capers. The plump scallops were incredibly tender, and the perfectly cooked abalone, brightened with lemon, made for an excellent palate opener. The culinary team’s understanding of seafood cooking was evident in these perfectly executed dishes.
Wine & Champagne: Elevating the Experience
Flavors offers a unique corkage promotion: order one bottle from their reasonably priced wine list, and your brought-in bottle is corkage-free. I seized this opportunity to enjoy a delightful Louis Roederer champagne. Chilled perfectly, it presented pleasant notes of ripe peaches, natural fruitiness, delicate bubbles, balanced acidity, and a lingering nutty finish—a truly sophisticated pairing for the meal.
Sashimi, Sushi & Japanese Delights
The Japanese section offered sashimi and sushi. While the sushi was often pre-prepared, the quality of the sashimi was outstanding. The 7kg natural flounder, in particular, boasted incredible aging and masterful slicing. I opted to create my own sushi with fresh rice and the exquisite sashimi, a truly satisfying experience. Despite Japanese cuisine not being the main highlight, the raw fish quality was undeniable.
The Unforgettable Lobster & Western Kitchen
Undoubtedly, the butter-grilled lobster is Flavors’ highlight. Cooked à la minute, each piece was succulent, tender, and perfectly bouncy – a stark contrast and superior experience to other renowned lobster buffets. The chefs’ mastery in cooking delicate seafood shone through. While the warm steamed king crab was decent, it lacked the moisture of the lobster. The Western section also impressed, with the LA galbi standing out among the meats for its tender flavor. The daily pasta, a fresh tomato short pasta, was surprisingly delicious, expertly cooked and enhanced with Parmesan and olive oil. Furthermore, the wood-fired pizzas, freshly prepared by a foreign chef, were exceptional with their crispy yet chewy crust and vibrant tomato sauce, rivaling specialty pizzerias.
Asian Selections & Sweet Endings
The Chinese selection, though concise, featured flavorful dishes like black pepper beef tenderloin, cream shrimp, and palbochae. While a greater variety of fried items would be a welcome addition, the quality of the stir-fries was good. For a Korean finale, I created my own yukhoe bibimbap using fresh yukhoe (beef tartare), namul, kimchi, and a touch of abalone soy sauce – a testament to the joy of customizing your buffet experience. The dessert spread, catering to all ages, was a delightful conclusion, featuring panna cotta, mousses, crème brûlée, freshly made crepes, cookies, and ice cream.
Final Verdict on JW Marriott Flavors
JW Marriott Seoul’s Flavors buffet genuinely lives up to its reputation. The consistent high quality and freshness of ingredients, coupled with the chefs’ precise cooking, truly stand out, particularly with the delicate seafood and Western dishes. While minor improvements could be made in appetizer variety and replenishing some items, the overall experience, especially with the outstanding lobster, pasta, and wood-fired pizza, was exemplary. Flavors offers a luxurious and satisfying culinary adventure, making it a perfect choice for celebrating special moments in Seoul.