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Honest Review of The Westin Josun Aria Buffet – One of Seoul’s Top 3 Hotel Buffets

There are a few places in Seoul often referred to as the "Top 3 hotel buffets."
Among them, the Aria Buffet at The Westin Josun Seoul has been consistently loved over the years.

Finally, I had the chance to visit the Aria Buffet myself!
Today, I’m here to share an honest review based on my personal experience — covering both the good and the not-so-good aspects.

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📍 Basic Information about The Westin Josun Aria Buffet

• Location: 106 Sogong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

• Operating Hours: Lunch and Dinner (Two sittings on weekends)

• Price:

  • Weekday Lunch: 150,000 KRW

  • Weekday Dinner & Weekend: 175,000 KRW

• Parking: Free parking available depending on dining time

Reservations are absolutely essential.
Weekend dinner slots, in particular, tend to sell out weeks in advance.

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✨ What Makes The Westin Josun Aria Buffet Special?

As expected from one of Seoul's top three hotel buffets,
the first impression was pure luxury.

The clean lighting, spacious table arrangements, and detailed service
immediately made me feel, "Ah, this is going to be a special experience."

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🦞 Lobster and King Crab — Common Yet Different Here

These days, most premium buffets offer lobsters and king crab.
Aria was no exception.

However, what I found interesting was that
the lobsters served later for refills were much better than the ones initially presented.

The first batch of lobsters was slightly dry,
but the refilled ones were so much more tender and juicy —
I literally thought, “Wow, this is it!” after just one bite.

Another highlight:
I found lobsters packed with roe and tomalley (lobster liver).
I was lucky enough to grab a few of these, and the richness was simply amazing.

If you love lobster, I highly recommend waiting for the refill batches rather than rushing in at the beginning.

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🐟 Sashimi Corner — Tuna Was the Best

The seafood section had a variety of sashimi,
but the tuna sashimi stood out the most.

It was incredibly fresh, with just the right amount of fattiness,
yet it had a clean finish that kept me wanting more.
Although I tried other types of sashimi,
I can confidently say tuna was hands down the best.

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🥩 My Favorite — The Lamb Chops

At the meat station, I was eagerly waiting for the lamb chops.

As someone who absolutely loves lamb,
I was thrilled to find that the lamb chops at Aria were perfectly cooked —
tender with no unpleasant smell, and a light crust that gave a delightful nutty flavor.

I honestly lost count of how many plates I devoured.
If you love lamb, you must hit the lamb station hard.
(Seriously, no regrets!)

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🥬 Surprisingly, Even the Kimchi Was a Hit

Usually, kimchi is something I skip at buffets,
but not at Aria.

The kimchi was genuinely delicious!
Especially the nabak-kimchi (water kimchi) broth — it was refreshingly cool, sweet, and tangy.
It paired perfectly with the main dishes and helped cleanse the palate between bites.

If you visit Aria, you must try the nabak-kimchi broth.
(Highly recommended!)

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🍓 I Expected Watermelon Shaved Ice but Found Strawberry Instead…

Before visiting, I had read online that Aria Buffet offered watermelon shaved ice for dessert.
However, when I got there, it was strawberry shaved ice!

At first, I was a bit disappointed —
I had set my heart on watermelon.

But after one bite of the strawberry shaved ice,
all my disappointment vanished.

It was loaded with fresh strawberry chunks,
and the finely shaved ice was incredibly smooth.
The combination of tart strawberries and sweet syrup was simply heavenly.

Honestly, I think I enjoyed it even more than I would have enjoyed watermelon shaved ice.

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🎂 The Best Cake — Tiramisu

The dessert section was stunning, with over 7–8 different cakes on display.
Among them, the tiramisu was the most memorable.

The sponge cake soaked in espresso syrup
combined with the rich and creamy mascarpone made for an incredibly soft and decadent texture.

It wasn’t overly sweet,
making it the perfect way to end a satisfying meal.

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📝 Final Summary — What The Westin Josun Aria Buffet Was Like

Category	Impression
Atmosphere	Luxurious and quiet
Lobster	Juicier when refilled
King Crab	Packed with meat, high quality
Tuna	Fresh and clean-tasting
Lamb Chops	Best dish, no gamey smell
Kimchi	Exceeded expectations, especially nabak-kimchi broth
Strawberry Shaved Ice	Refreshing and sweet, highly recommended
Cake	Tiramisu ranked #1

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✅ Conclusion

To be honest, the price can feel steep.
Spending 150,000 to 175,000 KRW per person isn’t a casual decision.

However, for a special occasion or simply as a gift to yourself,
choosing the Aria Buffet would absolutely be worth it.

Especially for those who want to truly savor hotel buffet experiences —
lobster, king crab, lamb chops, and that refreshing strawberry shaved ice —
I wholeheartedly recommend it.

I’m already planning to visit again during lunch next time!
(And hopefully, I'll catch the watermelon shaved ice season then. 😆)

Thank you for reading! 🙏

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