Gongdeok Chinese restaurant: xiaolongbao & jjamppong at Mongkok

What kind of Chinese restaurant is Im Sabu Mongkok Mapo Branch?

Im Sabu Chinese Cuisine Mongkok Mapo Branch (임사부 중화요리 몽콕 마포점) is a Chinese restaurant near Mapo Station, between there and Gongdeok Station, where you can have both a meal and drinks. My friends and I were hunting for a Chinese place near Mapo Station for weekend lunch, and I went in with high hopes because it's run under the name of a chef who reportedly worked at a Michelin-rated restaurant and the Lotte Hotel. The moment I stepped in, it felt like a local restaurant in Hong Kong, like I was on a trip. It's close to Mapo Station so it's easy to reach, and a decent place for lunch or a get-together.

Mongkok Mapo Branch location near Gongdeok Station and opening hours

Mongkok Mapo Branch is in an alley between Gongdeok Station and Mapo Station. I worried it might be hard to find, but there are lots of well-known restaurants nearby, so it was easier than I expected.

• Im Sabu Chinese Cuisine Mongkok Mapo Branch: 22-4 Dohwa-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor
• Mon–Thu 11:00 – 24:00
• Fri–Sat 11:00 – 02:00 (next day)
• Sun 11:00 – 23:00
• Break time 14:00 – 17:00
• Groups welcome, takeout, reservations, Wi-Fi, mobile payment

Even a quick glance shows how varied the Mongkok menu is, right? With friends who wanted mala tang, xiangguo and dim sum all at once, our bills always ran high, but Mongkok's prices are reasonable, so it's a great place to enjoy lots of different dishes.

Inside Mongkok Mapo Branch and how table ordering works

Three of us visited Mongkok Mapo Branch at weekend lunch. The exterior already had red accents and Hong Kong vibes, and the inside nicely captured that classic Chinese restaurant atmosphere. The tables are spaced comfortably, so it looked good for meetups with friends, dates or company dinners.

You order through a table-order screen. We ordered the signature dishes: jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup), mapo tofu, egg fried rice and xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). We wanted to try a bit of everything, and it turned out to be a satisfying choice.

₩2,900 draft beer promotion and free zha cai side dish

Mongkok Mapo Branch was also running a ₩2,900 draft beer promotion, and I loved it, because bars with value like that are hard to find near Gongdeok Station. The complimentary sides were pickled radish (danmuji) and zha cai, and it seems they make the zha cai themselves! There's been a lot of controversy lately about the cleanliness of zha cai factories in China, so this felt like a very trustworthy Mapo restaurant.

For some reason one of my friends was pouring water for everyone, haha. When we ordered drinks, they brought us frosted glasses, so everything was wonderfully cold.

What we ordered for weekend lunch at Mongkok Mapo Branch

Egg fried rice (₩7,900)

Mongkok's egg fried rice is ₩7,900. You can't skip egg fried rice at a Chinese restaurant, so we ordered it. This Chinese-style fried rice had plenty of egg, and the grains were fluffy and loose, with a great texture. It wasn't greasy but clean-tasting, perfect as a meal.

The fried rice is tasty on its own, but the combination with the mapo tofu sauce was especially good.

Xiaolongbao, 4 pieces (₩6,900)

Mongkok's xiaolongbao is ₩6,900 for four. At a Chinese restaurant like this, xiaolongbao is a must. When I tore the thin wrapper with my chopsticks, juice came gushing out and I was genuinely surprised.

The wrapper was thin and the filling moist, every bit as good as a dim sum specialist. After ordering, I looked around and saw that nearly every table had dim sum and noodle dishes.

Samseon seafood jjamppong (₩13,900)

Mongkok's samseon seafood jjamppong is ₩13,900. The red broth looked appetizing from the start, and from the first bite it was spicy with deep umami. It was loaded with smoky, wok-fired seafood and vegetables, and the broth was so rich my spoon kept going back for more.

The noodles had a nice chew and went well with the broth, making it a hearty weekend lunch. With that spicy kick, I think it would also work great as a drinking snack ✨

Mapo tofu (₩10,900)

Mongkok's mapo tofu is ₩10,900, and personally it was the dish that impressed me most. The soft tofu and spicy sauce blended well, and it wasn't just aggressively spicy; the savory depth really came through.

The mapo tofu on its own doesn't come with a bowl of rice. If you want it with rice, I recommend the mapo tofu rice bowl (deopbap)! The moderate spice made it easy to eat, and it went really well with rice.

With three of us, sharing several dishes let us enjoy a variety of flavors.

Is Mongkok Mapo Branch good for a group meal?

On this visit to Mongkok Mapo Branch we tried four dishes: jjamppong, mapo tofu, egg fried rice and xiaolongbao, and each had a distinct character, so we were very satisfied. The stylish atmosphere and the range of Chinese dishes were also pluses, and it felt like a good space for a meal with friends or a family outing.

On the way out, the owner even handed out mouthwash for each of us, such a thoughtful touch 💪💪💪 If you're looking for a Chinese restaurant near Mapo Station, it's worth a visit. Ordering a bunch of dishes and sharing them with a group was fun, and next time I'd like to try other dim sum and dishes.