Dongtan Station pho bar, half-day lunch, sweet potato rolls: Mibundang

I took a half-day off and went to Mibundang near Dongtan Station for a pho lunch~ I drop by whenever I'm craving pho, and I love how quiet and relaxed it is to eat there.

Where is Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch, and is there parking?

Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch (미분당) is on the first floor of the Dongtan Station Richan Arcade, near Dongtan Station, and you can park in the building's basement. The garage is big, so it's easy to park if you come by car.

Lunchtime wait and kiosk ordering

You order first at the kiosk in front of the restaurant, which gives you a number ticket, and you go in one by one in order. Maybe because it was lunchtime, there were quite a few people. Staff call your number, so you have to wait out front.

Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch menu and what I ordered

Here's the menu at Mibundang Dongtan. The mains are brisket pho, flank pho, brisket-flank, brisket-flank-tendon and tendon pho, and the sides include sweet potato jopjo (fried rolls), scallop jopjo, buffalo wings and more. I ordered 3 things: brisket-flank pho, brisket-flank-tendon pho and sweet potato jopjo.

Free hovenia tea and parasols while you wait

There were about 5 groups ahead of me and I waited around 10 minutes. While waiting, I could drink cold hovenia tea (heotgae-su) from a basket set out in front of Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch, so I cooled off with that while I waited.

There are parasols too, so on a sunny day you can get out of the sun? The service at Mibundang Dongtan is really good, I think.

Is Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch good for eating alone?

The restaurant is on the small side, but noodles turn over fast, so seats open up quickly. Mibundang aims for an atmosphere where anyone can eat in a quiet, comfortable space, so it's really qui-et and relaxed. I think it's great for solo dining too!! It's also perfect for enjoying some time alone without talking, haha.

How does the brisket-flank-tendon pho taste?

The brisket-flank-tendon pho came out almost as soon as I sat down. It's made on the spot after you order, so it's hotter and tastier~! It was my first time trying tendon, and it was chewy and kind of charming? There was a ton of meat on top, so it was filling.

Brisket-flank pho and its clear broth

This is the brisket-flank pho I ordered. It's the same bowl, just without the tendon~~

It's topped with sliced green onion and chili. Mibundang's broth is definitely very, very clear and clean. I like pho with a clean taste, so I really enjoyed it. Even people sensitive to strong smells can eat it without trouble~ Oh!! If you love cilantro, ask the staff and they'll bring it separately.

Is the sweet potato cha gio good without chili sauce?

This is the sweet potato jopjo side~~ It's my number one pick among the sides at Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch. It comes with a chili dipping sauce, but personally I thought it tasted better plain, just as it is, haha.

The three table sauces and how to use them

Every seat at Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch has 3 kinds of sauce on the table. There's chili sauce, hoisin sauce (haeseonjang) and hot sauce, so pour just as much as you'll eat~~

I mixed some hot sauce into the bean sprouts and noodles, haha.

The how-to-eat guide said adding onion brings out more savory depth, so I tossed it in together~~

My friend Shu loves cilantro, so she asked for extra and added it, haha. I'm still not used to that shampoo smell, heh.

A proper mouthful. Taking a big bite like this makes me happy~

The verdict in one line

The sweet potato jopjo is better when it's hot. If you like sweet potatoes and other root crops, try it as a side. You get that nutty, sweet sweet-potato flavor~~ Try Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch when you want a light but filling meal, haha.