Dongtan Station pho after a 30-min weekday dinner wait: Mibundang

If you're looking for a good pho place near Dongtan Station, I recommend Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch (미분당 동탄역점), where I keep going back. It's popular enough to have a wait even on weekday evenings, and it's the place I keep returning to when I crave generous meat and a clean broth.

Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch: location, hours and parking

• Address: 495 Dongtan-daero, Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi, South Korea (Dongtan Station Richan Arcade, 1st floor, Unit 109)
• Hours: 11:00–21:00 / break 15:00–17:00 / last order 14:30 and 20:30
• Closed: every Tuesday
• Parking: underground parking lot of Dongtan Station Richan Arcade

How long is the weekday evening wait?

When I visited on a weekday evening, the wait was about 30 minutes. This is a place I've already been to many times. It's the first spot that comes to mind when I want pho, and this time, on a weekday evening, there was once again quite a wait.

You order and pay at the kiosk first, and it prints an order slip. You stick the slip in the holder at the front and wait, and a staff member comes out and calls people in order. This time I think we waited about 30 minutes. Even on a weekday evening, people kept arriving. It seems this place is already firmly established as a Dongtan Station pho favorite!

Menu and prices

The pho lineup was: brisket (chadol) pho ₩10,000, flank (yangji) pho ₩11,500, brisket and flank pho ₩12,500, brisket, flank and tendon pho ₩13,000, and tendon pho ₩14,000. Sides include sweet potato spring rolls (jjajo), scallop spring rolls, potato-wrapped shrimp, wedding shumai, buffalo wings, and an assorted fried platter.

Is takeout available?

This time I noticed they've started takeout too. You can choose fully cooked or half-cooked. Fully cooked is for eating soon, nearby, while half-cooked is prepared so you can finish cooking it simply at home. Being able to have Mibundang pho at home, when it used to be dine-in only, seemed like a nice new option.

A quiet, tidy atmosphere

Inside, it's Mibundang's signature wood-tone interior. Seating is bar tables facing the kitchen, and the overall mood is quiet, so it's easy to focus on your meal.

On the table there's hoisin sauce, chili sauce and hot sauce, so you can add a little to suit your taste. Onions, pickled radish and chili peppers come out alongside too.

Tableware and sauce dishes are in a drawer, and there's a well-stocked tissue box on the right.

Brisket pho vs. flank pho: how do they taste different?

Mibundang's brisket pho is softer and richer than the flank pho, but you notice a slightly oilier flavor. My child ordered the brisket pho. I'd had the flank pho before, and trying brisket this time, the feel really does differ by cut.

Brisket has a strong soft, nutty richness, and in exchange it tastes a bit oilier than flank.

If you like cilantro, you can ask for it separately. Of course I added cilantro! Pho isn't pho without a heap of cilantro, so I added it partway through and really enjoyed it.

Personally, when I want something light and clean, the flank pho was a little more my taste.

On the other hand, if you like tender meat and a nutty richness, the brisket pho should suit you.

For meat lovers: brisket, flank and tendon pho

Mibundang's brisket, flank and tendon pho (₩13,000) is so generous that the meat nearly covers the bowl. My husband got the brisket, flank and tendon pho! With tendon added to the brisket and flank, the textures vary even within a single bowl.

The tendon in particular is tender yet chewy, and the flank pulls apart along the grain, so it goes well with the broth. With brisket in there too, I think the brisket-flank-tendon combo is the most satisfying for meat lovers.

There are plenty of bean sprouts under the noodles too, so picking up noodles, sprouts and meat together is hearty. The broth has a deep meaty flavor, and the signature pho aroma isn't overpowering, so it's easy to eat.

Buffalo wings that are good with kids

The buffalo wings at Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch are golden outside and juicy inside, a good side to go with pho when you have a kid. Ordering only pho felt a little lacking, so we added the wings. Dipped in sweet chili sauce, they went well with the pho, and they were a good extra to add when visiting with a child.

Are extra noodles free?

At Mibundang, extra noodles are free when you order one meal item per person, so if you're not full you can have more noodles. That said, the meat and bean sprouts are already quite generous, so we were too full to add noodles again this time, haha.

Why I come back to Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch despite the wait

Even after many visits, Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch is still busy, and this time the wait was substantial, about 30 minutes on a weekday evening. Still, after a hearty bowl, I can see why there are always so many people. It's the place I return to when I want warm broth near Dongtan Station, or pho loaded with meat! From the bowl that lets you taste brisket, flank and tendon all at once, to the brisket pho that's good for kids and the sides, there are options, so it was a good fit for visiting as a family. That's Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch, a Dongtan Station pho favorite.