Post-exhibition course lunch at a Gwanghwamun Korean restaurant: Modam

After seeing an exhibition nearby, I wanted something clean and refined for lunch, so I went to Modam Dining. From appetizers to the main dish, everything was pretty satisfying — a fancy hanjeongsik (Korean set-course meal) spot. The seasoning leaned toward letting the ingredients speak rather than going heavy, so my mouth never got tired even by the end.

The flow went from appetizers one by one into the main meal, with refreshing dishes alternating with savory ones so it never got repetitive. Easy to recommend if you're looking for a place near Gwanghwamun to eat with parents. Let's get into it.

Where Modam Dining Gwanghwamun is and what the room feels like

Modam Dining Gwanghwamun is inside the D Palace building. Clean, calm look from the outside.

You head down to the basement level. The entrance inside isn't cluttered either — tidy and organized, so the first impression was pretty polished.

Wood tones mixed with soft lighting give it more of a modern Korean dining feel than a traditional one.

The tables weren't crammed together either, so I could eat without worrying much about neighboring tables. The seats are also divided almost like partitions, so even without a full private room, it felt quite private. This level of privacy seemed like a solid fit for a Gwanghwamun family gathering or a meal with parents.

Which set meals we ordered and what they cost

The Modam hanjeongsik menu. We chose the deodeok (bellflower root) charcoal-grilled pork set for ₩27,000 and the abalone tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty) set for ₩35,000. The course runs from seasonal porridge through appetizers, tempura, perilla oil capellini, then the main meal and dessert. If you're a Gwanghwamun hanjeongsik fan who prefers a full course structure, this should suit you well.

The basic table setting is neat too. Not overly fancy, so it's easy to focus on the food. Staff were also very kind.

From seasonal porridge to the appetizer plate

The seasonal porridge came out first. It might have had chestnut in it — smooth, nutty, and light, going down easily, a good way to start the meal. And honestly, the dishes that followed were consistently not too heavily seasoned either.

The appetizers before the main course all arrived at once. Felt like getting three salads at the same time, haha.

The cheongyang chili water kimchi was clean and refreshing. Nice crunchy texture too, perfect for cleansing the palate between bites.

Next was mustard greens with pine nut sauce. The crunchy vegetables paired with the nutty pine nut sauce felt light and fresh — tasted a bit like haepari naengchae (chilled jellyfish salad).

The yuzu dressing salad was my favorite course

Both my dining companion and I really loved this yuzu dressing salad. The bright, sweet-tart yuzu aroma came through without drowning out the vegetables, which was exactly my style. I'm usually not a big yuzu fan, but I'd welcome yuzu like this any day. Genuinely fresher and more refreshing than something like orange or tangerine.

Seasonal raw fish and pickled ceviche also showed up. Having a dish like this mixed into a Korean set course kept things from feeling monotonous.

Best dish of the day: modam mushroom tempura

Listed on the menu as modam tempura. That day it was mushrooms fried and coated in sauce. This was the best of the day. The absolute best. Number one. I nearly got emotional eating it.

Crispy on the outside, moist inside. The slightly sweet sauce paired beautifully — this and the yuzu salad were the two dishes I'd want to eat again. Having appetizers this un-aggressive also feels like a plus if you're choosing a Gwanghwamun spot for a parents' meal.

How the perilla oil capellini tasted

The perilla oil capellini had a subtle nutty aroma and the noodles were very light — a good bridge before the main dish. Honestly, this is around when I started getting full.

Mixed well, the perilla oil aroma spreads across the whole noodle dish, nutty and satisfying. Not overly oily, still clean, and it matched the overall tone of the course. Felt closer to a cold pasta or perilla oil makguksu (buckwheat noodles) than a regular pasta.

What comes on the main set meal spread

Now the main meal arrives. Rice, soup of the day, and four side dishes come out together with your chosen main. The side dishes weren't excessive either — just enough, neatly arranged. True to a Gwanghwamun hanjeongsik family-gathering spot, the full spread was clean and uncomplicated.

Abalone tteokgalbi set, 35,000 won

The abalone tteokgalbi set looks appetizing right away, with the glossy tteokgalbi and abalone pairing.

The tteokgalbi was fluffy all the way through, with the meat's own nutty, light flavor coming through well. I liked that it wasn't just a heavy seasoning-forward style. It's light enough to feel almost like tofu at points. More fluffy-light than moist-heavy in texture. Highly recommend if you want a tteokgalbi that isn't too intense.

The abalone served alongside was thick and chewy too. Not too tough, so it was easy to alternate bites with the tteokgalbi.

Putting the abalone on top of rice works well too. The plain rice pairs nicely with the umami-rich abalone. The sweet-salty sauce is also a treat. Take a big spoonful and the chewy abalone makes it seriously satisfying.

The tteokgalbi also goes perfectly with rice. The slightly sweet glaze wasn't overdone, so I kept reaching for more. Since the seasoning wasn't strong, I think the tteokgalbi set would work well for a Gwanghwamun parents' meal too. They even thoughtfully provided scissors and tongs in advance, which made eating a lot easier.

Deodeok charcoal-grilled pork set, 27,000 won

The deodeok charcoal-grilled pork set. Charcoal-grilled pork paired with deodeok (bellflower root) for a more refined feel. The deodeok was cut into bite-sized pieces.

The pork had that smoky charcoal aroma alive, but the seasoning wasn't overly salty or intense. It stayed light enough to not mask the meat's flavor, which I liked.

Eaten with rice, the seasoning balance is just right. Overall the food balance felt comfortable. The soup was also a nice warm addition.

Beef radish soup! A nostalgic flavor for me. The portion was just right, enough to finish without feeling stuffed. This wasn't too heavily seasoned either, which I really appreciated.

The pork is also tasty wrapped in lettuce leaves. Not too salty, so it paired especially well with the vegetables.

Adding the deodeok into the wrap brings out even more aroma and texture — a distinct point compared to regular grilled pork.

I cleansed my palate now and then with the cheongyang chili water kimchi. Even better after a meat dish.

Plum tea to finish, and is Modam Dining worth it?

The meal ended with a cup of plum tea for dessert! From start to finish, what I liked most was the light seasoning that let the ingredients' own flavors shine.

The yuzu salad and the mushroom modam tempura in particular were memorable enough that I'm still thinking about them, the tteokgalbi was nutty and light, and the deodeok charcoal-grilled pork wasn't too salty either — all satisfying. Thanks to the partition-divided seats, it also seemed like an easy spot for a Gwanghwamun family gathering.

The price is higher than a typical lunch, but considering the course runs all the way from appetizers to dessert, it's actually good value for a special-occasion meal. Recommended as a Gwanghwamun hanjeongsik spot for family gatherings. I'd love to try other set menus next time we're here for a Gwanghwamun family gathering or a parents' meal. That's it for now!