Japanese restaurant in Mapo, Seoul for steak rice bowls: Padong

I found this gem of a restaurant while looking for somewhere to have dinner near Mangwon Market. I wanted something a little different from my usual everyday choices, so I went to try some Japanese food—and that place was Padong.

Its location is perfect for a casual meal after looking around the market, so I’d strongly recommend this Mangwon Japanese restaurant for a date or a get-together with friends.

From generously filled futomaki (thick sushi rolls), to fragrant, richly coated basil soba, to a hearty, umami-packed steak rice bowl! I had a full Japanese meal that stepped outside the ordinary and delighted both my eyes and my palate.

With delicious food and a cold beer, it was a perfect day. Let’s get straight into the vivid review!

Padong location and opening information

• B1, 47 World Cup-ro 17-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Daily 11:30–21:00
• Regularly closed every Monday
• May close early when ingredients sell out
• No break time

A cozy space close to Mangwon Station

Walk straight from Mangwon Station Exit 2 toward Mangwon Market and you’ll find it on a side street. It’s close to the station, so getting there is very easy.

Go down about half a flight of stairs and, right from the entrance, fresh plants and cute little decorations create a bright, warm atmosphere.

It’s known as a popular Mangwon Japanese restaurant where people queue at peak times, and there was even a waiting list by the door.

Inside, it has that cozy Mangwon-dong feel. It’s a small, charming space with about six to eight tables for two, making it a really nice spot for a date.

It’s especially nice that the kitchen is open, so you can enjoy the sounds and sights of the cooking in real time.

Futomaki, basil soba, and rice bowl menu

Futomaki, soba, and Japanese-style rice bowls are the stars here. To share a variety of things, we ordered futomaki (₩16,000), basil soba (₩13,000), and a steak rice bowl (₩13,000).

It was a shame that the salmon rice bowl had sold out, but in the end we were very happy with the steak rice bowl too! We also added a chilled bottle of Asahi beer, which you simply can’t leave out of a Japanese meal.

The basic setting and a beer

After we ordered, they brought out jang-guk (clear soup) and the basic side dishes.

The side dishes were nice to nibble on throughout the meal.

Before the food arrived, we poured ourselves a refreshing beer.

A generously stuffed bite of futomaki

The futomaki was the first dish to arrive, followed by the others one by one, so I took a group shot.

The first dish out was the impressively large futomaki.

It was packed so tightly with tuna, fried shrimp, shiso leaf, fried tofu, burdock root, pickled radish, cucumber, and dashimaki (Japanese rolled omelet) that it was hard to fit into one bite.

The contrast between the soft ingredients and crunchy fried shrimp was fun, and the seasoning was spot-on. It was excellent with just a little wasabi, even without sauce. It’s so filling that if you go with a group, this is a must-order dish to share.

Rich and unusual basil soba

Of everything we ordered that day, the basil soba was the most unusual and memorable!

It looks like Italian pasta, but when you mix the basil pesto, minced pork, and arugula with the egg yolk, the distinctive sweet-and-salty sauce gives it a definite Japanese flavor.

The noodles were richly coated and chewy, with nutty, salty flavors and the pleasant bitterness of arugula, so it didn’t feel heavy at all.

For anyone looking for something different, this was easily the top Japanese menu item I’d recommend in Mangwon.

Steak rice bowl that pairs beautifully with wasabi

Lastly, the steak rice bowl was perfect for a hearty meal.

The tender meat was coated in a sweet-and-salty sauce, and eating it with rice and a little wasabi made the umami burst.

I love wasabi, so I mixed in all of it without setting any aside, and it was just right!

Its clean flavor also went very well with the other dishes.

A dinner of shared dishes

The Padong I visited this time was a place where every menu item had a distinct character, making it a treat for both the eyes and the mouth. Ordering several dishes to share meant we could enjoy a varied meal rather than leaning too heavily into just one flavor, which made me even happier.

If you’d like to browse Mangwon Market, then enjoy distinctive, delicious Japanese food with a beer afterward, do stop by. If you’re looking for a popular Mangwon Japanese restaurant where you can fill up properly while having a casual drink, you absolutely won’t regret it!