Mapo Station Chinese restaurant for Sichuan mapo tofu: Im Sabu Mongkok

Today I went to Im Sabu Chinese Cuisine Mongkok Mapo Branch (임사부 중화요리 몽콕 마포점), a spot near Mapo Station where you can enjoy a variety of Chinese dishes!

I wanted to try something a bit different from the usual jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) or jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) I normally eat, so I decided to visit. The menu ranges from mapo tofu to standard Chinese dishes to dimsum, all at reasonable prices, so it was great for ordering a bunch of things to share.

It's also close to Mapo Station, so it seemed like a solid pick for anyone searching for good Chinese food near Mapo Station!

Where is Im Sabu Mongkok Mapo Branch, and when is it open?

Im Sabu Chinese Cuisine Mongkok Mapo Branch is located at 22-4 Dohwa-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, about a 3-minute walk from Exit 3 of Mapo Station. Hours are Sun–Thu 11:00–23:00 and Fri–Sat 11:00–1:00 (next day), with a break time of 14:00–17:00.

It's a quick walk from Mapo Station, so accessibility was great. Since it's so easy to reach by public transport, it seems like a good option for a lunch or dinner meetup near Mapo Station. 😊

What's on the menu at Im Sabu Mongkok?

Im Sabu Chinese Cuisine Mongkok Mapo Branch had not only familiar Chinese dishes but also a variety of items I don't usually get to try.

It seemed like a great place to visit with a group, order one of each dish, and share — with options ranging from full meals to dishes that go well with drinks.

The three dishes we shared

The dishes we ordered were

• ✔️ Sichuan-style mapo tofu
• ✔️ Chinese-style omelet
• ✔️ Half-and-half dimsum

These three! 😋

🌶️ Sichuan-style mapo tofu

The dish I was most looking forward to first was the Sichuan mapo tofu! The soft tofu was thoroughly coated in Sichuan-style sauce, making it great to eat with rice.

It had that spicy, rich flavor typical of mapo tofu, and personally it reminded me a little of malatang. If you like the numbing sensation and aroma of mala, this would be right up your alley.

It's great on its own, but I'd personally recommend spooning it over rice. 🍚 If you're into malatang or spicy Chinese dishes, this is one worth ordering at least once!

🍳 Chinese-style omelet

Next was the Chinese-style omelet, whose name alone had me curious!

Ordering it alongside the spicy Sichuan-style mapo tofu made for an especially good combo. Since it's a soft egg dish, it was nice to eat in between bites, and a good choice when you want to order something relatively mild alongside a richer dish.

I'd recommend pairing it with a strong-flavored dish like the Sichuan mapo tofu!

🥟 Half-and-half dimsum, the side dish to add

Coming to a Chinese restaurant, you can't skip dimsum haha! It was great as a side to pick at between the main dishes, and being able to enjoy two kinds at once was a nice bonus.

The price was reasonable too, so it seems like a good entry point for anyone who's been wanting to try dimsum!

A chef trained at Lotte Hotel and a Michelin kitchen

What especially stood out about Im Sabu Chinese Cuisine Mongkok Mapo Branch was that you can enjoy dishes made by a chef with experience at a Lotte Hotel Chinese restaurant and a Michelin restaurant, at relatively affordable prices.

Unlike typical Chinese restaurants centered around jjajangmyeon or jjamppong, there was a variety of dishes to choose from — Sichuan mapo tofu, the Chinese-style omelet, dimsum, and more — which made picking the menu fun in itself. 😊

At checkout, they even gave us a travel-size mouthwash, which showed the owner's thoughtful touch...🫶

Is Im Sabu Mongkok Mapo worth a visit?

• ✔️ Chinese cuisine from a chef with Lotte Hotel and Michelin restaurant experience
• ✔️ Good accessibility, close to Exit 3 of Mapo Station
• ✔️ Varied menu including Sichuan mapo tofu, Chinese-style omelet, and dimsum
• ✔️ Great for ordering several dishes and sharing them together
• ✔️ Not too pricey, making it a good budget-friendly Chinese restaurant near Mapo Station

Overall, this was a place where you could enjoy more varied Chinese dishes than the usual go-tos. 😊 From the Sichuan mapo tofu to the Chinese-style omelet to the half-and-half dimsum, each dish had a different feel, making it fun to order several and share.

A place I'd recommend if you want to enjoy something a bit different and affordable near Mapo Station! Like we did, I'd suggest ordering a few dishes and sharing them together. 🥢✨