Hongdae rice bowl restaurant: mild L-size karaage curry, Myeon Sikdang

I was looking for somewhere to eat a filling meal near Hongdae and ended up at Myeon Sikdang Hongik University Branch, a well-known ramen spot in the area. Hongdae has so many good restaurants that it's always hard to pick, but that day I wanted something simple yet properly filling, so I chose Myeon Sikdang. Given the name suggests a ramen specialty shop, I expected noodles to be the focus, but looking at the actual menu, they had everything from tonkatsu to rice bowls to curry — great for a group where everyone can order what they like.

This time we decided to order several dishes and share them. We got the mozza cheese katsu with mini cold soba, the karaage curry rice bowl, and the spicy galbi rice bowl. Ordering different dishes instead of just one meant we could compare flavors, which made the meal even more exciting.

What comes with the 14,900 won mozza cheese katsu and mini cold soba set?

The dish that caught my eye first was the mozza cheese katsu with mini cold soba. The base price is 14,900 won, and it comes with both cheese katsu and cold soba, making it a pretty substantial single meal. I love tonkatsu but sometimes can't eat much because it gets greasy, so having the mini cold soba (buckwheat noodles) alongside was great for cleansing the palate between bites.

As the name suggests, the mozza cheese katsu is packed with cheese, and you could really see the cheesiness in the cross-section. The combination of crispy fried tonkatsu and soft, savory cheese is hard to go wrong with. It was crispy outside and moist inside, so it worked well eaten with rice or on its own.

Cheese-filled katsu is best eaten hot, and since it came out fresh, the cheese flavor really came through. Dipping it in the tonkatsu sauce added a salty, savory kick that paired nicely with the cheese's richness.

The mini cold soba that came with it worked surprisingly well too. Its cold, clean flavor made it a nice bite to alternate with the cheese katsu. Switching between the two instead of eating them separately kept things interesting all the way to the end.

Karaage curry rice bowl at Myeon Sikdang: L size, mild level, 9,500 won

Next up was the karaage curry rice bowl. The base price is 9,500 won, and I upgraded to L size and chose the mild spice level. It was nice to have the option to go bigger if you want to eat more. I picked a mild curry over a spicier one, and paired with the karaage (Japanese fried chicken), it made for a satisfying, filling bowl.

The karaage had a nice combination of crispy batter and juicy chicken. Since the curry itself was smooth, the crunch of the karaage really stood out, and alternating bites of rice with curry and karaage gave a bit of textural variety with every mouthful.

Because I chose the mild curry, it was a flavor even people who can't handle spicy food could enjoy without worry. It still had the distinct curry aroma and savory depth, without being too intense, making it easy to eat. It could be a good option for anyone in Hongdae looking for a filling rice bowl for lunch or dinner.

Is the 10,500 won spicy galbi rice bowl sweet or hot?

The last dish we ordered was the spicy galbi rice bowl, priced at 10,500 won. The name already hints at a spicy flavor, and sure enough, the sweet-and-spicy sauce paired really well with the rice.

Eating the galbi (marinated short rib) with rice let the savory sauce soak into the rice, and my spoon just kept going back for more. If you like spicy food, this dish would be especially satisfying. The vibe was completely different from the mild karaage curry bowl we'd just had, which was another reason ordering several dishes together was so enjoyable — everyone got a totally different flavor experience.

Why Myeon Sikdang in Hongdae works for sharing with a group

Overall, I really liked that Myeon Sikdang Hongik University Branch, a well-known Hongdae restaurant, offers a wide variety of dishes beyond just ramen. Based on the name I'd assumed it was all about noodles, but there was actually a great range of tonkatsu and rice bowl options too, which made choosing what to eat pretty fun.

It's especially great for a group, since everyone can order something different and share. Ordering the mozza cheese katsu with mini cold soba, the karaage curry bowl, and the spicy galbi bowl together like we did meant we got to enjoy the richness of the cheese katsu, the cleanness of the cold soba, the smoothness of the curry, and the spiciness of the galbi bowl, all in one sitting.

Hongdae has no shortage of places to eat, but it can still be hard to decide once you're actually there. Myeon Sikdang's wide menu range takes some of that pressure off. It felt like a place equally suited to solo dining or coming with friends or family so everyone can order what they want.

Personally, of everything we ate this time, the mozza cheese katsu with mini cold soba combo left the biggest impression. Crispy tonkatsu and savory cheese followed by cold, refreshing soba worked better than I expected. I'd especially recommend this combo to anyone who loves tonkatsu but finds a single serving a bit much on its own.

If you're looking for somewhere to fill up rather than eat light, Myeon Sikdang Hongik University Branch, a well-known Hongdae restaurant, is worth a visit. True to its name as a ramen specialty shop, there's a good range of noodle dishes too, but ordering tonkatsu or rice bowls like we did was still plenty satisfying.

It's a good spot for enjoying a good meal with friends in Hongdae, or for when you want to pick and choose from a variety of dishes to suit different tastes. Next time I'd like to actually try the ramen menu itself. This visit we went with the mozza cheese katsu, karaage curry bowl, and spicy galbi bowl, but next time I'm planning to properly try the ramen, living up to the restaurant's name.

If you're looking for a restaurant in Hongdae with a hearty, varied menu, keep Myeon Sikdang Hongik University Branch in mind for your next visit. If you especially like cheese katsu and cold soba, the mozza cheese katsu with mini cold soba combo is worth trying at least once.