Balsan Korean restaurant: Jeju yellow crab my wife devoured, Mikodam

What is Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch like?

Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch (미꼬담 마곡발산점) is a good-value hanjeongsik (Korean set meal) restaurant that recently opened near Balsan Station. I was craving a proper Korean meal for the first time in a while, so I went. Grilled mackerel, cockles, beef jeon (pan-fried battered beef), marinated crab, japchae (glass noodle stir-fry) and more, all very satisfying for the price.

The neatly laid-out table and the care in the food gave me the comfort of home cooking and the specialness of eating out at once. With generous portions at a reasonable price and a clean, pleasant space, it seems like a good place for family gatherings or a meal with your parents on a special day :)

Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch location, hours and parking

Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch is at 42 Gangseo-ro 54-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on the first floor, and it is open daily 11:00–22:00. It's a Balsan Station Korean restaurant where you can enjoy a satisfying set meal.

It's near Balsan Station on Line 5, so it's easy to reach by public transport. There's a dedicated parking lot right next door, so driving works too :)

What is the atmosphere at Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch?

The interior is comfortable yet upscale.

Soft lighting and stylish wood tones blend together for a refined mood that made the neat Korean set meal look even better.

Mikodam set for two: prices and what we ordered

Mikodam offers hearty set meals that let you taste seaweed soup, cockle bibimbap, beef jeon, marinated crab and more all at once. There are plenty of à la carte dishes too, so you can choose to suit your taste, and it's easy to drop in for lunch or dinner.

We ordered the set for two. We upgraded the seaweed soup to abalone, chose the soy-seasoned version of the cockle bibimbap, and picked Jeju yellow crab as the last side dish.

• Korean set meal for two: ₩46,000
• Abalone seaweed soup upgrade: ₩4,000

The set for two: full table and side dish refills

The set for two came with four main dishes, from abalone seaweed soup to grilled mackerel, cockle bibimbap and Jeju yellow crab, plus a whole spread of sides like spicy stir-fried pork (jeyuk bokkeum), japchae, salad, seasoned greens and roasted seaweed.

The generous table alone was satisfying enough, and if you run short, the side dishes (except the mains) can be refilled, so you can eat even more comfortably :)

Abalone seaweed soup: two abalone and clams

The abalone seaweed soup comes in a stone pot with two big abalone. It's also packed with clams, and the broth was truly impressive. The cool, deep savoriness from the clams melted naturally into the seaweed soup and felt soothing, and with the chewy abalone it was as hearty as a restorative dish.

Grilled mackerel

The golden grilled mackerel was appealing, mild and moist inside.

Soy-seasoned cockle bibimbap and roasted seaweed

The cockle bibimbap balanced the cockles' signature savoriness with the seasoning so well that "rice thief" (a dish that makes you finish your rice) fits perfectly.

Especially with the roasted seaweed served alongside, it was amazing!!

Jeju yellow crab: my crab-loving wife ate almost all of it

The Jeju yellow crab wasn't salty and had a deep flavor, and with rice it made me smile automatically :) My wife, a total crab killer, ate almost all of it by herself.. ;; hahaha~

Side dishes and dessert

The other standard sides, like the spicy pork and japchae, were excellent too.

Warm puffed corn snacks, plum drink and sikhye (sweet rice drink) wrapped up the Korean meal neatly :)

Who would we recommend Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch to?

Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch was good value and tasted great. With a neat table and lots of dishes in generous portions, it would suit special days like a parent's birthday or a family gathering. The price isn't a big burden, so it also seems fine for an ordinary day when you want a hearty meal :)

It's reassuring to have a Korean set-meal place like this near home. haha If you're looking for a good Balsan Station Korean restaurant, give Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch a try~