Dongtan Station pho served after sweet potato cha gio: Mibundang

Whenever I get a pho craving, Mibundang is what comes to mind. Rich, slow-simmered broth, tender beef and chewy noodles make it filling but never heavy, so I end up going often. This time I visited the Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch (미분당 동탄역점) at Dongtan Station.

Parking and waiting at Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch

Dongtan Station Richan Arcade, the building where Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch is located, gives 1 hour of free parking inside, so driving there was easy and I was happy about that.

We got in without any wait, but it looks like a thoughtful place: they set out chilled hovenia tea (heotgaesu) for people waiting in line.

What we ordered at Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch and the prices

At Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch we ordered tendon pho for ₩10,000, brisket pho for ₩11,500, sweet potato cha gio (3 pcs) for ₩3,000 and scallop cha gio (3 pcs) for ₩3,000.

You order at the kiosk in front of the entrance first, then head inside.

Atmosphere and seating at Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch

The restaurant is clean and modern. It's a long, straight-line space, and I imagine plenty of solo diners and office workers at lunchtime come here.

If you need side dishes or anything else, put the request slip up here and they bring it right over. There's also a sign asking everyone to help keep the atmosphere quiet.

It's an open kitchen, so you can see everything inside, and it's kept really clean.

The sauces are right above the seats. A drawer holds bowls, spoons and chopsticks, and tissues are attached too, so the space is used very efficiently. I loved that.

My husband likes dipping his noodles in sauce, so he eats his separately like this.

They bring side dishes and water first. The water is chilled hovenia tea (heotgaesu). And this is how the side dishes are set up.

What do Mibundang's sweet potato and scallop cha gio taste like?

The sweet potato and scallop cha gio (Vietnamese-style fried rolls) at Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch are each ₩3,000 for 3 pieces.

Sweet potato cha gio

The sweet potato cha gio is the kind of dish I think women especially will like. It's packed with sweet potato, which goes well with the crispy wrapper,

and it was nice to nibble on between bites of the meal. It works well as a side.

Scallop cha gio

The scallop cha gio is fried golden and crispy outside, with scallop inside that gives a faint taste of the sea the more you chew. It's lighter than a regular cha gio, so it went nicely with the pho.

How is Mibundang's ₩11,500 yangji (beef flank) pho?

The brisket pho at Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch costs ₩11,500.

Personally, I felt the brisket pho has a different charm from the tendon one. The brisket is boiled long and tender, and the deep flavor of the meat comes through as you chew. It matched the light yet rich broth really well.

The meat wasn't tough but moist, so it was good with the noodles, and it made a hearty meal.

How is Mibundang's ₩10,000 chadol (thin-sliced brisket) pho?

The tendon pho at Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch costs ₩10,000.

The aroma rising from the hot broth was wonderful. The first spoonful had the deep taste of a long-simmered stock. The spices aren't overpowering, so even people who don't usually like Vietnamese pho could enjoy this style.

The tendon slices were generous too, and dipped lightly in the broth they were tender and rich.

The noodles were soft and didn't get mushy until the very end, so I enjoyed them all the way through.

Does Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch offer unlimited bean sprouts and noodles?

The biggest plus of Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch is that you can refill both bean sprouts and noodles as much as you like.

I really love bean sprouts, and I was happy that I could just ask for more whenever I wanted. Piling them in kept the crunch and made the broth feel even more refreshing.

You can add noodles too if you're still hungry, so even big eaters will be satisfied. With eating-out prices rising so much these days, I think a service like this is a real advantage.

Noodles served after the cha gio, plus 1 hour of free parking

The staff at Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch were friendly, and what touched me most was that they waited until we finished our sides, then put hot broth over the noodles they had prepared and served them. It was such a smart, considerate service that I was really moved.

Another thing I liked was the 1 hour of free parking. Parking is hard around Dongtan Station, so it was convenient to be able to leave at a relaxed pace after the meal.

Both the tendon pho and the brisket pho were satisfying, and above all, being able to enjoy as many bean sprouts and noodles as I wanted makes this a place I'd like to visit again.

If you order the crispy scallop cha gio and the sweet sweet potato cha gio too, the meal is even more satisfying.

If you're looking for a good-value pho restaurant in Dongtan, I recommend visiting Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch. The generous portions, rich broth and free refills made it a very satisfying place.