Aged salmon bowl with fresh wasabi at Padong, a Mangwon Japanese spot

I visited Padong, a Japanese restaurant near Mangwon Station, for Sunday lunch. I was looking for somewhere to eat before heading to the Han River, and when I got there, one team was already waiting ahead of us. We waited our turn and went in. Let me walk you through the waiting situation, the atmosphere, and the dishes we ordered, in order.

Padong's exterior and the Sunday lunch wait near Mangwon Station

Padong, a Japanese restaurant near Mangwon Station, sits in a gray brick building with a wooden door and a black sign. Next to the entrance, a waitlist sheet and a menu board with photos were placed side by side, so I could browse the menu while waiting. When we visited for Sunday lunch, one team was already waiting ahead of us.

Padong menu and prices

Padong's menu ranges from rice bowls to noodle dishes to futomaki.

• Futomaki ₩16,000
• Basil soba ₩13,000
• Mazesoba ₩12,000
• Kimchi cheese nabe ₩15,000
• Steak rice bowl ₩13,000
• Tuna bowl ₩15,000
• Salmon bowl ₩15,000

We ordered futomaki, salmon bowl, and steak bowl.

Padong's atmosphere: wood-tone interior and open kitchen

Inside Padong, deep wood tones and soft lighting created a warm mood. The kitchen was open, so from the bar seats we could watch the staff preparing dishes.

By the window, small tables and wooden chairs were set up, with plants and small decor adding a cozy feel. Since it was Sunday lunch, plenty of diners were eating, giving the place a lively energy.

Futomaki, salmon bowl and steak bowl all arrived

Our order started coming out one by one. The futomaki (rolled sushi) was cut into thick pieces so you could see the filling at a glance, and the salmon bowl looked fresh with vivid orange salmon and green shiso leaves. The steak bowl was topped with beautifully seared skirt steak, an egg yolk, and scallions.

With the neat plating on top of it all, all three looked delicious, so I paused for a moment wondering which to try first.

What's inside Padong's futomaki?

Padong's futomaki came in generous pieces, packed with filling. Centered on tuna and fried shrimp, it also had shiso leaf, fried tofu skin, burdock root, dried gourd strips, cucumber and rolled dashimaki egg — you could tell how hearty it was just from the cross-section.

The crunch of the fried shrimp, the softness of the tuna, the freshness of the cucumber and the mild flavor of the rolled egg came together, so I could taste a variety of flavors in a single piece. The seaweed, rice and filling were rolled thick, making each bite satisfying.

Steak rice bowl topped with skirt steak and egg yolk

Padong's steak rice bowl came topped with egg yolk, which I love.

The meat was soft and tender, so it went great with the rice. Placing each piece on top of the rice as I ate brought out the flavor of the meat even more. Breaking the yolk and mixing it lightly with the meat and rice, then adding the special sauce, made the savory taste even richer.

Aged salmon bowl served with fresh wasabi

Padong's salmon bowl uses salmon that's cleaned and aged daily, served with fresh wasabi.

The salmon had a soft texture and a nutty flavor. Chewing a piece slowly left the salmon's distinctive richness lingering gently in my mouth. Adding a little wasabi brought a pungent kick that made the salmon's nuttiness even clearer. It was also fun adjusting the amount of wasabi bite by bite.

Why I want to return to Padong for a hearty Japanese meal in Mangwon

Padong's futomaki was rich with a mix of ingredients, satisfying even in a single piece, and I also enjoyed the steak bowl with its tender skirt steak and the nutty salmon bowl. On our Sunday lunch visit, one team was waiting ahead of us, but being able to browse the menu at the entrance beforehand made it easy to decide what to order. Next time I'm craving Japanese food in Mangwon, I'd like to stop by again to try other dishes.