Dongtan Station pho bar, 5pm wait & extra cilantro: Mibundang

Today I went looking for a place where I could comfortably eat alone near Dongtan Station, and I found Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch! ~(˘▾˘~)(~˘▾˘)~

Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch: location and hours

Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch is at 495 Dongtan-daero, Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, in Unit 109 on the first floor of the Dongtan Station Richan Arcade, a 5-minute walk from Exit 2 of Dongtan Station. It is open Mon and Wed–Sun 11:00–21:00, with a break time of 15:00–17:00, last orders at 14:30 and 20:30, and closed every Tuesday.

• Address: 495 Dongtan-daero, Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, Richan Arcade 1st floor, Unit 109
• Getting there: 5 minutes from Exit 2 of Dongtan Station
• Hours: Mon, Wed–Sun 11:00 - 21:00
• Break time: 15:00 - 17:00
• Last order: 14:30, 20:30
• Closed: Every Tuesday
• Amenities: Wi-Fi, separate men's/women's restrooms, takeout, parking

Is there still a wait at 5pm, right after break time?

Yes. Even around 5:05pm, just after the break time ended, every seat was full and there was a wait. I figured break time was over so I'd get in quickly, but it's a popular spot, so it was packed and I had to wait my turn T_T

Ordering at a vending-machine-style kiosk

You order at a funny machine that looks like a Japanese vending machine. Check the menu next to it and order there, haha. I got the brisket-flank-tendon pho (₩13,000) and the mixed fried platter (₩8,500).

While you wait you can have cold hovenia tea (a barley-tea-like herbal drink), which kept me cooler, haha. There are waiting chairs out front too, so I sat and sipped while I waited.

Is Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch good for eating alone?

Every seat is a counter seat, so eating alone doesn't feel awkward at all and I could relax. The kitchen is open and really clean, and you can see how tidy the owner is!

I've eaten at Mibundang a lot, and of all the branches I've visited, the Dongtan Station branch is the friendliest and the cleanest!!!

The sauces are on the shelf above, so just squeeze what you like into a small dipping bowl.

The spoons, chopsticks and dipping bowls are kept in a drawer like this.

Tip no. 3 for tastier pho: ask for extra cilantro

There's a guide to eating Mibundang pho right in front of your seat, and I especially recommend no. 3, haha. If you ask for cilantro they'll bring it, and it makes the pho's flavor even better! Truly a proper Dongtan Station pho spot T_T

Brisket-flank-tendon pho for ₩13,000: how do the three meats taste?

Soon the brisket-flank-tendon pho (₩13,000) arrived!! The look of it is amazing, right? It comes with three kinds of meat.

The brisket is soft and melts in your mouth, and the flank is chewy, like eating jangjorim (soy-braised beef). Each meat has its own charm, so every bite felt varied, which I loved.

A clear broth with an herbal-medicine feel

See this broth! Mibundang's broth looks clear but has such a layered aroma, and it gives me energy like herbal-medicine broth! So good T_T_T Honestly, it feels more herbal than ordinary pho??

I took a bite of the meat, and the tendon in particular was well seasoned with a bouncy texture that's really appealing. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes jokbal (braised pig's feet) or dogani (beef knee cartilage)!

The noodles were tender and slurped down easily, which went well with the broth! When I go for pho I prefer soft noodles like these over plain straight ones! They have a great texture and seem to soak up the broth well. The texture also seems to go nicely with the bean sprouts!

And the chewy flank!

What comes in the ₩8,500 mixed fried platter?

Mibundang's mixed fried platter comes with sweet potato spring rolls, scallop spring rolls, wedding shumai shaped like little fortune pouches, buffalo wings and potato-wrapped shrimp. Eating pho without a side is such a shame! For people like me who want to dip into lots of things, there's a mixed plate like this, haha.

I'm a wings person rather than a drumstick person, and the buffalo wings were fried really well and so tasty! No gamey smell at all, haha. Totally the kind of taste that makes you want to order a beer!!!

And my love, the scallop jjajo (fried spring roll)… 💖 I order it every time I come to Mibundang.

I was trying the wedding shumai for the first time, and inside is a bouncy filling like shrimp fishcake?

And the potato-wrapped shrimp, with such a fun texture! I was really full but it was so good that I finished it all ^___^

A stamp after the meal, plus disposable mouthwash

At the end, Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch gives you a stamp, plus a toothpick and a disposable Garglin mouthwash~!

Mouthwash is something I'd expect only at a barbecue restaurant, but Mibundang has it too. Full marks for thoughtfulness!!!!

Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch: overall verdict

Of all the Mibundang branches I've been to, the Dongtan Station branch is truly the cleanest, the staff are all friendly, and even though you're eating something hot the air conditioning is blasting, so my satisfaction is 2000000%!!!!!! Even in midsummer, whenever I crave pho, I'll come to Mibundang, my go-to Dongtan Station spot for eating alone, for a pho lunch 💘