Taiwanese food near Myeongdong: classic bao ranked best, Bao Seoul

Today I was out wandering around Chungmuro and stopped by Bao Seoul Chungmuro, a Taiwanese restaurant! I really love Taiwanese food, and I'd heard Bao Seoul does bao (Taiwanese steamed buns), Taiwanese beef noodle soup and dongpo pork rice bowls amazingly well!

The exterior alone has so much Taiwan atmosphere that it felt like I was on a trip to Taiwan, and I was so happy with the food too. It was a really happy day >_<

Where is Bao Seoul Chungmuro, and is there parking?

Bao Seoul Chungmuro is a 5-minute walk from Chungmuro Station Exit 5. There's no dedicated parking lot, so I'd recommend a nearby public parking lot or Lotte Department Store Main Branch (2 hours free if you install their app).

What is the atmosphere like at Bao Seoul Chungmuro?

The exterior of Bao Seoul Chungmuro is full of Taiwan atmosphere, and it fits in really well with the Chungmuro street vibe.

The inside is small and quiet too, so I think it would be nice for a date.

I especially liked the open kitchen, and it has that distinctly Taiwanese feel, like you're traveling abroad, you know?! >_<

Bao Seoul Chungmuro menu and signature dishes

Here's the menu at Bao Seoul Chungmuro. Every item on it had a strong Taiwan feel.

The signature dishes at Bao Seoul Chungmuro range from the classic bao, a Taiwanese-style bun filled with various meats, to Taiwanese beef noodle soup and dongpo pork rice bowls!

The three dishes we ordered at Bao Seoul Chungmuro

• Taiwanese beef noodle soup ₩17,000
• Dongpo pork rice bowl ₩15,000
• Classic bao ₩12,000

We ordered these three!

Taiwanese beef noodle soup (₩17,000): an addictively sour broth

The Taiwanese beef noodle soup at Bao Seoul Chungmuro is ₩17,000. The broth was rich with chili oil and packed with meat.

I love beef noodle soup and have eaten plenty, but this broth was a bit different from what I usually have. The sour taste was strong, but I got used to it as I ate, and it turned out to be sneakily addictive! The noodles were chewy and really good too.

The meat was so tender it melted in my mouth haha

Classic bao (₩12,000): a juicy Taiwanese-style hamburger

Next up is the classic bao! It's ₩12,000, and they call it a Taiwanese hamburger or sandwich. It's stuffed with meat and so juicy, wow.

They say it tastes best picked up by hand, but the juices were dripping out so much that we cut it with a knife haha. The bao (Taiwanese bun) itself was really chewy and good, and the salty meat inside went wonderfully with the bun!

Dongpo pork rice bowl (₩15,000): finely chopped pork with stir-fried vegetables

Last is the dongpo pork rice bowl (braised pork belly over rice). It's ₩15,000, and it looked different from the dongpo pork bowls I usually have. The meat was finely chopped and it came with stir-fried vegetables and a variety of other veggies.

The taste was different from the dongpo pork bowls I'm used to, but I thought, "So is this the Taiwanese-style version?" and enjoyed the fresh take haha. My wife gave it a thumbs up, saying it was better than the dongpo pork bowls she usually has >_<

Which dish tasted best at Bao Seoul Chungmuro? Our ranking

Personally, my ranking was classic bao > Taiwanese beef noodle soup > dongpo pork rice bowl! Bao Seoul Chungmuro was great for trying some different Taiwanese food. I recommend it to anyone interested in Taiwanese food, or anyone looking for good restaurants in Chungmuro and Myeongdong!