Yeouido IFC Mall Korean restaurant mushroom gangjeong: Modam Urban

These days everyone's biggest concern is eating a healthy meal, right? Even when meeting friends, I find myself looking for places where I can have a good, healthy meal if possible. In that sense, this place really nailed the current trend. Introducing Modam Urban.

I was looking for somewhere to eat with a friend at IFC Mall when I found this place, and wow, the food was so neat and tidy yet so delicious! And the atmosphere was fantastic too! This one I had to review. If you're looking for a good Korean restaurant at Yeouido's IFC Mall, pay close attention to today's review. This place is genuinely great.

Modam Urban also has private rooms perfect for meeting your in-laws-to-be or gathering with family and friends — the modern atmosphere just oozes luxury.

The cooking has edge too. The moment the dishes are set on the table, the plating comes together looking effortlessly upscale. I have no idea how many times I'll end up saying "luxurious" while writing this Modam Urban review.

On top of that, the value is great and the flavor is even more special. I thought Korean food would taste like, well, Korean food — familiar. But with every bite, wow! I really want you to experience this special flavor that a fine difference makes. For the record, I think Modam Urban is going to be the first thing I think of whenever I'm in Yeouido from now on.

Where is Modam Urban, and what are its hours and parking?

Modam Urban is located on basement level 1 of IFC Mall. It's open daily from 11 AM to 10 PM, with last order at 8:30 PM. Even the exterior has this modern, clean vibe that just makes you want to walk in.

Plus, if you park at IFC Mall, you get 3 hours free. Parking is a nightmare in most of Yeouido — either there's none available, or if you find a spot, the fee is brutal. But here you get 3 whole hours after your meal, so goo goo! Thanks to that, we were able to browse IFC Mall and shop leisurely after eating. You've got to take advantage of a tip like this! If you're coming to Yeouido, eat at Modam Urban and then go shopping.

Order a main at Modam Urban and six appetizers, whole-grain rice, soup and sides follow

Modam Urban serves a variety of fusion dishes, and when you order a menu item, six appetizers along with whole-grain rice, soup, and side dishes all come together. Wow, this is a whole different level of generous compared to a restaurant where you order a single dish and just get kimchi or pickles thrown in! That kind of value is really something.

Inside Modam Urban: hall tables and private rooms

Once you step inside, there are hall tables. The atmosphere is closer to a modern dining restaurant than a traditional Korean one, calm and sophisticated with ivory and wood tones at the center.

The separated sections running along the wall have minimal interiors with soft indirect lighting and low-saturation beige tones added in, making for a warm yet clean atmosphere. We ate here — it had a sense of openness while still being separated, so we got to enjoy a cozy meal.

Further inside there are private rooms, which without excessive decoration still feel even more luxurious, giving you the sense of enjoying quite a fancy dining experience.

Modam Urban's menu and what we ordered

Modam Urban's menu

Modam Urban also has full hanjeongsik (Korean set-course) menus, which are great for meeting in-laws or group gatherings. We wanted a more casual meal, so among the mains we ordered today's clay pot rice, handmade tteokgalbi, and grilled abalone.

The six appetizers at Modam Urban, one by one

The six appetizers appeared as soon as we ordered. Just setting them on the table, the plating was so luxurious! I honestly mistook it for the main dishes at first, the flavor was that insane. In particular, I nearly cried after one bite of the spicy mushroom gangjeong (candied mushroom). Let me carefully introduce all six appetizers — each one had its own special flavor.

Mung bean porridge with black sesame

First up, mung bean porridge topped with black sesame. It was mild and healthy, easy to polish off before the meal.

Spicy mushroom gangjeong (sweet-and-spicy fried mushrooms)

My friend took one bite and urged me to hurry up and try it — the spicy mushroom gangjeong (candied mushroom). Wow, what flavor is this even? I don't usually like mushrooms, but if they're made like this, I could eat ten servings, haha. The crispy batter combined with the gangjeong sauce blends into the soft mushroom interior, and it just disappears in your mouth. Seriously so good!!!!! Ha!!!!

Sweet pumpkin salad

The salad topped with sweet pumpkin had a refreshing sauce that made the already fresh salad even brighter, really got the appetite going.

Mushroom pyeonyuk with truffle chamnamul (aster greens)

Of all six appetizers, the one that stole my heart was the mushroom pyeonyuk (sliced pressed meat) with truffle chamnamul (aster greens) mixed dish. I thought it was just regular pyeonyuk at first, took a bite, and my eyes went wide as I looked at it again, haha. Wow, pyeonyuk with mushroom in it. It has a soft, chewy bite along with a real mushroom aroma — ha, genuinely such a special flavor! I can't stop thinking about wanting to eat this again — that's why I can't forget Modam Urban.

Smoked duck cold salad

The smoked duck cold salad tasted cleaner and nuttier when eaten alongside the other dishes than eating grilled duck on its own. It's mild, the kind of flavor you keep eating endlessly.

Perilla oil capellini

The perilla oil capellini had the aroma of perilla leaves, plus laver and egg garnish flavors, and then the sweetness of raw shrimp kicked in! Ha, genuinely shocked that this isn't even a main dish!!!!

Today's clay pot rice with handmade tteokgalbi and grilled abalone

We already felt like we'd enjoyed a full hanjeongsik course, but then came the announcement — the mains start now! — with today's clay pot rice, handmade tteokgalbi, and grilled abalone.

The handmade tteokgalbi (short rib patties) was soaked through with sauce, harmonizing with the aroma of the meat juices, tender to chew and spreading a nutty flavor through the mouth — a real standout.

The grilled abalone, trimmed into easy bites by staff, went into my mouth and just disappeared with a chewy texture. Ha, seriously delicious. I've lost count of how many times I've said 'delicious' while writing this Modam Urban review, haha. This is absolutely the spot for a family gathering or meeting the in-laws at Yeouido's IFC Mall!

Today's clay pot rice came piled with seaweed and mud snails, and scraping up the crispy scorched rice at the bottom to scoop it in was amazing. A meal that covers both health and flavor, I'd say.

And then this stir-fried kimchi was really the kicker. It has this magic power of making you eat infinite rice. They say a real great restaurant has kimchi that tastes different, right?

On top of that, the napa cabbage doenjang (soybean paste) soup was clean and refreshing, so I finished the whole bowl. Why can't I ever make soup taste like this? Guess I'll just have to keep coming back to Modam Urban, the Korean restaurant at Yeouido's IFC Mall.

Lastly, the pudding we finished with was genuinely delicious too.

Is Modam Urban worth it for a meal with friends?

Modam Urban at IFC Mall gave us an incredibly elegant, upscale meal for the price. And the 3 free parking hours in Yeouido are a big plus too. Instead of the usual Korean food today, why not try Modam Urban's fusion Korean cooking?