Dongtan Station pho bar, brisket vs brisket-and-flank bowls: Mibundang

Today I'm introducing a pho spot near Dongtan Station where you can get Vietnamese noodle soup: Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch (미분당 동탄역점) 😊 Mibundang is run so that you can enjoy pho in a quiet atmosphere! The seating layout and way of using it are a bit different from a typical restaurant, so I'll also sum up what's good to know before you go, haha.

Where is Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch, and where do you park?

Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch is on the first floor of the Dongtan Station Richan building, about 355 m from Dongtan Station Exit 2, so it's a decent spot to reach by public transport too! The same building has Hayan Pungcha and a Starbucks, and the shop sits next to Olive Young, so keep that in mind when you go looking for it.

Walking along, you'll spot this wooden Mibundang standing sign! It says "pho" on it, so you know right away what kind of food they sell, haha.

If you're coming by car, use the underground car park of the Dongtan Station Richan building. You can park on basement levels 1 to 4, and 1 hour of free parking is offered. You do have to ask the shop to register your parking, so don't forget 🚗 Please double-check opening hours and parking info before you visit.

What does Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch look like from outside?

Ta-da~~ This is the exterior of Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch! The wooden facade with the Mibundang sign written in Chinese characters catches your eye. A bit different from your average pho place, right?! It's all wood tones, so the feel was warm yet calm. Next to the entrance there's a wooden sign reading "Vietnamese pho", and the kiosk for ordering is there too.

Mibundang menu, prices and kiosk ordering

Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch centers its menu on Vietnamese pho, and you order at the kiosk in front of the shop. The pho lineup is brisket pho, flank pho, brisket-and-flank pho, brisket-flank-and-tendon pho, and tendon pho! Sides included sweet potato cha gio (fried rolls), scallop cha gio, potato-wrapped shrimp, wedding shumai, buffalo wings, and assorted jeon-sik (a platter of fried starters), among others.

Going by the kiosk in the photo, the prices were listed like this.

• Brisket pho ₩10,000
• Flank pho ₩11,500
• Brisket-and-flank pho ₩12,500
• Brisket, flank and tendon pho ₩13,000
• Tendon pho ₩14,000
• Assorted jeon-sik starters ₩8,500

And what did we order? Brisket pho, brisket-and-flank pho, and the assorted jeon-sik! Ordering two kinds of pho means we could compare how each is put together, haha.

Inside Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch: the kitchen-facing bar seats

Inside, there aren't tables where you sit face to face; instead it's a straight bar counter facing the kitchen. There's a long wooden counter with chairs, and you can see the cooking area right in front of you.

There's a lot of wood inside, which matched the exterior nicely. Each seat has its own light, and one wall has hooks for hanging clothes or bags. Little details like that caught my eye, haha.

That said, since it's built around bar seating, it's a bit different from a place where a group sits facing each other and chats over the meal. The layout seemed well suited to people coming alone or wanting a quiet meal.

On the wall there are notices for the Wi-Fi and the restrooms. Mibundang also asks guests to keep their voices down for a quiet, comfortable dining space. It would be great if visitors kept that in mind too 😊

Table setup at Mibundang: notice, drawer and sauces

When you sit down, water, a cup and basic side dishes are set at the front of the table. What stood out was that a guide to eating Mibundang pho deliciously is written at the front of the table! Even first-timers can follow it and enjoy the pho in different ways. The notice introduces ways like mixing the noodles, bean sprouts and meat in sauce, or putting hot sauce into the broth.

There's also a drawer under the table like this. Inside are wet wipes, napkins and so on, so you can take what you need. The tidy use of space stood out.

For sauces to go with the pho there are hoisin sauce, hot sauce and chili sauce, so you can mix them to your own taste! If you like spicy food, try the hot sauce. But I'd suggest adding sauce little by little rather than lots from the start, haha.

What is the brisket pho (10,000 won) like?

The pho finally arrives~~! First, Mibundang's brisket pho. It comes in a big bowl, topped with brisket, spring onion, chili and more. Even in the photo you can see the meat spread wide across the noodles, right?!

Under the meat are noodles and bean sprouts, and there's plenty of broth. Basically you get meat, sprouts and noodles together. Try the broth and noodles first as the table guide suggests, then add sauces to taste for a variety of combinations.

Brisket-and-flank pho (12,500 won) vs brisket pho: what's different?

Next is the brisket-and-flank pho! It lets you enjoy both brisket and flank, and in the photo there's widely spread meat with spring onion, chili and bean sprouts.

Compared with the brisket pho, the biggest difference is the mix of meat. If you can't bear to pick just one kind of meat, the brisket-and-flank pho is worth considering. Personally, I think ordering both and seeing which meat combination suits you more would be fun, haha.

Cilantro and side dishes served with the pho

Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch keeps cilantro set out separately, so you can have it with your pho. Cilantro is one of those ingredients you can't leave out of pho, right? But its distinctive aroma divides people, doesn't it?! If you usually love cilantro, try adding some to your pho.

Basic sides include pickled onions, danmuji (yellow pickled radish) and chilies. They go well with pho, so just set them to one side of the table and take them as you like. You can also pour out the sauces separately like this. When you want a slightly different flavor mid-bowl, sauces come in handy, right?! The table notice also describes mixing hot sauce and hoisin sauce, so take a look, haha.

What's in the assorted starter platter (8,500 won)?

Along with the two bowls of pho, we also ordered the assorted jeon-sik! The menu presents it as a combination of several kinds of sides, listed as 5 kinds and 8 pieces in total. It's an option if ordering only pho feels like a shame or you want to try a variety of sides. I plan to add actual food photos and a taste review later.

What to know before visiting Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch

Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch works a bit differently from a typical restaurant, so a few things are good to know before you go.

• You order at the kiosk in front of the shop, and inside it's a straight bar counter.
• There's a notice asking guests to keep their voices down for a quiet meal.
• The table notice says extra noodles are free with one meal order per person.
• For extra water or side dishes, you put the item on top of the table and ask for a refill.

Near the entrance there are also water and paper cups, and a notice about takeout orders. If you're thinking of getting takeout, check the shop's notice.

Who is Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch best for?

From brisket pho to brisket-and-flank pho and the assorted jeon-sik, there are menu choices, and being able to add sauces and cilantro to taste was a feature. Above all, the bar-seating layout and quiet dining atmosphere, unlike a typical restaurant, stood out. If you're looking for a place near Dongtan Station to eat pho alone, or somewhere to eat quietly, give Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch a look~~ 😊💛