Rainy weekday dinner for two hanjeongsik at Gwanghwamun: Modam Dining

On a drizzly weekday evening after work, I finally visited this Korean restaurant I'd had my eye on for a while! The food looked so refined and upscale that I really wanted to check it out~~

Location and parking at Modam Dining Gwanghwamun

• Address: 서울특별시 종로구 새문안로2길 10, 덕수궁디팰리스 지하1층 B102호, B103호
• Parking: 2 hours free when parking on the B3 level of the D Palace building. If full, the Concordian Building underground lot is available (Concordian doesn't offer parking support on weekdays before 6pm!)

It's nice that the building has parking, and free too. When I eat with family we almost always drive! This time it was just the two of us, so we went without a car. The bus stop is about a 3-minute walk away too, so it's pretty accessible by subway or bus.

Exterior

It's a rainy weekday evening. Maybe because of the rain, there weren't many people around, and I actually liked the quiet atmosphere haha.

The entrance has an automatic door, with a menu posted out front, so you can check the menu before going in. Modam Dining Gwanghwamun takes reservations through Naver, so you don't even need to call — just book through the Naver app, so simple!

When I visited, there were two coupons available through the Naver reservation: a free unlimited corkage coupon, and a birthday event coupon for a Korean beef seaweed soup set. If you visit on your birthday, they give you a Korean beef seaweed soup set — such a nice touch! Seems like a great spot to bring parents on their birthday too.

Interior — partitioned hall seating and private rooms

The place overall felt really clean and had a strong upscale vibe!

Even the hall seating is divided by partitions, so it felt private. For family gatherings there are also private rooms, so families can dine more comfortably together. Room use time is 1.5 hours. Rooms fit 4 to 8 people, and group seating is available for 10 to 24 people.

Each table had individually wrapped utensils, which made me think the hygiene management here is solid.

The menu

Modam's menu was simpler than I expected, which actually made it easier to choose. And even though some menus are for two or more, you can also order individually, so it works for satisfying everyone's taste in a family! With a variety of meat dishes, plus bori-gulbi (dried yellow corvina) and a shrimp jang set, it's a big advantage that families can each pick according to their own preference.

There was also a highball promotion going on. The drink/alcohol menu is separate, but they'll bring it out if you ask!

What we ordered — charcoal-grilled deodeok pork set, abalone tteokgalbi set

• Charcoal-grilled deodeok pork set ₩32,000
• Abalone tteokgalbi set ₩40,000

This is what I ordered! Even though there were only a few set options, they all looked delicious, so it took me forever to decide... haha

Seasonal porridge: mung bean porridge

First came the seasonal porridge, mung bean porridge. This was actually my first time trying it, and it was nutty and mild, really nice. A flavor older folks would love too!

Cheongyang water kimchi / pine nut sauce mustard greens / yuja-dressed seasonal salad

It's water kimchi made with cheongyang chili, so there's a subtle kick without being too spicy — I kept going back for the broth...!? The mustard greens and salad are perfect for whetting your appetite.

Seasonal raw fish and pickled vegetable ceviche / Modam fritters

The raw fish and pickles went so well together. The plating was so pretty it was a treat for the eyes too. The fritter is mushroom fritter. The batter was so crispy you had to be careful eating it!? Loved that crunchy texture.

Perilla oil capellini

The perilla oil capellini — this was personally a real standout dish for me. The nuttiness of the perilla oil was so good ㅠㅠ The raw shrimp was fresh too.

The main spread — soup, rice, and side dishes refillable

Finally, the main dish arrived!! The soup, rice, and 4 side dishes can be refilled if you run out. We got beef radish soup, and the soup itself was really tasty.

There's been a lot of talk lately about Chinese-grown napa cabbage and kimchi, but at Modam everything is domestic, so I could eat with peace of mind. The side dishes were refined and easy on the stomach.

The pork was thick-cut but still incredibly tender and delicious. The seasoning was spicy, and eating it together with the deodeok made it even better.

The tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty) was so juicy... moist enough that I kept eating more! It paired so well with the shredded onion. I thought I'd be too full but I really did stuff myself,,,

Finished it off with plum tea for dessert!

Overall — a hanjeongsik course for ₩30,000–40,000 per person

At ₩30,000–40,000 per person, it's a genuinely good-value course. The course isn't overdone, which I actually liked. Being hanjeongsik, my stomach felt fine afterward and I was full and satisfied. The atmosphere is nice too, so it would work well for family gatherings or a date. I'd also recommend it as a spot for a formal meeting between families in Gwanghwamun :)