Balsan Korean restaurant set for two, mackerel add-on ₩51,000: Mikodam

When I think of Korean restaurants near Balsan Station these days, this is the place I keep going back to — Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch. I loved the side dish spread from my first visit and wanted to come back, and this time was just as satisfying haha 😊

📍 Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch / Location: Near Balsan Station / Hours: Check with the restaurant directly

What the ₩51,000 order at Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch included

This time I went with the full-table 2-person set and chose the medium beef jeon (pan-fried beef) as the main, plus ordered one extra grilled mackerel. The total came to ₩51,000. The set was made up of:

• Cockle bibim (seasoned soy sauce)
• Beef seaweed soup
• Beef jeon (medium)
• Extra grilled mackerel

Last time I went with soy crab, but switching to beef jeon this time turned out to be a jackpot too 😮

Beef jeon: the best dish of this visit to Mikodam

I didn't expect the beef jeon to be this good. Thinly pan-fried beef comes topped with chives and clams and a savory sauce, crisp on the outside with juicy, tender meat inside.

You'd think plain beef jeon might be a little bland, but the chive aroma and the umami from the clams completely change that. Alternating bites with the side dishes, it disappears before you know it 😅

The soy crab was delicious too, but the beef jeon was every bit its equal. I'm already wondering what to pick next visit.

Cockle bibim, still the favorite at Mikodam

I ordered the cockle bibim again this time too. Cockles tossed gently in seasoned soy sauce are so good mixed with rice.

The vegetable-to-cockle ratio is just right, and the seasoned soy sauce is mild rather than salty, so it feels like a clean, proper meal. I think I'll always order the cockle bibim as my default going forward ☺️

Adding grilled mackerel: two fish for two people

This time I added one more mackerel on top of the one included in the set. Two mackerel for two people is plenty filling. The grilling was crisp outside and moist inside — nothing beats it as a side with rice.

Adding that extra mackerel was really the right call 🐟

Beef seaweed soup in the Mikodam set

The beef seaweed soup included in the set comes in a stone pot, so it stays hot until the end. The broth is clear and light but still full of beef flavor. In the middle of rich, punchy dishes, a spoonful of this soup resets your palate 🍲

What side dishes come with the set

Mikodam's real strength is the side dishes. There are quite a lot of default banchan (side dishes), and each has its own character, so you don't get bored.

From the kimchi to the seasoned vegetables to the pickled sides, nothing feels thrown together — it all feels like homemade care went into it. Value-wise, this side dish spread for this price is more than reasonable.

Is Mikodam near Balsan Station worth a return visit?

• Beef jeon — holds its own against the soy crab, worth trying at least once
• Cockle bibim — still just as good on a return visit
• Extra mackerel is a must if you're dining for two
• One of the top Korean restaurants near Balsan Station for side dishes
• A hearty, table-filling meal

For anyone looking for a good Korean restaurant in Magok, I genuinely recommend this place 🍚 I'm already curious what combination I'll try next time 😆