Yeongdeungpo tteokbokki restaurant with brisket: Pan Fan

I was looking for somewhere to go when I felt like having made-to-order tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) near Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station, so I went to Pan Fan. It is apparently well known as a great tteokbokki spot in Yeongdeungpo.

Getting to Pan Fan from Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station

It is on the way from Exit 6 of Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station toward Mullae Station, so accessibility was not bad either!

The flashy red sign made it easy to find.

There were quite a lot of people even after lunchtime. We only just managed to get the last available table.

Seeing the waiting instructions, it looks like there is normally a wait as standard. I guess that is because word has spread about it among Yeongdeungpo tteokbokki places.

The tables were fairly well spaced too, so it was nice to eat comfortably without worrying about the next table.

I also liked that the cooking instructions were explained clearly.

A free self-service bar with a tteokbokki order

At Pan Fan, ordering tteokbokki gives you free access to the self-service bar.

There were basic sides such as danmuji (pickled radish), and you can make as much rice ball and fried rice as you like~

Being able to keep adding extras without feeling self-conscious was honestly a huge plus for someone who loves made-to-order tteokbokki.

There was also a wide selection of fried items, which made choosing fun, and everything seemed cleanly maintained, so I could help myself comfortably. Fried fish cake and fried green onion! They were tasty dipped in the tteokbokki sauce.

Basic setup complete!

Wando rock laver brisket tteokbokki and side dishes

We ordered Wando rock laver brisket tteokbokki, pork cutlet, fried squid, and garlic butter fries.

The tteokbokki was generously filled with Wando rock laver and brisket.

We made a proper pan of fried rice too! Haha

The name Wando rock laver brisket tteokbokki was unusual, so I was curious. Once the Wando-grown rock laver was stirred into the broth and simmered, it had a distinctly different savory depth from regular tteokbokki.

The laver's characteristic ocean aroma gently infused the broth, and the brisket fat made it much richer and nuttier.

The rice cakes were chewy and soaked up the broth well, so that savory flavor burst out with every bite. The spice was not overly intense, just right, making it the kind you keep reaching for, and there was a fairly generous amount of brisket too, giving it a satisfying chew.

Thin, crispy pork cutlet

The pork cutlet had a thin, crispy coating, so it was not greasy. The meat was a good thickness and cut tenderly, while the sauce was sweet and tangy, so eating it with the tteokbokki did not become tiresome.

The garlic butter fries I liked most

The garlic butter fries were personally the most satisfying thing I ate that day. They were thoroughly infused with garlic butter, so I kept reaching for the fries on their own, and the balance of saltiness and buttery aroma was great. They also helped mellow the tteokbokki's spice.

I also liked that the garlic aroma spread gently without being overwhelming. They were crisp outside and soft inside, and stayed crunchy until the end instead of going soggy. The ramen noodles were cooked at the same time! Together with the sides, it was such a good combination!

The fried squid did not have a thick coating, so the squid's naturally chewy texture came through nicely.

It was pleasantly seasoned, so it was delicious on its own and also went well dipped in the tteokbokki broth. Korean squid is the best!

We even fried rice in the remaining broth. (Stock is provided too.) We finished it properly with a drizzle of sesame oil, haha.

Overall, the menu was packed with good options, and the self-service bar made sure we got all the fun that comes with made-to-order tteokbokki at this Yeongdeungpo favorite.