Myeongdong bistro with a kid: bacon mushroom pasta at Seventy Four

Today, before heading home, I stopped by Seventy Four near Myeongdong Cathedral with my kid. After school she said she was hungry 🤩 When I asked what she wanted, being an elementary schooler she couldn't decide between her two favorites — cream pasta and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) — haha, so we went to Seventy Four's Myeongdong branch, which has both!

Where is Seventy Four Myeongdong Cathedral Main Branch and how do you get there?

Seventy Four Myeongdong Cathedral Main Branch is at 66 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, right next to Myeongdong Cathedral. It's perfectly located for a stop after strolling the cathedral grounds or browsing the streets of Myeongdong. From the busy, bustling main street of Myeongdong, you just climb a small brick staircase before entering the cathedral.

Myeongdong is always lively and packed with people no matter when you visit. It's very convenient to get to by public transit, within walking distance of both Myeongdong Station and Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station.

What the bistro interior at Seventy Four is like

Inside Seventy Four Myeongdong Cathedral Main Branch, warm lighting and a tidy interior gave it a bistro feel. As soon as I walked in, the warm, clean lighting and harmonious interior caught my eye. It would work just as well for a light weekday lunch as for a weekend date, an anniversary dinner with a partner, or a gathering with friends.

That warm French bistro vibe,

the window seats let in soft, bright sunlight, while the inner seats felt cozy for a quiet chat. The neatly arranged table settings were nice too!

The three dishes ordered at Seventy Four

Today we ordered bacon mushroom pasta, the signature tteokbokki, and a refreshing blue lemonade — a combination of Western food and spicy Korean street-food style.

Bacon mushroom pasta: is the cream sauce kid-friendly?

The bacon mushroom pasta arrived first, and its savory, deep flavor was excellent. The saltiness of the golden-seared bacon and the chewy texture and aroma of the mushrooms blended beautifully with the cream sauce. The noodles were cooked just right, so the sauce soaked in without pooling on the surface — really delicious. It had a clean, savory taste that I think just about anyone would enjoy.

74 signature tteokbokki: how spicy is it?

Seventy Four's specialty and standout menu item — signature tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes)! Having tteokbokki at a pasta place felt like a fun twist. Instead of the usual thick rice cakes, these were thin and soft, more like noodle-style tteok.

The sweet yet mildly spicy special sauce soaked deeply into the chewy rice cakes. Eaten alongside the pasta, the savoriness of the pasta and the spiciness of the tteokbokki balanced each other out, creating an endless 'sweet-salty-spicy' harmony. If you visit, I definitely recommend trying the pasta and tteokbokki combo!

There's also a soft-boiled egg in there, and eating it with the tteokbokki sauce was soft and delicious.

Blue lemonade, the drink the kid picked

This one was, of course, my kid's order — she loves blue 😍 The blue lemonade looked refreshing from the start. The blue color caught the eye, and one sip brought the tartness of lemon together with fizzy, refreshing carbonation.

Is Seventy Four worth it for dinner with a kid in Myeongdong?

If you're looking for a Myeongdong restaurant near Myeongdong Cathedral that nails both atmosphere and taste, I recommend Seventy Four Myeongdong Cathedral Main Branch.

• Atmosphere: a relaxed, European-feeling space away from Myeongdong's bustle
• Taste: a satisfyingly unique combo of savory bacon mushroom pasta and sweet-spicy signature tteokbokki
• Convenience: excellent access, right by Myeongdong Station, Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station, and Myeongdong Cathedral

It's a place you can enjoy widely — from a light brunch or lunch to a full dinner with wine — so if you're planning a trip to Myeongdong, definitely stop by!