Mangwon-dong Japanese restaurant open at 3pm with kids: Padong

After thoroughly exploring Mangwon Market, lunchtime had quietly slipped by. We were starving, but of course it was that awkward in-between hour when most restaurants close for a break.

The kids were begging for food too, so I scrambled to find somewhere with no break time and found this gem. My husband said this place was famous for its futomaki and nabe, so we headed straight for Padong, a Japanese restaurant in Mangwon-dong, without a second thought.

Where is Padong, and what is the basement space like?

Padong is a Japanese restaurant on the basement floor of World Cup-ro 17-gil near Exit 2 of Mangwon Station, and since it has no break time, we could walk right in even at 3pm. It's also a short walk from Mangwon Market, making it perfect for those awkward mealtime gaps.

A cute character holding a menu greets you at the entrance, and the whole exterior just radiates good vibes!

Even though it was nearly 3pm, the place was packed with customers — clearly a real local favorite.

The words 'no break time' never looked so welcoming, and luckily we got in without a wait.

Inside, it has a modern wood-tone feel, and even with an open kitchen, ventilation was great, so the space felt really comfortable.

The view toward the entrance was pretty too, and the tables were spaced just right for a relaxed meal.

How were the basil soba and steak rice bowl, ordered instead of futomaki?

The futomaki we'd been eyeing at Padong wasn't available since the tuna had run out, so instead we chose basil soba for 13,000 won and a steak rice bowl. In the end, the basil soba turned out to be the legend of the day.

We sat down, opened the menu, and — oh no — got some disappointing news. The staff kindly explained that the tuna was sold out so futomaki wasn't available. Still, there were so many things we wanted to eat that picking became a happy dilemma.

Order complete: steak rice bowl, kimchi cheese nabe, basil soba, shrimp fry, and karaage!!

We waited for our food while watching what looked like a flashy fire show in the kitchen — probably searing the steak.

The basil soba (13,000 won) that arrived first was totally my type just from the look of it! With fragrant basil pesto, arugula, and a runny egg yolk mixed in, the savoriness was unreal.

"This is officially my go-to place now!" I must have told my husband a dozen times, haha.

The steak rice bowl we ordered for the kids had meat cooked to a tender medium doneness that melted in your mouth. The special sauce paired so well with the meat that it was more than fitting for a Mangwon spot to bring kids to. (We set the wasabi aside on another plate for them.)

Padong's sides: kimchi cheese nabe, karaage and ebi fry

Padong's kimchi cheese nabe was the dish my husband completely fell for, and the side karaage, 5 pieces, cost 4,000 won. It comes with soup broth and pickled sides as basic banchan (side dishes).

Even the basic banchan — soup broth and pickles — were neatly arranged, making us feel well taken care of.

The side karaage, 5 pieces for 4,000 won, and the shrimp fry both came out freshly fried, still crispy. The kids devoured the karaage, so that's one more menu item added to their rotation~!!

The Mangwon-dong Japanese dish my husband got hooked on was this kimchi cheese nabe. Instead of pork cutlet, a big fried shrimp sits on top of the nabe, and it was quite the delicacy! With cheese piled on the broth, my husband even mixed in rice and cleaned the whole bowl.

Taking kids to Padong: what to know before you go

The kids ate the meat and fried dishes well, making Padong a successful pick for a family meal in Mangwon after a while. However, the popular tuna can run out early, so if you're set on futomaki, it's better to visit a bit earlier!

I'll definitely have to come back with the family soon to finally try the futomaki we missed out on this time, haha.