Gangseo Korean restaurant set for families: Mikodam Magok-Balsan

I was craving a Korean set meal for the first time in a while, so I visited Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch (미꼬담 마곡발산점). To give you the conclusion first: this was a place where we could enjoy a filling table of top-quality ingredients for ₩46,000 for two.

Mikodam near Balsan Station: Practical Information

• Address: 42 Gangseo-ro 54-gil, 1F Unit 2, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 강서구 강서로54길 42 1층 2호)
• Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00
• Reservations: Naver reservations available · advance booking is recommended for family gathering rooms
• Parking: Dedicated parking lot nearby

A Neat Exterior and Comfortable Interior

Mikodam had the neat, refined feel you would expect from a Korean set-meal restaurant from the outside.

The name Mikodam means that it contains miyeokguk (seaweed soup) and cockles, so those are its signature dishes!

The moment I walked in, the restaurant felt comfortable and clean, which made a great first impression. Hygiene is trust at a Korean set-meal restaurant, so this kind of thing matters quite a lot, right?

There are also two large rooms that are great for family gatherings. That is why I recommend it to anyone looking for a family gathering spot near Balsan Station. There were high chairs too, so it was also a nice restaurant to visit with a baby :) (We ate comfortably.)

The Two-Person Set and Our Choices

We ordered the two-person set.

Two-person set ₩46,000 · seaweed soup + mixed cockles + 1 side dish

What I especially liked was that, even though it was a set, we could choose the seaweed soup, cockles, and side according to our tastes. We chose beef seaweed soup, mixed cockles in vinegared sauce, and yukjeon (pan-fried beef).

And I think the most important thing in a Korean set meal is the ingredients. This place uses premium Wando seaweed, Beolgyo and Yeosu cockles, and Sindongjin rice. (Very pleased.)

A Table Full of Banchan

When the food arrived, it was truly abundant. The whole table was full, so just looking at it made me feel full~

The banchan (Korean side dishes) were incredibly varied, from salad and japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) to spicy stir-fried pork, seasoned vegetables, kimchi, and fish.

Foods that you would normally have only around a holiday came out all at once, so I felt full just looking at them :)

And another nice point: when you come somewhere like this, you can feel a little awkward asking for banchan refills, right? Here, you just tap the banchan you want at the table, and they bring it right over.

How Was the Beef Seaweed Soup?

The broth was really rich. It had the deep flavor of something simmered for a long time, so it was perfect for mixing with rice~

Maybe because they use good seaweed, the aroma of the broth felt even richer! Also, the beef was incredibly tender.

Mixed Cockles in Vinegared Sauce

The tangy vinegared sauce really woke up my appetite. I do not usually like seasoned cockles because of their fishy smell, but these had no fishy smell at all.

Once I put the cockles over Sindongjin rice and mixed everything together, I could have eaten a whole bowl just like that.

Nutty Yukjeon Best Eaten Warm

The yukjeon we chose as our side was so nutty and delicious when eaten piping hot. I especially loved the chives on top :) The portion was generous for two people too. With all the banchan alongside it, we were comfortably full~

For Family Gatherings and Korean Meals with a Baby

I recommend it for a family gathering, bringing your parents out for a meal, dining comfortably with a baby, or any day you are craving a proper Korean meal!