Jongno Korean restaurant for abalone tteokgalbi dinner: Modam Dining

A little while ago, I went to Modam Dining Gwanghwamun for dinner, a place where you can properly enjoy Korean set meals in Gwanghwamun 🤍 With its clean atmosphere and the many dishes arriving almost like a course, I thought it would be great for family gatherings or an important meal too. This time, we ordered the dinner bori-gulbi set and abalone tteokgalbi set.

Modam Dining in the basement of Deoksugung D-Palace, Gwanghwamun

It is on the first basement level of Deoksugung D-Palace, which is famous for its very, very expensive rent haha. It is right in the heart of Gwanghwamun, so access is quite convenient, and once inside the building, Modam was easy to find. The exterior already had a clean, calm feel, with the neat atmosphere typical of a Korean set-meal restaurant.

Inside, the overall atmosphere was clean and upscale. The tables were spaced generously apart, so it looked good for a group visit such as a family meal or a work gathering. It was quiet enough for a relaxed meal too, so it felt well suited to a dinner appointment!

They are also running a 2+1 highball event. You know Korean food and highballs go surprisingly well together! If we had not driven, I think we would have had highballs too.

Ordering the bori-gulbi and abalone tteokgalbi sets

Here is the menu. Modam offered a range of Korean set-meal courses. We ordered the dinner bori-gulbi set (₩37,000) and abalone tteokgalbi set (₩40,000). The basic components were the same and only the main differed, so you can choose according to your taste. It looked especially good for a family or work group, since everyone can order the main they want 🤍

There are à la carte dishes too! If you order a set and still need more, these looked like a good option.

A neatly laid-out Korean set-meal spread

🥢 Even before the main dishes arrived, a variety of foods were brought out one after another, and it was fun trying them one by one. The side dishes were all neatly plated and varied, so it really felt like having a proper Korean set meal. If you prefer sampling lots of different dishes in small amounts rather than sticking to just one, this is a spread you would likely enjoy!

• Seasonal salad with yuzu dressing
• Mustard vegetables with pine-nut sauce
• Perilla-oil capellini
• Cheongyang water kimchi

Seasonal raw fish and pickled-vegetable ceviche

Seasonal porridge

Modam fried shiitake mushrooms

The bori-gulbi and abalone tteokgalbi main spread

Finally, the mains! Here is the full bori-gulbi and abalone tteokgalbi set spread 🤍 Neat side dishes and various foods filled the table. It looked generous at a glance, so it felt like a great fit for a family gathering or a work group too ✨

Bori-gulbi that was wonderful with rice

The bori-gulbi (dried yellow corvina) had nice thick flesh, making it great with rice. Putting its savory-salty flesh over rice made it clear why so many people seek out bori-gulbi in Korean set meals. Along with the side dishes, it was the kind of flavor that made a whole bowl of rice disappear in no time 🤍

Tender tteokgalbi with abalone

I loved that the abalone tteokgalbi paired the tender texture of tteokgalbi (Korean grilled beef patties) with abalone. If you are a meat-menu person, the abalone tteokgalbi set would probably suit your taste more than the bori-gulbi. Eating the abalone and tteokgalbi together made it feel even more substantial.

The basic side dishes, including seasoned seaweed stems, stir-fried shiitake mushrooms, kimchi, and stir-fried anchovies, were neatly prepared too. They went nicely with the mains and added to the overall feeling of a polished full spread ✨

Rice and beef radish soup came with the meal as well. It was a clean, mild spread rather than an overly intense one, so it was easy to enjoy a comfortable meal 🤍

My final thoughts on dinner at Modam Dining Gwanghwamun

As we ate our way through the many side dishes and mains, we ended up feeling more satisfyingly full than expected. Overall, the food was mild and neatly prepared, making it easy to take your time and enjoy the meal without feeling weighed down.

If you are looking for a clean, polished Korean set-meal restaurant in Gwanghwamun, Modam Dining Gwanghwamun was a good one to visit. Dinner starts in the ₩30,000 range, and I also liked being able to choose mains such as bori-gulbi or abalone tteokgalbi. With so many different foods served, I would especially recommend it to anyone who enjoys Korean set meals or course-style dining! Keep it in mind if you are looking for a family meal, a work dinner gathering, or a slightly atmospheric meal in Gwanghwamun 🤍