Dokjeong Station omakase bar 6-course with fresh mango ade: Matgim

Matgim, an omakase bar in Geomdan New Town, Incheon, that's well worth a visit.

What kind of place is Matgim in Geomdan?

Matgim (맡김) is a Western-style omakase (chef's choice) and drinks place that opened last year in Geomdan New Town. I'd wanted to go for a while, and I finally got a good chance to visit.

The verdict, honestly... it's a place I want to become a regular at..!! The whole time I was eating I kept thinking I'd be back, so I'd recommend it for anniversaries and dates too!

The meaning of "Matgim": "Leave the menu to us, and just come enjoy the atmosphere and your time."

Matgim hours, parking and reservations

• Hours: 18:00–24:00, last order 23:00, closed every Tuesday
• Parking: 2 hours free in the Holyland underground car park in Dangha-dong
• Reservations, separate men's and women's restrooms, Wi-Fi, mobile payment, wine pairing and corkage (paid) are available
• A drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) is required per order
• Reservations can be made on Naver or Catch Table

According to the shop's intro, the Matgim course is ₩35,000 for 5–6 courses or ₩50,000 for 7–8 courses, with an optional steak (+₩20,000). They say a reinterpreted special, the "Matgim noodle soup" (맡김탕면), is popular too, and there's an à la carte option if you want something light or are stopping by for a second round. Wine, highball and beer pairings are available, and there's a wine room where you can look and choose in person. Corkage is free for 1 bottle per 2 people, ₩5,000 if you use glasses, and ₩30,000 for high-proof spirits, and they also take groups and private bookings.

How to get to Matgim from Dokjeong Station

The closest station to Matgim is Dokjeong Station (독정역), and walking from Exit 1 is the shortest way. You can also walk from Exit 3 of Wanjeong Station (완정역). Go into the first floor of the Megabox building and you'll find restaurants and shops along the central passage, with Matgim among them.

It's right next to the katsu place.

Inside Matgim: seating and weekday evening crowds

Matgim is mostly counter seating, so you can watch the cooking right in front of you. It's an open kitchen, so watching the dishes come together is part of the fun. There were a few fire shows during the meal too, which were quite a sight.

I booked for 8 pm on a weekday and was surprised by how many guests there were. Some people were still eating from the earlier seating, and when I visited only two seats for two were left, so it was almost full.

The seating is 12 counter seats and one 4-person table.

The owner explains the dishes kindly. They say that even if you drop by lightly for a second round rather than the course, they'll suggest dishes, so it felt like the kind of place that would gain a lot of regulars.

The wine room at Matgim

At the back of Matgim there's a corner set up for choosing wine. They recommend wines to suit your taste too, so people who love drinking should be really happy here.

3.5 Matgim 6-course: how long it takes and what it costs

I took my time with the 3.5 course, and I think it ran a little over 1 hour 30 minutes.

• 3.5 Matgim ₩35,000 × 2 people
• Seasonal ade (mango) ₩9,000 × 2
• Total ₩88,000

Seasonal ade: mango ade with chunks of fresh mango

A drink is required at Matgim, so I picked the mango ade as the seasonal ade. I was surprised that it was packed with fresh mango~ It had the natural sweetness of fruit rather than an artificial taste, and you could actually chew real mango, so it was super good. I think it's the first time I've had a mango ade made this properly, and I was startled with the first sip.

If you save the ade for later, the ice melts during the course and it won't taste like it did at first, so I recommend drinking it while it's good!! haha

Peach and jamón salad

This came out first, and the colors were pretty. It comes with seasonal peach, jamón (Spanish cured ham), watermelon radish, parsley oil and a soft cheese. I don't remember which cheese it was.. but it had a mild, soft texture like ricotta, and the pairing with honey and white balsamic vinegar was so good, and the salty jamón went really well with the sweet peach.

I personally love white balsamic, and Matgim uses it in several dishes, which made me even happier. The gentle acidity brings out the flavor of the ingredients and balances the whole dish. As someone who loves white balsamic, I'm a huge fan!! It's clean without being heavy, so it was perfect as a starter.

Matgim's signature grilled baby napa cabbage

Grilled baby napa cabbage topped with bacon, with Caesar dressing and cheese added. The saltiness and the sweetness of the cabbage went together so well. It isn't heavy, and it's the kind of flavor you keep reaching for.

Handmade jambon brioche bruschetta with minari pesto

The spicy minari (water dropwort) pesto is the total kick of this dish. It was my first time having minari pesto, and the spiciness made it sooo good!!!! Highly recommend!!!

The handmade jambon (French-style cured ham) wasn't salty but clean and mild, and I think it's the first time I've had a handmade jambon this mild. It made me want to buy jambon and make sandwiches at home. The sprouts on top went well with the spice, and with the seed mustard added, every bite was so good!!

Daily pasta: tomato seafood short pasta in oil

It's a short pasta of orecchiette (ear-shaped pasta) that soaks up plenty of sauce, so you mix it and scoop it up with a spoon.

The shrimp and squid, garlic and tomato, and a faint herb scent, maybe basil, all came together nom nom, and I really enjoyed it.

Sous vide pork tenderloin steak with pea purée

It's the main, and it was so tender the moment I ate it that I thought, this is sous vide! Such a moist, tender sous vide steak! The texture melted softly in my mouth.

Green peas, a summer treat!! The pea purée was rich and delicious, and you can add orange sauce and pickled gungchae (stem lettuce) to eat it however you like. Peas and orange, wow~~ It's a dish with the freshness of summer plus the crunch of gungchae.

I enjoyed eating, and watching the cooking process with my eyes was fun too.

Dessert: watermelon granita

Cool watermelon with apple mint was refreshing, and a little salt in it brought out the watermelon flavor, a nice touch.

Is the 3.5 Matgim course enough food?

The 3.5 Matgim menu was a course of six dishes, and there was no lack at all; I was full from the middle. (For reference, I really am a big eater.) You don't need to worry that the portions will be small. I was really satisfied with the whole course through to the end.

Each dish was explained throughout the course, and I was so satisfied that I kept thinking I'd come again while eating. The menu changing every month is a big plus, I think. Experiencing new seasonal dishes every visit is the charm of Matgim's omakase! It's a place where that excitement is fully alive.

The quality for the price is excellent, and you can enjoy the open kitchen's fire show with your eyes too, so the meal itself felt like an experience. Whether for an anniversary, birthday or date, or just a light second round, I recommend Matgim, the Geomdan New Town omakase bar, as a truly great spot I'd go back to with someone I like.