Balsan Korean restaurant with my daughter: abalone set for 2, Mikodam

What is Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch like?

Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch (미꼬담 마곡발산점) is a Korean set-meal restaurant on Gangseo-ro 54-gil near Balsan Station. It is open daily from 11:00 to 22:00 and has parking. Its trademark is a neat, well-put-together Korean set meal.

If you're looking for a proper Korean meal near Balsan Station, I recommend Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch. I recently went and had the set meal for 2 with abalone added, and I was very satisfied with the table full of food and the generous dishes.

What is the atmosphere at Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch?

The restaurant has a modern Korean look, so it works well for a family meal or for taking your parents. The interior is spacious and kept clean, and the tables are spaced out comfortably, so we could eat in a relaxed, private way.

If you like a neatly laid-out Korean table, you'll enjoy the atmosphere here.

What comes with the set for 2 with abalone added?

The set meal for 2 at Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch comes with cockles, grilled mackerel, seaweed soup, beef jeon (pan-fried beef in egg batter), plus jeyuk-bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) and other refillable side dishes. This time we added abalone to the set. One look at the full table and I understood why it's a popular Korean spot near Balsan Station.

With cockles, grilled mackerel, seaweed soup, beef jeon and all those refillable sides, we ended up finishing two bowls of rice!

Fresh, plump cockles

The first thing that caught my eye in the set was the cockles. They had a springy bite and came out clean, with no fishy smell.

The seasoning wasn't heavy, so the natural savoriness of the cockles came through, and mixed into rice they really boost your appetite. Each bite carried a faint scent of the sea, so cockle lovers will be happy with this.

Grilled mackerel, a true rice thief

The grilled mackerel came out golden, crisp outside and moist inside. My daughter said it looked delicious just by looking at it, which made me laugh.

The flesh was thick, so it was very satisfying to eat. The lightly salty seasoning went really well with rice, and even one piece made me want more rice. And no fishy smell at all, so the grilled mackerel gets a pass from me!

Seaweed soup with a deep, rich broth

As a Mikodam signature, the seaweed soup was excellent too. The broth tasted deep and rich, as if simmered for a long time, and the seaweed was cooked soft.

Maybe because of the added abalone, it had an even fuller savoriness of the sea, and the soup was so well made that it felt soothing to the stomach. It's deep in flavor without being harsh, a signature dish that anyone, of any age, would like.

Standout tender beef jeon

The beef jeon at Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch was cut at a thickness easy for kids to eat, with the meat and the nutty egg coating working well together. It was pan-fried golden outside and stayed moist inside, so the texture was really good.

Eaten with the chive salad served alongside, the flavor of the meat came out even more, and it would make a great snack with drinks too.

Is Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch okay with kids?

The grilled mackerel and beef jeon here are tender, not tough, so I think you can visit with kids without worry.

Overall verdict on Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch

If you're after a tidy Korean set meal near Balsan Station, Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch should be a satisfying choice. Cockles, grilled mackerel, seaweed soup and beef jeon, with nothing missing from the spread, made for a neat Korean table, and adding abalone made the meal even more generous and luxurious.