Weekday lunch, four dishes at Mangwon Station Japanese spot Padong

If you're near Mangwon Station and craving clean, well-made Japanese food, you start looking for a place with a wide menu to choose from. This time I visited Padong, a Mangwon Station favorite for Japanese dishes, at lunchtime.

From the moment I stepped in, the cute little props scattered around caught my eye — it felt less like walking into a restaurant and more like browsing a small curated space. Tables weren't exactly plentiful since it was lunchtime, but thankfully I was seated right away.

This time I ordered four dishes total — basil soba, salmon rice bowl, steak rice bowl, and ebi fry (fried shrimp). From the basil soba, which I was trying for the first time, to the ebi fry that came out piping hot, each had its own distinct charm, and it was great being able to split several dishes and try a bit of everything.

What Padong looks like inside, and lunchtime seating

The first thing that caught my eye walking into Padong was the cute little props decorating every corner. There were little details everywhere that made you want to stop and look rather than walk past, so my eyes were naturally drawn around from the entrance onward. I'd come in to eat, but from the moment I walked in there was fun just in taking in the space.

I visited during lunchtime so tables weren't sitting empty, but I didn't wait long before being shown to a seat. When looking for lunch around Mangwon Station, overlapping mealtime hours usually mean you brace for a wait, but this day I was able to sit down right away and start eating comfortably.

The four dishes ordered at Padong

Since I wanted to try several dishes together, I ordered basil soba, salmon rice bowl, steak rice bowl, and ebi fry. Ordering soba alongside rice bowls and fried dishes made the table quite full, and since each dish leaned in a different flavor direction, it was fun taking turns eating one after another.

Of them all, the dish I was most curious about first was the basil soba. I like basil, so seeing the name on the menu made me wonder what it would taste like — and it turned out to be a bit different from soba as I usually know it.

Basil soba at Padong: what a first taste is like

Ordering Padong's basil soba gave me a moment of hesitation. Soba paired with basil isn't a combination that comes to mind easily. Still, since I generally like basil, I tried it out of curiosity.

Eating it, the noodles were soba-shaped but had an overall thicker, denser feel. It leans in a different direction from the light, clean soba I'm used to, which might feel unfamiliar at first — but if you like basil, it's worth trying as something different.

If you especially like basil's distinct aroma and are looking for something different from regular soba, this is worth choosing once. I also thought the combination sounded strange at first, but once I actually ate it, it wasn't bad at all — in fact it ended up being one of the most memorable dishes of the meal.

Salmon rice bowl topped with fresh salmon

Next up was Padong's salmon rice bowl. Since the quality of the salmon matters a lot for this dish, I was curious how it would turn out after ordering — and the salmon that day felt fresh, so I enjoyed it a lot.

Eating the rice together with the salmon made for a satisfying meal without feeling heavy, and it was easy to enjoy the flavor of the salmon itself. Personally, of all the dishes ordered that day, the salmon rice bowl was the one that felt most familiar and comfortable to reach for.

When visiting somewhere for the first time, rather than only picking unfamiliar dishes, ordering one familiar rice bowl alongside them seems like a good idea. If you're visiting with a group, ordering one salmon rice bowl and sharing it alongside other dishes would work well too.

Steak rice bowl cooked just right

I also ordered the steak rice bowl. The steak on top of the rice bowl was cooked just right that day, and biting into it, the juices were still there, so it was delicious. Steak can end up dry if overcooked, but this was cooked to the right doneness and went well with the rice.

Where the salmon rice bowl felt relatively light and soft, the steak rice bowl felt like a dish suited to someone who wants a heartier meal. If you're visiting with someone, ordering the salmon rice bowl and the steak rice bowl separately and sharing would be a fun way to compare the two.

Ebi fry served hot and freshly fried

The last dish I want to talk about is the ebi fry. Ebi fry is basically fried shrimp, and it came out warm and freshly fried that day, which made it especially delicious.

I tend to think fried food tastes best when it's hot, and eating the ebi fry right when it came out let me fully enjoy that crispy, warm feeling. Compared to just ordering rice bowls or soba alone, adding ebi fry made the meal more varied. If you're ordering several dishes to share, adding ebi fry as a side is a good idea.

How the four Padong dishes work together

The dishes I ordered were basil soba, salmon rice bowl, steak rice bowl, and ebi fry — and each had pretty distinct characteristics.

• Basil soba was an unfamiliar combination, but a fun one to try if you like basil
• Salmon rice bowl stood out for its fresh salmon
• Steak rice bowl was memorable for its doneness and juiciness
• Ebi fry was delicious served warm and freshly fried

So rather than picking just one, it's probably best to choose based on personal taste. If you like basil, go for the basil soba. If you like salmon, the salmon rice bowl. If you want something heartier, consider the steak rice bowl. And if you like fried food, ordering the ebi fry alongside is recommended too.

If you're looking for Japanese food near Mangwon Station 🌞 Padong is worth stopping by at least once. Each dish had its own personality, so it was fun trying one after another, and it made for a fairly hearty lunch. Especially the warm ebi fry, whose crispy texture kept me reaching for more, and the well-cooked steak with its juices intact was satisfying. The fresh salmon rice bowl was easy to enjoy without feeling heavy, and the basil soba, though a bit unfamiliar at first, was worth trying if you like basil's distinct aroma. But once I finished the meal, it was the dishes I hadn't tried that caught my eye.

Padong has a variety of other Japanese dishes beyond what I ordered this time, so I'm planning to pick something different next time. It's not the kind of place you visit once and are done with — it leaves you thinking, 'I should try that next time.' If I stop by Mangwon Station again, I'd like to pick something new and enjoy a different flavor.

If you're looking for Japanese food near Mangwon Station and want to enjoy several dishes together — soba, rice bowls, fried food — rather than just one thing, ordering this kind of combination could work well. What stood out most about this meal was getting to taste four different dishes evenly and feel the differences between them.

How to get to Padong from Mangwon Station exit 2

The directions weren't difficult from Mangwon Station either. From exit 2, walk a short way toward the market, and when you see Star Realty (스타부동산) at the entrance of a small alley on your left, you've arrived!

Padong / 47 Wolgyeokro 17-gil (basement 1F), Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Frequently asked questions

What is basil soba?

The basil soba I tried was soba-shaped noodles mixed with basil, with a slightly thicker texture than regular soba. If you like basil, it's worth trying as something different.

Does basil soba taste unfamiliar?

Since it's a different combination from the soba you're used to, it might feel unfamiliar at first. But if you like basil, it's easier to enjoy than you'd expect.

How was the salmon rice bowl at Padong?

The salmon I tried that day felt fresh, so it was delicious. If you like salmon, it's an easy, familiar choice.

Was the steak in Padong's steak rice bowl tough?

The steak came out cooked just right that day, with the juices still intact, so it was delicious.

What is ebi fry?

It's fried shrimp. It came out warm and freshly fried that day, which made it especially delicious.

What should a group order at Padong?

If you're visiting with a group, ordering different dishes like basil soba, salmon rice bowl, and steak rice bowl, and adding ebi fry to share, works well.

Were tables available at lunchtime?

When I visited it was lunchtime, so tables weren't plentiful, but I was seated right away that day.