Japanese restaurant in Mapo, Seoul for futomaki and mazesoba: Padong

A few days ago, we were out in Mangwon-dong and wanted something tasty—but a menu that was too heavy felt like a bit much—so we decided to look for easy-to-eat Japanese food! There were so many candidates, but we ended up visiting Padong, a great Japanese restaurant in Mangwon :) It is near Mangwon Market, so it was perfect for browsing the market and then carrying on to a meal.

Padong's location, perfect after browsing Mangwon Market

• Hours: 11:30–21:00
• Closed every Monday
• No parking

Padong is located near Mangwon Market! It made such a perfect route: hang out in Mangwon-dong, browse the market, then go eat~ You can find Padong by ducking into a side street from the busy main market street!

We visited at 1 p.m., during weekend lunch. Of course, it was a popular time...! Luckily, there was no line ahead of us, and the tables turned over quickly, so we got in without waiting long. Maybe about 5 minutes? :)

Padong menu and order prices

We decided what to eat while waiting! I loved that there were so many options, from rice bowls to mazesoba (soupless mixed ramen), futomaki (thick sushi rolls), and sides haha. After much thought, we decided on the mazesoba and futomaki.

We were torn between futomaki and a rice bowl, but chose the futomaki after seeing the notice posted in the restaurant. It really seemed like a very popular menu item haha.

• Futomaki: ₩16,000
• Mazesoba: ₩12,000
• Karaage: ₩4,000

We had already picked our menu while waiting, so we ordered right away as soon as we got in haha.

Wood interiors and a quiet restaurant atmosphere

The interior was not particularly spacious, but the wood décor and cohesive atmosphere made it feel comfortable overall.

The table where we sat! There were cute figurines and little objects beside it, which were fun to look at. That miniature Padong meal set is ridiculously cute 💛

Also, when I visited, most guests were couples or friends, so the restaurant had a nicely quiet atmosphere~ It felt like just the right kind of place for a date in Mangwon-dong!

Because the restaurant was full, I honestly thought it would take a long time for our order to come out... but every dish arrived just 5 minutes after we ordered!!!!! I seriously love that super-fast speed 🤍 We were hungry, so getting our food quickly made us happy.

Huge futomaki you cannot eat in one bite

Such, such huge futomaki!! We got four pieces plus the end piece, for five pieces total.

Each futomaki piece was so big that there was absolutely no way to eat it in one bite. There was lots of tuna, and even two pieces of fried shrimp inside!! Add a little wasabi and take a huge bite—it is truly heaven. It was so, so delicious that I was happyㅠㅠㅠ

Mazesoba with a burst egg yolk

The mazesoba was even more delicious than expected!!! It was piled generously with different toppings, including meat, scallions, and green onions, so the flavor really came through.

Popping the egg yolk and coating the noodles with it was sooo goodㅠㅠㅠㅠ My younger sibling and I both kept exclaiming while eating it.

Tender karaage side dish

The karaage (Japanese fried chicken) side my younger sibling picked! At ₩4,000 for five pieces, it was easy on the wallet, and it was so tender—perhaps because it was made with chicken thigh!! It was seasoned well too, and so deliciousㅠㅠㅠ The kind of flavor that makes you want a beer 💛 (Coke instead... haha)

Happy with the futomaki and mazesoba combination

We came planning to eat something light and go, but the food was delicious, so we left completely satisfied 👍🏻 We meant to eat just enough before going to a café, but we cleaned every plate haha.

I loved how large the futomaki was and how generously it was filled, while the mazesoba was delicious too, with loads of toppings and a rich sauce.

For anyone who loves Japanese food like futomaki and mazesoba! If you are looking for a place for a date or a meal with friends in Mangwon-dong, Padong would be a great one to try~ If you are looking for delicious Japanese food in Mangwon-dong, I recommend Padong's futomaki + mazesoba + karaage combination ✨😉