Partition hall seating at a Gwanghwamun hanjeongsik lunch: Modam

My boyfriend and I were looking for somewhere formal but still private to eat, so we headed to Modam Dining Gwanghwamun! Between the neatly plated hanjeongsik (Korean course meal) courses and the quiet atmosphere, it's apparently well known as a spot for company meetings and gatherings around Gwanghwamun. Let me be honest about everything — the interior vibe and how the food actually tasted.

Modam Gwanghwamun

Location and visiting tips for Modam Dining Gwanghwamun

It's located in basement 1 of Deoksugung D Palace, about a 7-minute walk from Exit 6 of Gwanghwamun Station, so getting there by public transit was really convenient. Even the basement corridor of the building greets you with quiet, soft lighting, giving the entrance a sense of refinement.

What's the hall table atmosphere like?

The wide spacing between tables and the well-divided partitions made it perfect for focusing on conversation

What I liked most about the hall seating was that the spaces were well divided by partitions, giving wide spacing between tables! There were actually a lot of guests visiting for business entertaining from nearby companies, sangyeonrye (formal meetings between families before marriage), and wedding invitation gatherings. My boyfriend, who works nearby, said he had no idea a place with such a nice atmosphere existed near his office and that it was perfect for group gatherings.

If I had to point out one drawback in an otherwise perfect interior atmosphere — lighting really matters to me at restaurants, and since the light shines down from above, it doesn't exactly flatter your face haha (something to keep in mind for a blind date!)

The bori-gulbi jeongsik and abalone shrimp jang course lineup

We each ordered one bori-gulbi jeongsik (37,000 won) and one abalone shrimp jang and butter rice jeongsik (40,000 won). Everything was set out in course form, from the neatly arranged starters through to the main dish.

It was my first time trying mung bean porridge! With no rice grains, just finely ground mung beans, it was nutty and mild like a chestnut sweet potato — perfect for settling the stomach before the meal.

A refreshing citron-scented fresh vegetable salad, an elegant pine nut sauce mustard vegetable dish, and dongchimi (watery radish kimchi). The dongchimi was so cool and delicious that nearby tables kept asking for refills.

Then came a cold pasta topped with perilla oil, ground perilla seeds, perilla leaves, and sweet shrimp? I was already starting to feel full from the starters alone,, and then white kimchi and hoe (raw fish slices) of halibut with a subtle citron sauce arrived too.

There was also crispy, chewy fried shiitake mushroom topped with a creamy, spicy cheese sauce — since we're not big cheese people, it felt a bit greasy to us, and I think it would have been even better without the sauce!

The staff watch your eating pace in real time before bringing out the main dish.

Bori-gulbi with no fishy smell, trimmed right at the table

I usually avoid bori-gulbi (dried yellow corvina) because of the fishy taste, but this one had absolutely no fishy smell!

The bori-gulbi that came out as the main dish gets trimmed right beside you in real time.

It comes out with the head and tail already tidied and most of the bones removed, so it was really easy to eat.

Mixing white rice into the cool tea water served alongside and topping it with a piece of bori-gulbi left no fishy taste at all — just a nutty, mild, savory flavor. As someone who's a bori-gulbi hater, I have to admit Modam's version won me over.

When ordering, I thought the menu was quite pricey, but I was surprised by how varied and generous the spread was — sea snail jang, shrimp jang, abalone, and beef shank all included!

If I visit again, I'll definitely order the abalone shrimp jang dish. The seasoning was well-balanced and not too salty, making it easy to enjoy without feeling weighed down.

Serving time and service to know before you go

One of the biggest features of this place is the staff's attentive service. During my visit, I saw staff being trained on details as fine as how to set out tissues in a corner of the restaurant, which really conveyed their sincerity about not neglecting even the smallest touches.

Three dishes are served at once per course, and it takes about 40 minutes to reach the main dish

That said, given the nature of the dining, service isn't exactly speedy. Since staff check each guest's eating pace before bringing out the next dish, it took about 40 minutes to get the main course. For me, that pacing was ideal for focusing on conversation with someone special in such a formal setting. But if you're on a tight lunch break, it's a good idea to ask the staff to speed up the serving beforehand!

Honest verdict on Modam Dining Gwanghwamun

Modam Dining Gwanghwamun was a space where you could really feel the thorough service training, neatly prepared food, and calm atmosphere. The fishy-free bori-gulbi and the nutty abalone shrimp jang jeongsik course were more than enough for treating someone important or celebrating a special occasion! It's a bit pricey for a casual everyday date, but for an important formal occasion, I'd return with 100% certainty!