Balsan Station Korean restaurant with namul side-dish spread: Mikodam

What is Mikodam, the Korean restaurant near Balsan Station?

Hi! It's Happy Sunny =) Tonight I went with Haeni to Mikodam, a Korean restaurant near Balsan Station, and I'm bringing it to you right away! It has parking and it's a nice place for a family meal, so I wanted to recommend it. No more chit-chat, let's go — Mikodam, the Korean restaurant near Balsan Station ❤️🔥

Where do you park? The 77-car parking building next door

Mikodam, the Korean restaurant near Balsan Station, has a parking building right next door with room for up to 77 cars. This is the first time I've seen this much parking space in the Magok area..! Having parking wherever you go is also great for family outings. (nodding)

After you park, the way in tells you to walk around the outside of the building to the entrance. Once you're outside, you'll see it right away.

I heard they serve an extra-large beef jeon (pan-fried beef pancake) around your birthday, so make sure to visit during your birthday week and have the beef jeon.. This place's beef jeon is really good..bb

Inside Mikodam and the private room for six or more

The hall is set up with 4-person and 6-person tables. There were two of us and we didn't make a reservation, but Naver reservations are available for parties of 4 or more, so I'd recommend reserving ahead for a family meal!

Inside Mikodam, the Korean restaurant near Balsan Station, there's a room-dining area with a private room for parties of 6 or more. On the day I visited, several gatherings had already been booked — one room had just finished and cleared out, and another was set up right as a group arrived. In the main hall too, I could see several groups there for family meals.

Self-serve corner: warm puffed corn, sikhye and plum tea

Near the entrance there was a warm self-serve corner with puffed corn kept warm, plus cool plum tea, sikhye (sweet rice punch), and coffee.

Having the sikhye and plum tea before the meal really woke up my appetite. And this was my first time trying warm puffed corn haha — it was nutty and delicious, like freshly popped rice puffs!

Mikodam's menu and how to build the Korean set for two

Mikodam, the Korean restaurant near Balsan Station, sells individual dishes too, but they also have set menus, so I didn't even hesitate before ordering the Korean set for two. With the set, you choose one of flounder, abalone, or beef for the seaweed soup, and one of beef jeon, soy-marinated crab, or LA galbi for the side. We went with beef seaweed soup, soy-marinated cockles, and beef jeon!

One reason I keep recommending this place for family meals is that all the ingredients used are good quality. Maybe that's why older diners come here so often..? Seaweed soup simmered with premium Wando seaweed, fluffy rice freshly cooked from Sindongjin rice, cockle salad made with top-grade Beolgyo and Yeosu cockles, and grilled fish made with Norwegian mackerel! Nothing on the menu falls short.

With the Naver receipt review event, you get a rolled egg that pairs perfectly with Korean food. If you're visiting with a young child, make sure to take part and get that delicious rolled egg <3

The side-dish spread: three namul, pork dureuchigi and japchae

First, the side dishes from the Korean set for two arrived. Honestly, these sides alone were enough to finish a whole bowl of rice — total rice thieves!

The three namul (seasoned vegetable side dishes) were lightly seasoned, and eating them with rice was just pure healthy flavor! The bracken fern especially was the softest and tastiest.

Pork stir-fry is soul food for the guys — its mere presence can wipe out a bowl of rice. Loved by everyone regardless of age or gender, this pork stir-fry is a must-have side if you're here for a family meal.

I had been craving japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) today of all days, and who knew Mikodam would actually serve japchae haha. Lightly seasoned and chewy — absolutely delicious!

Grilled Norwegian mackerel and beef seaweed soup

At Mikodam, the Korean restaurant near Balsan Station, they grill carefully selected Norwegian mackerel until it's really crispy! As someone living alone and always busy running around, I rarely get to eat grilled fish, so seeing it again after so long made me so happy — I picked out the bones and ate every bit!

The beef seaweed soup, bubbling away in an earthenware pot, was packed with beef and the seaweed was so soft! It made me want to come back for my birthday...💕

Beolgyo cockle rice bowl, old-style laver and freshly fried beef jeon

The Beolgyo cockle bibim comes tossed in savory soy sauce seasoning and topped generously with chives. Piling it onto the bowl of rice that comes on the side is pure honey...

Piled high over white rice, the Beolgyo cockle bibim — not a hint of grit, just plump, springy cockle meat — was truly, truly, truly the best thing I ate.. How is it this good with zero fishy taste?

They also give you old-style laver (dried seaweed sheets), and wrapping it around the cockles and rice is a total rice thief.. Where did my rice go~~

The last side, the beef jeon, arrives freshly pan-fried and piping hot! Wrapped up with the chive salad that comes alongside, it's absolutely amazing~~ ⭐ Not a tough bite in it, pan-fried to a golden brown — a top-tier dish.. Thumbs up b If you're coming for a family meal, the beef jeon is a must.

Final verdict on Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch

Today I had a meal with Haeni at Mikodam, the room-dining Korean restaurant near Balsan Station. With parking right next door, it's a room-dining spot that works well for both family meals and group visits, so I definitely recommend a visit! There's really nothing else like this restaurant in Magok!!!!