Jongno Korean restaurant for a relaxed friends’ lunch: Modam Dining

After a day out around Gwanghwamun, I stopped by Modam Dining Gwanghwamun, a Korean restaurant in Gwanghwamun. It was my first time at Deoksugung D Palace, and with several restaurants gathered in one place, it was easy to choose somewhere that suited our mood. Modam Dining Gwanghwamun had a calm, neatly put-together feel right from the entrance.

My friend and I spent quite a while deciding before ordering the abalone-and-marinated-shrimp butter-rice set for two. On this day, when we came looking for Korean food in Gwanghwamun, we slowly tried each dish and chatted away.

What is Modam Dining Gwanghwamun like?

My friend and I were walking around Gwanghwamun when we went into Deoksugung D Palace for lunch. Since it was our first visit, we looked around inside and found several restaurants gathered in one space. It is laid out in a way that makes it easy to pick out whatever you feel like eating that day.

After looking around, we went into Modam Dining. Everything looked neat and unfussy from the entrance onward. The restaurant name was clearly visible too, so it was not difficult to find.

A partitioned space that suited a Gwanghwamun get-together

Inside, the walls, lighting, and furniture were all arranged neatly. The interior felt polished overall without looking overdone. It was a nice setting for sitting across from a friend and talking.

There were several separate rooms farther inside. Even on the day my friend and I visited, we could talk comfortably in a space divided from the next table. I sometimes look for a comfortable place to chat with my mom friends, and I thought this would be a good option for a Gwanghwamun gathering too.

Choosing a set menu at a private-room restaurant

There were more types of set meals than I expected, so my friend and I studied the menu for quite a while. With such a varied lineup, it also seemed easy to choose from for a Korean-food family gathering in Gwanghwamun. Besides what we chose that day, there were lighter sets too, so I thought it would be nice to try a different combination next time.

The abalone, marinated shrimp, and butter-rice set for two

The menu we ordered that day was the abalone-and-marinated-shrimp butter-rice set for two. Rather than bringing out the main right away, the dishes arrived in order: seasonal porridge, salad, salmon sashimi, water kimchi with somyeon (thin wheat noodles), and fried meat patties.

Different plating for every dish

What caught my eye in this spread was the plating. From brightly colored dishes on white plates to dishes in softer tones, each one came on a different plate.

As we ate several dishes together, I noticed one small thoughtful detail. Separate chopsticks were provided for shared dishes. Having individual serving chopsticks made it easy and tidy to divide food with my friend.

The abalone and marinated shrimp as the main

The abalone and shrimp came in generous portions, taking center stage on the table like a proper main dish. The soy-based marinade was not overly salty, so the seasoning did not feel heavy even when eating the abalone and shrimp together.

I put butter on the warm rice and added a little of the abalone-and-shrimp marinade. The rich butter and savory soy sauce went so well with the rice that my spoon naturally kept reaching for it.

A menu to consider for lunch in Gwanghwamun

The abalone-and-marinated-shrimp butter-rice set we ordered offered a varied way to try several dishes. The menu also had lighter set meals. Looking through it again, my friend and I said it would be a comfortable place for moms to meet in Gwanghwamun during the day and take their time over a meal.

A Korean meal in Gwanghwamun

Since the food came out so beautifully plated, my friend and I kept taking photos even while we were talking. With each dish served separately, it was easy to taste them one by one, and the presentation was neat throughout. For a meal where you are hosting guests, I thought it would be a fine place to bring someone who values presentation.

A pleasant time through to the end

A cup of tea arrived as dessert just as we were nearly finished. We continued chatting over tea and stayed comfortably until the very end.

The staff were kind as well, so we were able to finish our meal comfortably without any inconvenience. On the day we stopped in after walking around Gwanghwamun, the fun of trying each dish and the conversation I shared with my friend both stayed with me for a long time. Next time, I think I will choose another set and try a different combination.