Magok Korean restaurant with kids, ketchup-free egg roll: Mikodam

Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch: the Korean restaurant a neighbour recommended near Balsan Station

Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch is a Korean set-meal restaurant on a side street near Balsan Station. If you've been looking for a proper Korean spread near Balsan Station, I really wanted to introduce a place you have to try at least once~

Today, a neighbor from Deungchon-dong who knows the area inside out confidently took me to Mikodam Magok Branch, saying, "This is the place I go without fail whenever I'm hosting guests or craving a comforting meal."

The clean, tidy interior grabbed me the moment I stepped in. Warm wood-toned lighting, a spacious and pleasant hall, and generous spacing between tables made it feel classy and perfectly suited for family gatherings or hosting guests. The friendly staff on top of all that made the whole meal feel like being well taken care of.

Mikodam hours, parking and room reservation rules

Mikodam Magok-Balsan Branch is open daily from 11:00 to 21:30, with last order at 20:50. Let me first lay out the hours info you should definitely check before visiting.

• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:30 (last order 20:50)
• Break time: No separate break time, open year-round, so it's easy to visit whenever suits you
• Parking: On-site building parking available (supported when dining)

And if you're 4 or more people, you can reserve, and if you're 6 or more, you can book a room with no room fee!! Isn't that great?!

The side-dish spread at Mikodam, with refillable namul and pork stir-fry

Once we sat down and ordered, a table full of neat side dishes was set out one after another.

From japchae (glass noodle stir-fry) to various namul (seasoned vegetable sides), jellyfish salad, and geotjeori (fresh kimchi), every single side dish had deep flavor without being overly seasoned. The namul side dishes were refillable, and so was the pork stir-fry.

The egg roll was currently part of a free-with-receipt-review event, and the taste was excellent too. Since it was for the kids, I asked them not to add ketchup, and the staff kindly obliged.

Flounder seaweed soup that had my child finish a whole bowl of rice

The star of this visit, hands down, was the flounder seaweed soup. I went with my child this time, and after one spoonful of the soup, her eyes lit up and she really dug in!

The broth was rich but had absolutely no fishy taste, with the flounder's clean, deep flavor fully dissolved into it. The flounder flesh was so thick and tender that when I put some on my kid's plate, she kept shouting "So good!" and polished off a whole bowl of rice.

It's a flavor that wins over everyone from young kids to grandparents, so I'd strongly recommend it as a family dining menu with kids in tow.

Seasoned cockles (kkomak muchim) taste best mixed into rice

Besides the seaweed soup, the seasoned cockles served alongside were a work of art, with the plump cockles' texture paired with a spicy-tangy sauce. Mixed thoroughly into rice, it spread a sharp yet savory flavor all through my mouth.

From the main dish to the basic side dishes, nothing was lacking, and I could see exactly why the neighbor kept raving about it. If you're looking for good Korean food in Magok or a proper Korean course meal near Balsan Station, Mikodam seems like an answer that everyone can be happy with, no matter their taste.

Dessert at Mikodam: rice puffs in an insulated pot and plum tea

And here's another special treat, the dessert corner. This place had rice puffs at the dessert station, kept in an insulated pot to stay warm~ That kind of thoughtful touch impressed me all over again. The kids were thrilled to eat rice puffs too. And there was plum tea as well, to help with digestion~

With great flavor and depth in the food, a classy atmosphere, and friendly service all in one place, I'm planning to bring my parents here again soon. If you want to treat someone special to a thoughtful meal, or want a comfortable, delicious meal with your kids, definitely stop by Mikodam Magok Branch! I'm 100% planning to come back myself.

It's tucked in a side street, but I had no trouble finding it.