Gangnam bar for Peking duck and free corkage: Mirim Yangjang

Real Peking duck in Seoul, at Mirim Yangjang in Apgujeong.

I recently went to Apgujeong Rodeo for a proper Chinese meal for the first time in a while. This time, I visited Mirim Yangjang Apgujeong. I had been curious because it is a place where you can have Peking duck, which is not something I come across easily, alongside a range of Chinese dishes. After going in person, I found the atmosphere just as impressive as the food.

Mirim Yangjang Apgujeong location and visitor information

It is conveniently located for walking from Apgujeong Rodeo Station. It is open daily from noon until 2 AM, and half a Peking duck costs ₩39,000 while duck soup costs ₩15,000.

Parking was ₩5,000 for the first 120 minutes, then ₩1,500 per 10 minutes, up to ₩50,000. Valet is also available, so it was fine to bring a car. Free corkage is available too.

A Chinese food bar with the feel of a Hong Kong film

The atmosphere was a little different from an ordinary Chinese restaurant from the moment I walked in. The dark wood tones throughout, paired with red accents, made it feel like a Chinese restaurant in a Hong Kong film. The dining hall with tables had a nice mood too, and farther inside, I could see the ducks being prepared.

In particular, the walls, tables, and lighting all followed one cohesive look, so it felt less like a place to simply have a meal and more like somewhere to sit over drinks for a while. There is one round-table room for around six people, which looked suitable for a gathering or company dinner. You can use the QR code at the table to check the menu and order straight from your phone.

How I ate the half Peking duck

The dish I was most looking forward to on this visit was the half Peking duck. Seeing Peking duck in real life rather than only in photos, it looked very appetizing right away. The exterior was nicely roasted, and it was served with the meat and skin cut into suitable pieces.

The idea is to place the duck on a thin wheat pancake, add shredded scallion and cucumber, then wrap it up with sauce. In one bite, the rich flavor of the duck, crisp skin, and the crunchy textures of scallion and cucumber all came together, and the combination worked better than I expected. It was much cleaner-tasting with the scallion and cucumber than with just the duck. Peking duck itself is fairly rich, so it was good to eat vegetables along the way.

Dishes that paired well with rich duck

Clear, light duck soup

I thought it would be nice to have a soup dish after the Peking duck, so I ordered duck soup too. Its broth was clear and light, making it easy to eat between the richer duck dishes. It included duck and napa cabbage, so it worked well as a drinking snack too. Personally, it was one of the better pairings among the dishes I ordered with the Peking duck.

Tangy, refreshing wood ear mushroom cucumber salad

I ordered the wood ear mushroom cucumber salad as a side. The cucumber's crunch, joined by the pleasantly chewy texture of the wood ear mushrooms, made it good for refreshing the palate. When you keep eating intensely flavored Chinese dishes, you need something tangy and refreshing like this, and it played exactly that role.

Fried pork ribs that worked well with drinks

Personally, the fried pork ribs were a very good drinking snack. They were crisp outside, while the distinctive meaty flavor of the ribs remained inside. The batter did not feel overly thick, so they were easy to pick up one by one, and they went well with soju or beer. This time I had both soju and beer, and in a Chinese food bar atmosphere like this, it would feel a little disappointing without drinks.

Hong Kong-style stir-fried egg noodles from the receipt review event

Lastly, I had Hong Kong-style stir-fried egg noodles from the receipt review event. The noodles came with onion, bean sprouts, and vegetables, and the seasoning was not too strong, so they were easy to eat alongside the other dishes. Having noodles between strongly flavored dishes such as Peking duck and pork ribs was a good combination. The portion was more generous than expected too, so it seemed nice for several people to share as a side.

If you are looking for a free-corkage bar in Apgujeong

Mirim Yangjang felt less like a place to visit solely for Peking duck and more like an Apgujeong Rodeo Chinese food bar where you can order a spread of Chinese dishes and have drinks. Beyond Peking duck, there is a fairly wide selection including hot pot, guobaorou (sweet-and-sour fried pork), mapo tofu, fried eggplant, kkanpung shrimp, and yuringi (fried chicken with a tangy sauce). Hong Kong-style stir-fried egg noodles are also on the menu.

Free corkage is an obvious plus for people who enjoy drinking. With its upscale, exotic atmosphere, it seemed well suited to an Apgujeong date, drinks with friends, or a small gathering.

Useful combinations to know before visiting

• For 2–4 people, I recommend half a Peking duck with two or three additional dishes.
• The Peking duck was more delicious with shredded scallion, cucumber, and sauce together.
• If you order several rich dishes, I recommend adding duck soup or wood ear mushroom cucumber salad.
• Make sure to get the Hong Kong-style stir-fried egg noodles through the receipt review event.
• Free corkage makes this a good place to bring a bottle you want to drink.
• Parking is paid, but valet is available.
• The room has a round table for up to about six people, so it looked good for a small gathering.
• For weekend or evening visits, I recommend making a reservation to avoid waiting.

Overall, the variety of food and the distinct atmosphere made this a better place for drinks, dates, or gatherings than an ordinary Chinese restaurant. If you want something a little different from the Chinese dishes commonly found around Apgujeong Rodeo, starting with half a Peking duck seems like a good idea. Mirim Yangjang Apgujeong would be worth revisiting when I want to enjoy Peking duck and a range of Chinese dishes along with the atmosphere.