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I’m always skeptical about viral places that blow up all over social media because, more often than not, they just look good aesthetically and have no substance. Trust me — I’ve encountered such siituations on more than one occasion. So, when the whole Sethlui.com team headed over to the Seongsu outlet of Mibbedong for our company retreat in Korea, I kept my expectations below the bar to avoid disappointment.
Trust me, I’ve been practising this method for years and it works. Most of the time, I leave feeling more impressed than I should’ve (it’s about time someone paid me for these life coaching quotes). I just hope that’ll be the case at this spot.
We arrived on a Tuesday morning and the streets looked relatively empty. Mibbedong’s space wasn’t very large, but luckily, we managed to squeeze our whole party of 10 altogether. The 2 girls in my company were lucky, snagging the best seats in the house by the window while we all sat cosily in the centre of the room.
What to order at Mibbedong
The menu is primarily catered for seafood fans, with a range of soba and rice bowls paired with fresh, sashimi-style seafood. I wanted something that’s uncommonly found in Singapore, and opted for the cold Salmon-Noodle with Tomato (₩22,000). I was asked if I wanted additional soba but I politely declined — the portion already looked huge enough.
In case you’re wondering, it isn’t just simply noodles with salmon and tomato — where’s the fun in that? It’s salmon sashimi cut to mimic the shape of noodles.
Besides the mound of sashimi strips, there was a pair of fried ebi (prawn), cucumber and carrot strips, pieces of fresh red leaf lettuce and perilla leaves. This vibrant mix of fresh vegetables was a total game changer, adding varying levels of texture and crunch, with a dominant peppery, licorice-like flavour coming from the perilla leaves.
The salmon sashimi ‘noods‘ were slightly spicy and refreshing, all thanks to the gravy underneath that tasted predominantly of gochujang and tomato juice. There was a possibility of something vinegary and sweet thrown in the mix, which tasted multi-dimensional. The huge mound of tangy tomato salsa that was dusted with sesame seeds, also added a tart, nutty, and invigorating combination.
To give the dish a spunkier personality, I’d recommend adding the entire glob of wasabi and giving it a real good mix. Together with the gochujang‘s spiciness, it felt like a double whammy of fiery heat. Trust me, it was HOT in a great way.
I was surprised that the entire prawn, from head to tail, was used for the fried ebi. Thankfully, they were fried so well that I polished off every last morsel without leaving a trace. The breading on the outside was crispy yet paper-thin, encasing a fresh and moist prawn.
Who Mibbedong is best for
It’s perfect for seafood fans who would like to explore the Seongsu area of Seoul. For those who are looking to consume lesser or no carbs, the salmon ‘noodles is an ideal choice. Otherwise, the other rice and soba options work just fine.
How to get there?
To get to the Seongsu outlet of Mibbedong, ride the subway and alight at 211 Seongsu Station (Seoul Subway Line 2). Find Exit 4 and take a 15 to 20 minute walk to the restaurant. Make sure you use NAVER Maps instead of Google maps to navigate yourself.
Do we recommend Mibbedong?
Definitely, especially for those who love cold noodles and seafood. This is an honest statement — the Salmon-Noodle with Tomato is perhaps one of the best dishes that has graced my palate in recent years. If you want variety, order that and other dishes to share amongst your tribe. Remember in Korea, each person has to order at least 1 main at most restaurants.
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