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Exploring the Hidden Cafeterias of Yeongdeungpo: A Foodie’s Journey

Have you ever wondered what culinary gems might be hiding in plain sight, right in the buildings you pass by every day? In Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, a treasure trove of cafeterias awaits, offering diverse and affordable meals to the district’s workforce. This blog post will take you on a journey from Munrae Station to Dangsan Station, uncovering the secrets of these hidden gems. Get ready for a foodie adventure!

What the Locals are Saying: A Quick Google Search Assessment

Before diving into our culinary exploration, let’s take a peek at what the internet has to say. A quick Google search for “restaurants near [insert location in Yeongdeungpo, e.g., Munrae Station]” reveals a vibrant dining scene. Here’s a general assessment:

Google Search Result Assessment (Example for Munrae Station):

• Variety: Google shows a good mix of Korean BBQ, trendy cafes, and traditional Korean eateries.
• Price Range: The results suggest options for various budgets, from casual street food to slightly more upscale restaurants.
• Customer Reviews: Many listings boast 4-star ratings or higher, indicating generally positive experiences. Specific mentions of 맛집 (delicious restaurants) are common.
• Missing Piece: While Google Maps highlights popular restaurants, the hidden cafeterias within office buildings are often overlooked, making this blog post all the more valuable!

Note: Replace the bracketed ‘[insert location in Yeongdeungpo, e.g., Munrae Station]’ with the actual location you are searching for.
Conduct the Google search yourself and insert the results appropriately into the Google Search Result Assessment.
The above is only a placeholder to allow for the completion of the document.

Stop 1: JK Garden Lunch Buffet at Gyusu Dang Wedding Hall (Munrae Station)

Our first stop is perhaps the most surprising. Located a short walk from Exit 5 of Munrae Station, inside the Gyusu Dang Wedding Hall building, lies JK Garden Lunch Buffet. Don’t let the wedding hall fool you – this is a serious contender for best value lunch in the area.

At just 10,900 won, it’s the priciest option on our list, but it’s also the most unique. Ascend to the 3rd floor, and you’ll find yourself in a full-fledged wedding hall! This is no ordinary cafeteria; it’s a lunch buffet run by an actual wedding venue, attracting a surprisingly large crowd of locals, including many seniors.

The Atmosphere and Menu

The atmosphere at JK Garden is unparalleled. It feels special, elegant, and a bit surreal to be enjoying lunch in a wedding hall. The menu is equally unique. Search for “JK Garden” on KakaoTalk to find their weekly menu, which alternates between Korean, Chinese, and Japanese cuisines.

Instead of models, real dishes are displayed at the entrance. Looking at the buffet line, you’ll find kimchi, stir-fried mushrooms, braised fern, and, since it’s a Chinese cuisine day, dried tofu salad. The main dishes include Chinese bibim noodles and a salad bar with fresh toppings.

One of the unique features is the egg frying station, where you can cook your own fried egg. There’s also a bread corner with a variety of jams and comfortable seating, even for solo diners. Instead of large plates, you get small bowls to fill with each dish, allowing you to sample everything.

The Food: A Feast for the Senses

The freshly stir-fried main dishes are the highlight. On the day of our visit, the offerings included shrimp fried rice with mala xiang guo, Chinese stir-fried noodles, and egg drop soup. All this for just 10,900 won!

We started with the shrimp fried rice, topped with a perfectly cooked fried egg. The shrimp were tender and chewy, although the rice was a bit firm (rice cakes would have been a delicious addition!). The dried tofu salad had a sophisticated, spicy flavor.

The mala xiang guo was a revelation, packed with seafood and featuring a subtle mala seasoning. It tasted like something you’d expect at a high-end wedding buffet. The Chinese stir-fried noodles were equally impressive, reminiscent of a spicy jjamppong. Considering that a bowl of jjamppong can easily cost 10,000 won these days, the value here is unbeatable!

Don’t forget to bake a couple of fried eggs and place them on top of the noodles – the soft yolk adds a luxurious touch. And the best part? Everything is refillable! The quality here is noticeably higher than other budget cafeterias, justifying the slightly higher price.

But it doesn’t end there! Banana bread and even Yakult are available for dessert. Toasted bread with salad and jam provides a satisfying finish. The experience at JK Garden is truly special, a culinary adventure you won’t easily forget.

Stop 2: Today’s Table “Obab” at SK V1 Building (Munrae Station)

Located within the SK V1 building in Munrae-dong, a short walk from Exit 1, is a hidden cafeteria called “Obab” (short for “Today’s Table”). Often tucked away inside office buildings, these spots offer a convenient and affordable lunch option for local workers.

The interior is clean and modern, with soft lighting. “Obab” is known for its generous portions of salad. We arrived right as they opened and opted for “Today’s Menu,” which included rice, kimchi, salad, unripe radish, stir-fried cabbage with green onion and tuna, stir-fried fish cake, and bossam (boiled pork).

A Treasure Trove of Side Dishes

One unique aspect of this cafeteria is its focus on delicious and flavorful side dishes that you can eat with your hands. We were particularly impressed by the cheese steamed chicken, topped with melted cheese, and the garlic bossam, featuring moist and tender pork with a sweet garlic sauce.

Other highlights included the stir-fried cabbage with tuna, adding a touch of sophistication to a simple dish, and the flavorful soybean paste stew. The simple fish cake side dish was also well-prepared. “Obab” truly offers an elevated cafeteria experience.

The kimchi was excellent, and the salad bar was well-stocked. The addition of tuna to the stir-fried cabbage was a unique touch. For just 8,000 won, you can enjoy a satisfying and high-quality meal at “Obab.”

Stop 3: Superstar (Munrae Station)

Not all cafeterias are mom-and-pop shops. Superstar is a growing chain with around 10 locations in Seoul. We visited their branch near Munrae Station, located in the “Idea Factory” building.

Superstar offers a modern, cafe-like atmosphere, even in its cafeteria setting. They also serve dinner, with a menu focusing on single dishes like noodles and rice bowls. For lunch, we enjoyed their “Today’s Menu,” which included bean sprout rice, pickled radish, salad, seaweed, grilled tofu, pudding chicken nuggets, and stir-fried pork neck with kimchi.

The Standard Cafeteria Experience, Elevated

The meal consisted of one stir-fried side dish, one fried side dish, and a total of six side dishes, plus soup. We started with the bean sprout rice, lightly mixed with soy sauce. The soy sauce was perfectly seasoned, slightly sweet and salty.

The stir-fried pork neck with kimchi was tender and flavorful. Wrapping the bean sprout rice in seaweed added a unique touch. The generous portions of tofu and delicious pickled radish were also highlights. Even the pudding chicken nuggets were a welcome surprise.

In addition to the side dishes, a refreshing egg drop soup was available. Superstar offers a well-rounded and delicious cafeteria experience that is hard to beat.

Stop 4: MG Together at MG Credit Information Building (Munrae Station)

Conveniently located within the MG Credit Information Building, near Munrae Station, is another cafeteria called MG Together. Perhaps named to suggest a communal dining experience for the “MZ generation” (Millennials and Generation Z), MG Together offers a budget-friendly option at 8,000 won.

The interior is spacious and the menu includes tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), rice with beans, Mingina Mul and side-dish items such as cucumber kimchi and steamed chicken.

Hearty Korean Favorites

Their version of Mingina Mul, a side dish that is much larger than most main course items, is a great choice. The slightly sweet tteokbokki are enjoyed with kimchi and wrapped in gimmali(seaweed rolls). The menu even includes refreshing seaweed soup. The fried chicken were delicious!

The overall menu is well put together, especially their clean flavors. MG Together offers something more than a common dining experience with quality food on a budget.

Stop 5: Amazing Kitchen at Acro Tower Square (Yeongdeungpo Market Station)

Situated at Acro Tower Square near Yeongdeungpo Market Station, Amazing Kitchen seems recently opened, with its modern and stylish setting. This location posts their weeky menu online and allows for planning around specific dishes.

This home is the perfect place to grab Bulgogi, Dakgalbi, Mussam and many more side dishes. There is even bottomless noodles with a broth full of ham.

So much for so Little.

This is the perfect place to sit down for a plate of fried Dakgalbi or the delicious stir-fried sundae that is fluffy and full of flavor. The flavor doesn’t lack in strength but also has a delicious mild spice to it. With every visit is half boiled eggs that add amazing flavor and tenderness.

Amazing Kitchen serves the most amazing and original food on a budget

Stop 6: Food Story at Dangsan SK V1 Building (Dangsan Station)

Located on the basement level of the Dangsan SK V1 Building near Dangsan Station is a restaurant called food story. This large restaurant has a 30 minutes parking time.

Some of the most notable items are Kimchi Minari and the Italian Spaghetti that have various sauces to chose from. There is also a make your own ramen and bread corner for additional items.

Endless Endless Possibilities.

Here you can get whatever side dish you like from Minari to the well made kimchi. The main is what this establishment prides itself on as it doesn’t slack when it comes to chicken and pork. You will never have to choose between great taste and the right price here.

Stop 7: Kim Jung Hwa Food (Between Seonyudo Station and Dangsan Station)

There is a special restaurant called Kim Jung Hwa food located near a construction area between Seonyudo station and Dangsan station. I went to try this establishment and found that they served a weekly menu that included dishes like grilled fish.

Today’s menu was Black rice, Bossam, and Mandarin Salad with Dumplings. This amazing spread also has an unlimited refillable Ramen and noodles.

Hidden Gem in Plain Sight

The Bossam was savory and tender with amazing flavors and when combined with the right sides and soup you can eat the entire plate. The taste is immaculate here and all the menu items make for the most unforgettable cuisine you will ever experience. If you ever find yourself near this area make sure to stop by and taste what the construction workers know.

Conclusion: A Taste of Yeongdeungpo’s Hidden Food Scene

Our journey through the hidden cafeterias of Yeongdeungpo revealed a diverse and affordable food scene that is often overlooked. From wedding hall buffets to budget-friendly lunch spots, there’s something for everyone. While it’s impossible to draw definitive conclusions from a single visit to each location, we found common threads of great value, diverse menus, and a commitment to providing delicious and satisfying meals.

So, next time you’re in Yeongdeungpo, venture beyond the well-known restaurants and explore the hidden cafeterias within the office buildings. You might just discover your new favorite lunch spot!