Mingles Restaurant Review: Exquisite Two-Michelin Star Korean Contemporary Dining in Cheongdam-dong

Hello, food enthusiasts! Today, I’m excited to share my dining experience at Mingles (밍글스), a renowned restaurant located in the heart of Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. This area is known for its concentration of upscale dining establishments, and Mingles certainly stands out. Having maintained its two-Michelin star status since 2019 (and initially earning one star prior), Mingles has solidified its position as a leader in Korean contemporary cuisine.

Before diving into the specifics, I want to briefly touch on Michelin stars. While Michelin recognition can be a helpful guide, I, like many others, don’t view it as an absolute measure of dining perfection. Personal preferences play a significant role, and sometimes restaurants that receive stars might not resonate with everyone, and vice versa. However, Michelin Guide does highlight restaurants maintaining consistently high standards, making it a useful reference point. With that said, let’s focus on Mingles itself and what makes it special.

What to Expect at Mingles: Korean Contemporary Cuisine

Mingles categorizes itself as serving “Korean Contemporary Cuisine.” In simpler terms, this means they creatively blend Korean culinary foundations with diverse cooking techniques and presentation styles. It’s not traditional Korean cuisine in the typical “hansik” setting, but rather a more refined, modern interpretation, sometimes leaning towards a French or Western dining experience. This approach might appeal differently to various palates; some might prefer classic, homestyle Korean food, while others are drawn to innovative and novel culinary adventures. If you appreciate exploring familiar Korean flavors in exciting new formats, Mingles is definitely worth considering.

Lunch at Mingles: A Culinary Journey

I visited Mingles for lunch and opted for the 95,000 KRW basic lunch course. They also offer a 150,000 KRW “Signature” lunch, which I’ll briefly touch upon later. The restaurant’s interior design emphasizes natural elements, featuring extensive use of wood for the floors, tables, and chairs. The greenery visible outside the windows complements the wooden décor, creating a pleasant ambiance. However, I did notice that the acoustics weren’t ideal. The space tended to be echoey, making conversations a bit louder than desired, which contributed to a slightly more casual atmosphere, perhaps unintentionally.

The Tasting Menu Highlights

Here’s a glimpse into the delightful dishes I savored during my lunch course:

• Amuse-bouche: A delicate serving of seasonal seafood, enhanced with a touch of caviar (an additional charge option). This initial bite was refreshing and set a luxurious tone.
• Seasonal Vegetables: A beautifully presented dish featuring seasonal vegetables, accented with a savory doenjang (soybean paste) sauce nestled within, and topped with a delicate squash blossom tempura. The combination of fresh vegetables and subtle fermented flavors was delightful.
• Burrata Cheese & Corn Puree with Caviar: Creamy burrata cheese paired with sweet corn puree and crowned with caviar. The sweetness of the corn and saltiness of the caviar created a harmonious and rich flavor profile. I found this pairing to be even more successful than the previous caviar dish.
• Farmer’s Vegetables: A medley of colorful and fresh vegetables and fruits, featuring perfectly ripe tomatoes sprinkled with black sesame seeds. The quality and sweetness of the produce were exceptional.
• Yangji Broth & Oneja: A comforting and flavorful soup featuring rich yangji (beef brisket) broth with homemade “oneja” (meatballs). The broth was deep and satisfying, and the meatball provided a delightful meaty texture.
• Seasonal Steamed Fish: Today’s selection was Geodeuchi (blackthroat seaperch), steamed to perfection and served with a pumpkin puree and a spicy gochujang (Korean chili paste) based sauce. The fish was rich and oily, pairing wonderfully with the spicy and slightly sweet sauce – almost like a mini spicy fish stew.
• Truffle Tteokgim: Crispy fried tteok (rice cakes) infused with truffle flavor. The truffle aroma was prominent, and the crispy, buttery texture was incredibly addictive and delicious, defying the usual expectations for vegetable dishes.
• Omija Cleanser: A refreshing omija (magnolia berry) tea cleanser, designed to refresh the palate before the main course.

Main Course & Beyond

For the main course, the basic option is Tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties), while I opted for the Lobster (additional 15,000 KRW). My companion chose the Tteokgalbi. The lobster presentation was stunning, with perfectly prepared lobster meat and a flavorful bisque sauce. While delicious, the portion of lobster, particularly the knuckle part, felt a little small. The Tteokgalbi, however, was exceptional, incorporating abalone within the patty and served with rice and various pickled vegetables. It was incredibly flavorful and perfectly cooked, pairing excellently with the rice.

Myeongchu Guksu & Desserts

We also shared an order of Mingles’ famous Myeongchu Guksu (anchovy noodle soup). The broth was incredibly clean and umami-rich, devoid of any fishy taste, thanks to their meticulous preparation method of removing anchovy innards and cold-brewing the stock. The noodles, sun-dried according to the server, were delightful. Topped with fried dried okdom (tilefish), this noodle dish was truly memorable.

For dessert, we sampled both options: the signature Jang Trio and the Rice Trio. The Jang Trio, featuring desserts made with doenjang (soybean paste), ganjang (soy sauce), and gochujang (chili paste), was surprisingly balanced and not overly sweet, with a deep umami flavor that kept you wanting more. The Rice Trio, featuring rice-based desserts like Sikhye (sweet rice drink) granita and Yeotgireum (malt) ice cream, was also delightful, highlighting the natural sweetness of rice.

Finally, the meal concluded with coffee and petit fours – a selection of five treats including Juwak, chocolate, Suja tang, macaron, and Jilpi. Each was a perfect bite-sized delight to end the culinary journey.

Final Thoughts on Mingles

Overall, my lunch at Mingles was a highly satisfying experience. The food was visually appealing, expertly prepared, and incredibly flavorful. While the portions might be on the smaller side for some, the quality and creativity of each dish shone through. The only minor drawback was the slightly noisy ambiance. Despite this, Mingles delivers a refined and innovative Korean contemporary dining experience that justifies its two-Michelin star recognition.

Location: Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

General Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5 out of 5)

Bonus Tip: After your meal at Mingles, consider stopping by Food 2900 near Nonhyeon Station for their delicious sausage gimbap. It’s a local favorite and a great casual snack!