Miro Sikdang

Tucked away in a quiet corner near Hongik University, Miro Sikdang has become the kind of place where Seoul’s culinary insiders gather on their nights off. This ultra-casual spot doesn’t try to impress with fancy decor or white tablecloths—instead, it lets the food do all the talking. The tiny kitchen produces dishes that perfectly complement an evening of good drinks and even better conversation.

The menu leans heavily into anju, the Korean tradition of drinking food. The star of the show is their golden, crispy jeon—a savory pancake made with Korean squash and potato that arrives skillet-sized and impossible to stop eating. Their whelk salad, an unexpected combination of tender sea snail tossed with cubed Spam and fresh vegetables, delivers the kind of chewy, salty satisfaction that makes you want to order another round.

Getting a table here requires a bit of effort—reservations happen through Instagram DMs to the chef, and walk-ins often mean waiting outside. But there’s something charming about that wait. You’ll find yourself watching neighbors stroll by with their dogs, buses navigate the narrow street, and you can even pop over to the lookout point next door for a sweeping view of Hongdae below.

This is a restaurant for those who appreciate authenticity over polish, where the crowd skews local and the atmosphere feels genuinely Korean. If you’re seeking out the kind of dining experience that tourists rarely find, Miro Sikdang delivers exactly that.