[Michelin Try It] Have You Ever Tried Seolleongtang with 70 Years of Expertise?

Visit to Seolleongtang Specialty Restaurant 'Mapook'

Editor's NoteIf you are interested in food, you have probably heard of the bestseller "Michelin Guide." According to the official website, it provides useful information for those seeking unforgettable experiences. So, the Drinkit editors took on the challenge to see if the flavors could move even the most ordinary and everyday people like us. Michelin Guide restaurants, here we come!

Before the hot summer fully sets in, there is one thing you must not forget to do: nourish your body with a warm bowl of meat soup. To safely get through the upcoming summer, Drinkit editors visited a Seolleongtang restaurant selected by the Michelin Guide. The star of this Michelin Eat-or-Not feature is Mapo-ok, which has been guarding the Mapo food alley for three generations since its opening in 1949.

Finding this place is not difficult. Get off at Mapo Station Exit 1 and walk along Tojeong-ro, known as the "Mapo Food Culture Street." You will immediately notice a shop marked with a red sign indicating its selection by the Michelin Guide. That is Mapo-ok.

Mapo-ok has been listed in the Michelin Guide Seoul five times from 2018 to 2022. Inside the restaurant, a certificate proudly hangs, confirming its Michelin Guide selection.

The main menu is Seolleongtang with brisket, beef belly, and chadolbagi (thinly sliced beef brisket). The broth is made by simmering only Korean beef brisket, chadolbagi, and beef bones, topped generously with meat. Rice and noodles, blanched in the broth, are served together in the soup. The price range is somewhat on the higher side.

After ordering Seolleongtang and waiting briefly, various types of kimchi were served. Essential accompaniments like kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), refreshing fresh kimchi, sour kimchi, and deliciously fermented green onion kimchi were prepared. Among these, the green onion kimchi drew exclamations from the editors. The sharp flavor of the green onions, the spicy and salty seasoning, and the crunchy texture made it the kind of taste that could make you finish a bowl of rice in no time.

Unlike the milky broth typically associated with Seolleongtang, this place features a clear broth. The secret is that no miscellaneous bones or offal are added except for brisket, chadolbagi, and beef bones. When you blow on a spoonful and taste it, you can feel the depth of 70 years of tradition, naturally eliciting a "Kreu" sound. The broth is not sticky but refreshing and clean with a sharp finish.

(From left to right) Yangji, Usamgyeop, Chadolbagi

The thickly sliced meat is neither tough nor dry; it is tender with the grain preserved as if the juices are completely sealed inside. There is no unpleasant odor. The seasoning sauce made by mixing green onions, soy sauce, and pepper pairs very well with the side dish of green onion kimchi. While the brisket has a mild flavor, the beef belly and chadolbagi, which are fattier cuts, offer a rich umami taste and a more intense flavor compared to the brisket. Note that the beef belly and chadolbagi may feel somewhat greasy depending on your taste, so keep this in mind when ordering.

The rice, blanched in the broth, is deeply infused with the savory flavor of the beef broth. The noodles are the same. This is completely different from ordering a separate bowl of rice and dipping it into the broth. Taking a big spoonful of rice with the hot broth, topping it with a piece of meat dipped in sauce and some green onion kimchi...

...makes you naturally think of Makgeolli. Soju is good, but the combination of warm Seolleongtang with Makgeolli, which has a subtle sweetness from the rice, is truly fantastic. Here, you can enjoy "Gongdeok-dong Makgeolli" made at a brewery in Daehang-dong, Mapo-gu, so we recommend ordering it alongside Seolleongtang as a pairing drink.

Though not inexpensive, both the quality and quantity of the food were satisfying. The taste immediately made us understand why this place has remained unchanged for 70 years and why it was selected for the Michelin Guide five years in a row. From the kimchi served as side dishes to the main dish Seolleongtang, everything was excellent. If you want to nourish your body with healthy food before the real heat of summer begins, stop by here. It will surely be a good choice.

Photo by Bomi Kim

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.