Mashin-neun Jip Miga, home-cooked food, Seoul

Being a working girl, one thing that I get frustrated about is a lack simple Korean food without MSG. So I was very happy to learn that my colleague OH's mother re-opened her restaurant. It is called Mashineun Jip, Miga (味家) right behind Daehan Cinema in Chungmuro area. To celebrate the reopening, all of my colleagues went there to have dinner.

The restaurant serves baekban (which literally means white rice) where various banchans (side dishes) are served with rice and soup/stew. This is what Korean eat every day at home, and we do go without dishes like BBQ. Since there were seven of us, we ordered dak-bokkeum-tang (spicy chicken stew) and Miga Sangcharim (more hearty of the two baekbans on offer).

Dak-bokkeum-tang (spicy chicken stew). Chicken, potatoes and onion pieces are gently cooked in sweet spicy broth.

If you order Miga Sangcharim, these are what you will get. But I must remind you that banchans change daily, all prepared by OH's mother. I usually don't eat kimchi when I eat out, because most of them are from kimchi factory. But since I knew it was all prepared here, I ate it. It was good, like what you will get if you visit your friend's house.

My favourite among them are steamed green chili (green chilis are tossed in seasoned flower, steamed and then seasoned again) and courgette pancakes. So yummy. I was also quite surprised that pan-fried platycodon tasted nice.

Rice and doenjang jjigae (bean paste stew). Inside jjigae are tofu, onion, courgette and fresh water seashell. It was a light jjigae which I liked.

Spicy chicken stew is kept warm through out the meal.

We had Miga Sangcharim on the left, and more simple Miga Jeomsim is available during lunch.

More menu available...I would like to try stir-fried pork in sweet chili sauce in the future. If you want simple meal, you can choose from noodle soup, dumpling and rice cake soup or noodle mixed in sauce.

It is a very simple restaurant, nothing fancy. However, a lot of attention has been put to make simple yet hearty meal, and that defintely makes a huge difference. I would definitely go back after watching a movie. Poor excuse for pasta can easily cost more than 12,000KRW (around ￡5-6), but for 6000KRW, you get a hot meal that is a lot healthier. I was told that they have regulars who come back. I wish it was near where I work. I would know where to go to if I want MSG-free meal.

Unfortunately, it is not very eas to get to. But not an impossible task either. Refer to the map and pics.

맛있는 집 味家
Tel)2269-8492
충무로역 1번출구로 나와 대한극장/행복예식장 직진.
LG Telecom 골목으로 들어가 왼쪽으로 보이는 좁은 골목으로 10m 직진.

Mashin-neun Jip Miga
Tel)2269-8492Chungmuro Station (Line 3/4) Exit 1
Walk past Daehan Cinema and Hangbok Weeding Hall.
When you see LG Telecom, turn right and take the alley.
As soon as you walk into the alley, you will see another very small alley. Take that alley and walk for 10 m. The restaurant in on your left.