Myeongdong Cheap Eats — Free Unlimited Side-Dish Bar (Japchae, Tteokbokki, Acorn Jelly) and a ₩13,000 Pork Feast

Neighborhood Eats · Myeongdong

Order one dish. Then raid the free side-dish bar. As much as you want.

By a hotel facilities engineer Verified June 2026 Myeongdong

Solo dining OK Cards accepted Free unlimited side dishes English on the menu

Boiled pork set with siraegi soup, rice and free side dishes, Soonnam Siraegi Myeongdong — **The ₩13,000 boiled-pork set.** Pork on a board. Siraegi (dried radish greens) soup in a stone pot. Multigrain rice. And a table full of free side dishes. I kept asking — can you really eat this well for this little?

I work on a hotel facilities team in this neighborhood. Some days I just want a home-cooked meal. This basement spot in Myeongdong is that — Jeonju-style siraegi soup, a generous pork set, and a free side-dish bar you can hit as many times as you like. Everything tasted like good home cooking.

At a Glance

Soonnam Siraegi · Myeongdong 순남시래기

Address	B1, 35-20 Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동10길 35-20 지하 1층) Open in Naver Map Use Naver — Google Maps walking directions don’t work in Korea. It’s one floor down (B1).
Subway	Myeongdong Stn (Line 4) — about a 5-minute walk
Nearby hotels	UH Suite Myeongdong and many other hotels in central Myeongdong are all within a short walk
Budget	₩11,000–14,000 per person · the free side-dish bar is included with any order
Solo dining	Great solo — every set is a one-person meal
Menu	Korean board, but English is printed right on it
Payment	Cards accepted · no tipping

The Hook

The Free Side-Dish Bar

This is the part to know. Order one dish — just one. Then the self-serve bar is all yours. Japchae. Tteokbokki. Dotori-muk (acorn jelly). Kimchi. Soy-braised quail eggs. Bokbunja (black raspberry) tea. All free. All refillable. And honestly, all good.

Free self-serve bar with tteokbokki and japchae, Soonnam Siraegi Myeongdong — The self-serve bar. Warm tteokbokki, glass-noodle japchae, and more. Go back as often as you like.

Side dishes including tteokbokki, soy-braised eggs and kimchi at Soonnam Siraegi Myeongdong — Tteokbokki, soy-braised quail eggs, kimchi. Simple, done well.

What to Order

Good news — the board already has English. Here’s every line, with prices.

Soonnam Siraegi · Myeongdong

The Full Menu

Jeonju-style siraegi house · any order includes the free side-dish bar

First time?

Get the boiled-pork set (₩13,000) or the signature siraegi soup. Either one unlocks the free side-dish bar.

Hungry?

One set plus unlimited japchae, tteokbokki and acorn jelly. You will not leave hungry.

Sliced boiled pork on a board with ssam veggies and side dishes, Soonnam Siraegi Myeongdong — The boiled pork. Wrap a slice in the leaf with the red seasoning. The meat was clean and tender.

Siraegi dried radish greens soup with rice, Soonnam Siraegi Myeongdong — The siraegi soup — earthy greens in a soybean broth. Spoon the rice in. That’s the comfort.

Full boiled pork set with soup, rice and many side dishes, Soonnam Siraegi Myeongdong — One order. This whole table. That’s the deal here.

Directions

Finding It

Entrance sign of Soonnam Siraegi, a basement restaurant in Myeongdong Seoul — Look for the “순남시래기 / SOONNAM SIRAEGI” sign, then head down the stairs. It’s in the basement (B1).

First-timer Guide

How to Order

Head down to B1 and seat yourself. No host.
Order one main — the English is right on the menu. Call the staff with “Yeogiyo!” (여기요).
Hit the free side-dish bar. Japchae, tteokbokki, acorn jelly, kimchi. Refill as much as you want.
Pay at the counter on your way out. Cards are fine. No tipping — ever, in Korea.

Good to know The side-dish bar is included with any single order — you don’t pay extra. It’s in the basement, so watch for the stairs.

Recommended & personally verified

I keep the hotels around here running. This is where I actually eat. Staying at UH Suite Myeongdong or anywhere in Myeongdong? A hearty, home-style meal is a short walk away — and the side-dish bar is on the house.