Mihyang Dang

So here's a question: Where do you find good Japanese food and drink cheap and authentic? Mihyang Dang is the simple answer.

The authentic part may be disputable, but I certainly haven't found a Korean restaurant owner so thoroughly down with Japanese culture as the boss of Mihyang Dang is. In fact, it would be quite easy to take him for Japanese, with his unique dress sense and personality. This in itself is indie enough for me.

And the nosebag? Great Japanese meals at lunch and dinner time for between W5000 and W7000 for various rice dishes. After 8pm it really becomes more of a bar and drinking becomes the focus. Japanese beer W4000; Korean beer and soju W2000. They did have self-service draught beer for W2500, but this seems to have disappeared. Side dishes such as okonomiyaki are available in the late evening to absorb the alcohol. Domestic bottles (beer and soju) are cheaper during university holidays and exams - ridiculously cheap!

The nice thing about the service in Mihyang Dang is that there isn't any. It's self service, which includes paying! They trust you to pay, and if you can't or make a mistake they'll wait till your next visit.

Marks out of 10? I'll give it 8.5. Japanese pub-style seating up at the bar and a return of draught beer would bump this up another point.