Food Review: MyeongDong Topokki @ Paradigm Mall

The fuss-free premier Fast Casual Korean restaurant.

MyeongDong Topokki was one of the small stalls I didn't notice until my business partners invited me for lunch there. As I live nearby, I didn't mind trying out MyeongDong Topokki for the first time. I'm not really a Korean food expert; the only Korean food I enjoyed previously was at a restaurant at Tropicana City Mall, which has since shut down.

I was pleasantly surprised by the menu.

According to their website:

THE ORIGIN of Topokki goes back to 1950s where it was first introduced to masses. This chewy rice cakes drenched with spicy red chili sauce derives from the royal household and it was a part of school lunches among students bringing back nostalgic memories.

Bulgogi Beef Deopbap MDT Value Set, which comes with 3 side dishes + 1 drink (RM 17.80).

The beef marinade was perfectly balanced; you can taste the sweet soya sauce and garlic. The beef itself was tender and cooked perfectly. I loved the addition of the glass noodles. The vegetables such as carrots and cabbages added a crunchy texture to the dish.

Hangul Chicken Deopbap MDT Value Set, which comes with 3 side dishes + 1 drink (RM 16.80)

The chicken from the Hangul Chicken Deopbap was crunchy on the outside and succulent on the inside. The sauce was spicy and sweet, a perfect mix if you love savoury and sweet together. The seaweed added a fresh balance to the dish.

 Kimchi Jjigae MDT Value Set, which comes with 3 side dishes + 1 drink (RM 16.80)

I ordered this dish. For such a small bowl, there was so much treasures in the soup. I loved discovering all the delicious veggies in ever scoop. The chicken taste in the dish was nothing to shout about (boneless + skinless chicken fillets which was overcooked, probably due to the long cooking in the soup) but the soup itself was really delicious.

I loved all the side dishes that came with all the MDT Value Set. The anchovies were slightly salty, but the nuts added a nice sweet bite. The kimchi was pickled cabbage goodness adding a great tang to every bite, and the crunchy veggies was cooked perfectly (many restaurants tend to overcook the veggies).

Claiming to be a premier Fast Casual Korean restaurant, their menu focuses heavily offering topokki (Tteok-bokki) or stir-fried rice cakes, along with other Korean food such as ramyun noodles, jabchae (korean glass noodles), bibimbap (rice served in a stone pot and layered with vegetables and meat), bulgogi (marinated meat served with rice), and kimchi jjigae (kimchi soup).

They offer value sets (which comes with condiments/ side dishes such as Kimchi for Kimchi addicts + drinks), as well as add-ons such as extra cheese, fried egg and rice ranging from RM 1 - RM 2. The price range is from RM 6.80 for topokki and roughly between RM 15.00 - RM 20.00 for a noodle/ rice value set which comes with 3 side dishes and 1 drink. They also offer popular Korean Street Food options.

Our receipt.

Rating:

1. Variety: 4/5
• The menu stayed true to Korean cuisine and offered noodles and rice to appeal to different tastebuds, with optional add ons. I loved that they had affordable Korean street food options
2. Taste: 4/5
• Really love the taste for all the food I have tasted so far. I actually went back and ate with another friend a few days later. The kimchi (always the star) and the food is always consistently good.
3. Value for Money: 3.5/5
• For a "premier Fast Casual Korean Restaurant", the prices are a little steep for a casual restaurant with small dining space and self-service. 
4. Cleanliness: 5/5
• It's a small space so I guess hygiene and cleanliness is easy to maintain. 
5. Service 5/5
• As they don't charge service tax/ charge, you can't fault with the service. The staff are friendly and will call your number once your food is ready. My food was ready within 10 minutes of ordering.
6. Overall: 4.5/5
• Would definitely patron again!

Myeong Dong Topokki @ Paradigm Mall
Address:
LG-22, Paradigm Mall, No. 1,
Jalan SS 7/26A, Kelana Jaya,
47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Operating Hours:
10 AM - 10 PM Daily

Contact Details:
+603-78865363

Website: http://myeongdongtopokki.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myeongdongtopokki
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myeongdongtopokki

*This post was not sponsored or endorsed by Myeong Dong Topokki.