Dongbang Misik

Dongbang Misik is a Sichuan-style restaurant in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, reached by walking into the alley behind Cha Hospital from Eonju Station. It serves suja yuk, mala xiang guo, mapo tofu, and mala kkanpunggi, with the suja yuk brought out in a ceramic pot and finished with aromatic chili oil that draws out the scent of Sichuan pepper and chilies. The dining room holds only two two-person tables and one four-person table, so reservations are needed at mealtimes. The mala aroma and numbing heat are strong, which makes the food heavy going for anyone sensitive to spiciness and salt.