Cuisine

Chinese (중국 음식점)

District

Mapo (마포구) , Seoul

Address

Seoul Mapo-gu Dokmak-ro 68 Sangsubilding 2, 3층

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Why go

Masi China occupies the second and third floors of a building near Sangsu Station in Seoul's Mapo-gu, operated by a chef who previously worked at Palseon and other hotel-grade C...

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Masi China occupies the second and third floors of a building near Sangsu Station in Seoul's Mapo-gu, operated by a chef who previously worked at Palseon and other hotel-grade Chinese kitchens. The restaurant was featured on the television program Wednesday Food Talk for its tangsuyuk and positions itself between fine hotel Chinese dining and casual neighborhood fare, delivering hotel-caliber craft at accessible prices. The tangsuyuk is the undisputed star: the batter is paper-thin, shatteringly crisp, and sealed tight around high-ratio cuts of pork that resemble tenderloin quality, producing a dish that compels return visits from the very first piece. The dongpoyuk (braised pork belly) is braised until the fat and lean layers separate effortlessly under chopsticks. The menbosa (shrimp toast) matches the kitchen's frying mastery with excellent crunch and balanced seasoning. The eohyang-gaji (Sichuan-style eggplant) maintains a clean, measured flavor without excess spice, and the seafood jjamppong features a clear broth laced with serious wok fire and loaded with shellfish. The jajangmyeon shows restraint in its sweetness, lending it a refined character, and the gongbu-tangmyeon combines a clean chicken-based broth with seafood and vegetables effectively. Dishes like palbochae and ryusanseul use ingredients that are visibly superior to those found at comparable price points elsewhere. Course meals are available, with dishes from cold appetizers through crab soup, seafood stir-fry, whole braised chicken, chili shrimp, tangsuyuk, main courses, and dessert, all served portioned onto individual plates. The 16,000-won lunch set bundles tangsuyuk, stir-fried eggplant, and a noodle or rice dish, delivering strong value for the composition. The rice and noodle dishes, however, are generally considered more ordinary compared to the standout specialty plates, so the restaurant's full potential is best experienced by visiting with a group and ordering multiple dishes to share. Staff are energetic, though opinions on attentiveness vary across visits.