[Shanghai Girl Eats] Seoul: El Molino 엘몰리노
El Molino 엘몰리노
Address: 1F, 19-18 Seoul Forest 2-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul | 서울 성동구 서울숲2길 19-18 1층
Naver Map | Catch Table | Instagram
Date visited: 2024.01
What to get:
– Margarita
– Guac & chips
– Tuna tostada
– Iberico taco
– Barbacoa taco
– Fish taco
– Carne asada plate
Situated in an unassuming corner of the trendy Seongsu neighborhood (often referred to as the Brooklyn of Seoul), El Molino serves an elevated Mexican affair with good vibes, warm service, and strong margaritas. El Molino is one of several Mexican-inspired concepts by Molino Project, which includes Escondido (fine dining in Hannam), La Calle (street style tacos inside Seoul Central Market), and Polanco (fast and casual inside The Hyundai food court). I’ve visited El Molino for dinner twice and both times have been delicious, fun evenings. The service staff is kind, can speak enough English, and make some good margaritas!
Although El Molino won’t replace my street style taco joints, it’s definitely the place to dine for Mexican with ambiance. It’s not cheap but it’s worth visiting for a nice night out over cocktails and wine. The restaurant is small so be sure to reserve ahead on Catch Table.
First and foremost, margaritas (KRW15,000) are must-haves with tacos and can be made with tequila or mezcal — I think we had six of these between the two of us.
Starting with guacamole & totopos (KRW12,000) is also non-negotiable. All the tortillas are made from blue corn, hence the dark color.
Another good starter to order is the tuna tostada (KRW15,000/2pcs) with avocado, chipotle mayo, and fried scallion over fried tortillas — it’s got a slight kick to it.
Every taco packs a nice balance of flavors wrapped in blue corn tortillas — my go-tos are the iberico, barbacoa, and fish tacos in this order. Pulpo (octopus), shrimp, and tripa tacos are also available on the menu but I didn’t get to try them this time.
My favorite taco was the ibérico taco (KRW14,000/2pcs; KRW21,000/3pcs) with jalapeño mayo and perilla leaf.
Next favorite is the barbacoa taco (KRW21,000/2pcs) with pulled beef and feta was super juicy.
The fish taco (KRW14,000/2pcs; KRW21,000/3pcs) with fried cod and chipotle mayo, topped with apple was very crispy, not oily or soggy at all.
After the taco flight, we had the carne asada plate (KRW45,000) with rib steak (450g), chimichurri, and fries. The steak is nicely prepared with a smokey flavor while the fries are super thin and crispy, which I prefer over thick cut fries. Tortillas are provided but I think the steak is nice on its own.
Overall, great place and will return again!
