A minari hotpot in Seongsu, and the whole surface was green

One whole surface of the pot was green. Minari — water dropwort — piled across the top and simmered. I liked that a lot.

Out to a district called Seongsu

We went out from Myeongdong to Seongsu.

Seongsu was originally a district of factories and warehouses, and shops using those buildings keep opening. Walking it, you repeatedly meet buildings whose exterior is unchanged and whose insides have been swapped out.

It is not a place laid out for tourists, so the flow of people is closer to ordinary life.

The top of the pot, entirely green

What we ordered was the minari hotpot.

What surprised me on arrival was the quantity. The surface of the pot is completely covered in green. There is presumably broth and other ingredients underneath; you cannot see them.

As it cooks the volume drops and what is beneath comes up. Minari is what Japan calls seri, and the scent is strong. That scent transfers through the whole broth.

This was a flavour I liked. The green aroma and the savour of the broth mesh, and you can keep eating without tiring of it. There are not many occasions at a Japanese table to eat this much green vegetable at once.

Kimchi comes separately. Generous here too.

What is stuck on the wall

The wall had any number of photographs and pieces of paper on it. I could not read what they said, but a restaurant with a wall like that has usually been going locally for a long time.

Notes from this visit

• Neungdong Minari is in Seongsu, Seoul
• Seongsu is an area where shops are increasingly occupying former factory and warehouse buildings
• Minari (water dropwort) is heaped across the surface of the pot and simmered; the volume drops as it cooks
• The scent is strong and carries into the whole broth
• Kimchi is served separately, also generously
• This stay was at the end of March 2025
• Hours and menu change. Check before you go

Visited March 2025. Opening information is as it was at the time of the visit.