Five well earned stars to an authentic and delish Korean grocery/eat in/takeaway all in one store, owned by a Korean couple that also speaks Mandarin Chinese fluently.
I'd actually debated giving it four stars, dropping a star due to its location/accessibility. But after further analysis of ways to get here, I have reconsidered. If one plans ahead, they can easily take the S6 train (it runs like 2x an hour going to Baden from Zurich) stopping in Seebach which drops you off 1-2 minute walk from this place. Or walk 10 minutes from Bahnhof Oerlikon and call it a way to keep fit after eating a meal here. (I write about possible ways to get there below)
The taste of the food and service are thumbs up. And even better, the prices are a bit lower than Zurich average of what you find in this mom and pop shop. For example, my Yukgejang (spicy beef in hot oil and vegetables/tofu) was about CHF 19, and comparing this to Yumihana selling in high 20s (a similar type of Korean food store)... since I boycott Yumihana for years since they pulled their discriminatory poor treatment on me and for price gouging. The difference is Mi Mi Sa is undoubtedly my top choice: the people here at Mi Mi Sa gives great service, are very friendly and accommodating, treated me well (unlike Yumihana - which treats some Asian (not from their country) looking customers inferior behind your back), are very fair in pricing and... it's really delish! Yeah, I pinch myself, because Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore... this is really in Zurich!
When you order anything, like Yukgejang, it will come with a complimentary small "banchan" side (traditional Korean small plate of starter, usually kim chi). This is what a real Korean restaurant will do, but the few ones I've been here in Zurich to don't ever do this to save cost - but Mi Mi Sa actually does it. Their kim chi is home made and you can also buy it in bulk here (see my photos). So if you come with a party of 3, you get three small plates of "banchan". The lady was so nice she refilled my banchan once as I ate my delish kim chi quickly. :D
They serve their food with proper Korean utensils - the flat stainless steel chopsticks and spoon, both from Korea, and adds a fine touch to a "homey", authentic eat in experience. Your food is made fresh as you can hear the kitchen chopping away after you've ordered your meal.
One small caveat, since it's a small grocery store with a very small eat in area (there are four tables, 1 of which accommodates a party of 4, and 3 other tables for 2 people), I don't think they have public toilets, not sure, never asked. But you don't go there to hang out and sit for hours, anyway. Given it's in the Bahnhof Oerlikon area, I'm sure you can find somewhere to go easily within a close vicinity.
Variation: Excellent. Very authentic offering. They have Korean pancake, the staples (Bulgogi, Kalbi beef ribs, bi bim bab, and even the rare to find in Zurich Yukgejang - which they make so well here)... for a small mom and pop store here, this is applauded!!!
Location: Okay ish. Wish it was closer to me but still manageable esp thanks to trains!
Option 1: Tram 14 to Felsenrainstrasse (6 minutes away from Berninaplatz, 1 min from Bahnhof Oerlikon Ost). WALK 2 minutes.
Option 2: S6 to Seebach train stop. S6 Stadelhofen to Seebach ride: only 14 min. WALK 1 minute.
Option 3: Any "S" train to Bahnhof Oerlikon, WALK 10 minutes. There are probably many ways but I chose to exit at Track 8, pass the Asian Grocery store and continue walking on Schaffhauserstrasse for most of the walk.
Service: Excellent. The couple are so accommodating and kind. Anyone who asks to re-fill my kim chi banchan once (I didn't abuse it) here in Zurich rates high in my book. But they are also the only place that offers complimentary tiny dishes of banchan like they do at real Korean restaurants.
Pricing: Very competitive, lower than Zurich average. Even the grocery, for example, the vegetarian leek dumplings they sell are from Korea (great quality), and they charge CHF 9 (the meat ones cost more). At the Chinese stores here in Zurich like the one at Berninaplatz, if you can manage to find leek dumplings (which they are not consistent in their product selection), it is well over CHF 12-15, and not as good as the Korean dumplings.
Ambiance: You don't come to eat here to propose to your girlfriend/boyfriend. It's purely business, y'a know? Well, you could propose here if your heart desires anyway... read more