Mystic Pop-Up Bar (2020)

family centric
magical, fantastical elements
18 again is more slice of life, MPUB is more fantasy-esque
vastly different yet similar in terms of themes of sacrifice, grief and motherhood, family etc

both dramas are supernatural fantasy that deals with curses!
both have strong female protagonists that are cursed! mystics cursed owner lady has been cursed.over 2000 years and has to perform or rather help like 1000 souls in order to break the curse. In mirror the girl has to light like a 1000 candles to break her curse but the evil shaman that created the curse tries to blow out the last like 20 candles using dark magic!

Similarities:
- The characters in Mystic Pop-Up Bar attempt to counsel customers when they visit the bar for a drink or for supper. The psychiatrists in Dinner Mate try to provide food therapy to their clients.
- Both are comedies with many hilarious moments.
- There's romance in both dramas!
- Both attempted to explore mother-child relationships.

Differences:
- I think Mystic Pop-up Bar was better in food therapy than Dinner Mate haha.
- Mystic has more character development and each episode explores a social issue so I think it is a very meaningful show. Whereas Dinner Mate focused more on the romance between the characters.
- Another main difference is that Mystic Pop-up Bar has a supernatural theme whereas Dinner Mate's theme revolved around mental illnesses. Overall Mystic Pop-up Bar felt a lot more serious (despite the endless comedic moments) because it touched a lot on life and death and was also a critique on Korean culture.
- Even though the romance in Mystic Pop-up Bar was not the focus, it was a lot more touching than the romance in Dinner Mate to me (I was moved to tears!!)

-if you're into trying a c-drama it's similar to MPUB in those fantasy vibes
-there's a magical adventure and characters that possess magic in some way and are not actually part of humans
-reincarnation plays a huge role!!
-the plots are super interesting and all the characters really make it interesting!

Both dramas deal with customer deep thoughts
There are 3 Main Characters of the drama About food and life of their guest.

Both are set in a business with a trio of characters (two MLs, one FL) who are non human and/or have magical powers.

I kno this recommendation is a stretch. no similar genre whatsoever BUT the FL in summer strike has similar personality with the ML in mystic popup bar in my opinion, they both have VERY KIND PERSONALITY even they both hated by many in their own respective drama.

that's what the most attractive thing for me in both of these drama. KIND CHARACTERS eventho they both have quite a shitty life.

Both have tear-jerking moments. Mystic pop-up bar and Chocolate also have very very very slow romances among the primary leads but you know it's there. I loved both of them tho although i feel Pop-up Bar had a better ending.

Both are supernatural/fantasy dramas of short(er) length in which a main character must perform a specific number of tasks in order to achieve something they desire.

Bth are fantastic drama and touching ,gives similar vibes at some parts , really well done and worth to watch .

Same technique

Helping people by solving their problems
Only difference is their work occupation (MPUB is Bar whereas SL is laundry)

Also MPUB helps people in their dreams whereas SL helps people by predicted future & touching their laundry clothes to see the future what's going to happen next

Both drama revolves around what happened in the past and resolving those problems in the present time while also all the people involve are reincarnated in the present..

Both have 12 episodes, and are great! They have a good pacing movement, and both are just so un-explainable but so great. I really enjoyed Mystic Pop-Up Bar, and Missing: The other side. Even though both have only 12 episodes, I enjoyed the whole experience. As watching, it sometimes get side tracked and off topic, but only for one or two episodes. I hope you guys give both a try, because both are really great!

The Golden Spoona dn Mystic Pop-up Bar are both great dramas if you enjoy fantasy genre, and/or seeing Yook Sungjae and Choi Wonyeong's performances.

Both stories are based in fantasy and challenge society's taboo topics such as class differences (poverty vs. riches), depression, slumps, etc.

The Golden Spoon is a darker drama where you are able to follow the struggle of the main cast as they navigate their surroundings, and make life-altering decisions that affect themselves and those around them. If you were able to change your life, what price would you be willing to pay?

On the other hand, Mystic Pop-up Bar is still able to tackle heavy topics with a brighter, more hopeful spin. Sometimes there are things that can't be accomplished in real life, yet can be done in the realm of dreams. The cast and supporting casts bring us on a healing journey of tackling fears, overcoming traumas and self-discovery with magic that literally makes dreams come true.

Both Choi Wonyeong and Yook Sungjae are part of the main cast, giving stellar performances in vastly constrasting roles.

Although these dramas do not have similar premises, they do have one similar plot device. Both of the couples in these dramas knew each other in their past lives, and the FL's both died because of the ML's.