Korean Chinese Food Koreans Have Loved for Generations
Korean Chinese food is one of the most familiar and beloved types of food in Korea. For many Koreans, dishes from a local Chinese restaurant are something they might eat as often as once a week.
Among all Korean Chinese dishes, jjajangmyeon (짜장면) and jjamppong (짬뽕) have been especially popular for generations.
Jjamppong is a spicy seafood noodle soup with a deep, flavorful broth. Jjajangmyeon, on the other hand, is not spicy. Its thick black bean sauce is slightly sweet and savory, which makes it an easy dish to enjoy even if you are not used to spicy Korean food.
That is one reason jjajangmyeon is also a great choice for international travelers visiting Korea.
This time, I visited an old and well-known Chinese restaurant called Wangchang Jjajangmyeon in a rural area of Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do.
If you want to find jjajangmyeon or jjamppong while traveling in Korea, simply search for:
짜장면
짬뽕
중국집
중식당
중식
on Naver Map.
You will usually find several Korean Chinese restaurants nearby. If you visit Korea, I definitely recommend trying jjajangmyeon at least once.
Table of Contents
Jjajangmyeon and Jjamppong at a Korean Chinese Restaurant
This is one of the most classic combinations you can order at a Korean Chinese restaurant: jjajangmyeon and jjamppong.
One is sweet and savory, while the other is spicy and refreshing. They are completely different dishes, but they go surprisingly well together.
Visiting Wangchang Jjajangmyeon in Yangpyeong
🔊 Listen: 중국집
(junggukjip)
Korean Chinese restaurant
The restaurant I visited is called Wangchang Jjajangmyeon.
It is located in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do, in a quiet countryside area. The restaurant looks like it has been here for a long time, which gives it the feeling of an old local favorite.
On the outside of the restaurant, you can see the words 옛날손짜장, which means old-style handmade jjajangmyeon.
That kind of sign immediately gives the restaurant a traditional Korean Chinese restaurant atmosphere.
Outdoor Seating at the Restaurant
There is also outdoor terrace seating.
On a nice day, customers can enjoy their food outside while taking in the quieter countryside atmosphere.
Inside an Old Korean Chinese Restaurant
The inside of the restaurant also feels a little old-fashioned and nostalgic.
Some of the tables are round, which gives the space a distinctly Chinese restaurant feel.
Rather than looking modern and polished, the restaurant has a more traditional and local atmosphere.
There are also private room-style seating areas.
These spaces are useful for families, larger groups, or company dinners because customers can enjoy their meal in a more private setting.
A Busy Local Restaurant
At the counter, the owner was busy taking care of customers and running the restaurant.
Places like this often have a very personal atmosphere because the owners are directly involved in serving customers every day.
Jjajangmyeon and Jjamppong Being Cooked
This was one of my favorite scenes.
The chef was cooking over a huge flame using a wok.
Wok cooking over high heat is an important part of making flavorful Korean Chinese food, especially dishes like jjamppong.
You could hear and see the food being cooked right in the kitchen.
How Much Do Jjajangmyeon and Jjamppong Cost in Korea?
The prices here were very reasonable.
Jjajangmyeon: 7,000 KRW (about $5.04 USD)
Jjamppong: 8,000 KRW (about $5.76 USD)
Because this restaurant is located in a countryside area, most of the dishes are relatively inexpensive.
For travelers, Korean Chinese food can be an affordable way to enjoy a filling meal in Korea.
Side Dishes at a Korean Chinese Restaurant
🔊 Listen: 단무지
(danmuji)
yellow pickled radish
Small plates were neatly prepared, and customers could also get more danmuji, the yellow pickled radish commonly served with jjajangmyeon.
Danmuji is slightly sweet, sour, and crunchy, so it works very well with the rich black bean sauce.
Jjajangmyeon and Jjamppong Arrive
Finally, both dishes arrived.
The black jjajangmyeon and bright red jjamppong looked completely different sitting next to each other.
They both looked incredibly appetizing.
What Is Jjajangmyeon?
🔊 Listen: 짜장면
(jjajangmyeon)
black bean noodles
Jjajangmyeon is a noodle dish covered in a thick, dark black bean sauce.
The sauce usually has a savory and slightly sweet flavor.
Unlike many famous Korean dishes, jjajangmyeon is not spicy, which makes it a very approachable Korean food for first-time visitors.
Adding Chili Powder to Jjajangmyeon
🔊 Listen: 고춧가루
(gochutgaru)
Korean chili powder
If you want your jjajangmyeon to be a little spicy, you can add some chili powder.
You do not have to do this, but some Koreans enjoy adding a little extra heat to the sweet black bean sauce.
How to Eat Jjajangmyeon
Before eating jjajangmyeon, mix the noodles thoroughly.
The goal is to cover every strand of noodle with the black bean sauce.
Keep mixing until the sauce is evenly distributed.
This is what it looks like after mixing.
Now the noodles are completely coated in the dark sauce.
And yes—it tasted as good as it looked.
The noodles were chewy, and the sauce was rich, sweet, and savory.
What Is Jjamppong?
🔊 Listen: 짬뽕
(jjamppong)
spicy seafood noodle soup
Jjamppong is very different from jjajangmyeon.
It is a spicy noodle soup usually filled with vegetables and seafood.
This bowl had plenty of seafood, including mussels with their shells still attached.
The red broth looks very spicy, but the level of heat can vary depending on the restaurant.
Chewy Jjamppong Noodles
There were also plenty of noodles inside the bowl.
The noodles were thick and extremely chewy.
The broth had a spicy but refreshing seafood flavor, making it especially satisfying.
This combination of chewy noodles, seafood, vegetables, and hot broth is why jjamppong is such a popular Korean Chinese food.
An Easy Way to Eat Mussels in Jjamppong
🔊 Listen: 홍합
(honghap)
mussel
Jjamppong often comes with mussels still inside their shells.
One easy way to eat it is to remove the mussels first and place the empty shells on a separate plate.
Once the shells are out of the bowl, eating the noodles becomes much easier.
Paying After the Meal
After finishing the meal, I paid at the counter.
The meal was delicious, filling, and surprisingly inexpensive.
This is one of the things I like about traditional local Korean Chinese restaurants.
Free Coffee After the Meal
Before leaving, there was even free coffee available.
Some older Korean restaurants have coffee machines like this near the entrance or counter so customers can enjoy a small cup after their meal.
It was a nice way to finish lunch.
Why You Should Try Korean Chinese Food in Korea
Jjajangmyeon and jjamppong are dishes that Koreans have enjoyed for generations.
Jjajangmyeon is sweet, savory, affordable, and easy to enjoy even if you do not like spicy food.
Jjamppong is a better choice if you enjoy spicy soup, seafood, and rich flavors.
Together, they are two of the most iconic dishes in Korean Chinese food culture.
If you are visiting Korea, open Naver Map and search for 짜장면, 짬뽕, or 중국집. You will probably find a restaurant close to where you are staying.
Jjajangmyeon and jjamppong are delicious no matter when you eat them, and I hope most travelers visiting Korea get the chance to try at least one of them.
Which one would you choose first: jjajangmyeon or jjamppong?
