Four-dish Chinese lunch spread in Daehangno, Seoul: Cheonghwawon

On a day when Chinese food sounded good in Daehangno, I headed to Cheonghwawon, a well-known Chinese restaurant in the area. There's something about Chinese menus — the moment you open one, your appetite gets greedy. I went in just for noodles, but then the fried rice caught my eye, then the fried dishes, and suddenly I was in a hurry to order everything.

In the end, I overate again, properly!

Where is Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch, and when is it open?

Tucked in the alley by the Daehangno CGV, Cheonghwawon has a clean, tidy look from the outside. The big windows make the interior visible from the street, and instead of the cluttered vibe you'd expect from a typical Chinese restaurant, it felt more like a comfortable, stylish café.

📍 Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch

• 🏠 Address: 36 Daemyeong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 1F & 2F
• 🚇 Location: about 166m from Hyehwa Station Exit 4
• ⏰ Hours: daily 11:00 – 22:20
• 🕙 Last order: 21:50
• 📅 Closed: open year-round except Lunar New Year's Day

🚶 It's close to Hyehwa Station, making it an easy, convenient spot for a meal in Daehangno.

Inside Cheonghwawon: first- and second-floor seating

Stepping inside, the seating is well arranged for every group size — from window seats good for solo dining to 2- and 4-person tables.

Further inside, more cozily decorated tables continue — it looks comfortable whether you're dining alone or with friends and family.

We sat at the window seat on the 2nd floor, where the sunlight was especially good.

What's on the Cheonghwawon menu, and how much does it cost?

The menu spans noodles, dim sum, rice bowls, stir-fried dishes, and fried dishes, with plenty of options hovering around 10,000 won — great for trying several dishes without breaking the bank.

Ordering four dishes at once: beef knife-cut noodles, xiaolongbao, shrimp fried rice, fried eggplant

• Beef knife-cut noodles ₩10,500
• Xiaolongbao ₩9,500
• Shrimp fried rice ₩9,500
• Fried eggplant ₩14,000

The basic side dishes came out first: roasted peanuts, cabbage with zha cai (pickled mustard greens), and soy sauce for dipping the dumplings.

We happened to be really hungry, and since all the food came out together, it was easy to eat everything in turn.

Let's dig in~~

Taiwanese-style beef knife-cut noodles, 10,500 won

First up, Cheonghwawon's signature Taiwanese-style beef knife-cut noodles, whose name alone builds up expectations.

The beef shank, simmered for over 24 hours and piled on top, was incredibly tender and delicious, and the broth was rich and deep.

The wide, rustic strands typical of knife-cut noodles — hand-kneaded dough sliced with a knife — come out uneven in thickness. Rather than slurping it down fast, this is a dish to enjoy for its chewy texture the more you chew. Soaking the noodles in the rich broth made it thoroughly filling.

I found myself wanting to try the Sichuan version next, with its signature numbing mala kick!

Xiaolongbao, 9,500 won

Something I always order here without fail — the xiaolongbao, hand-made by a chef originally from Guangdong — is best enjoyed carefully while still piping hot.

Before taking a full bite, I broke the skin to slurp up the broth first, then topped it with shredded ginger and popped it in whole... The chewy wrapper and the juicy filling made my mouth feel like a festival. It stands up just fine against the xiaolongbao I had at a famous dim sum place while traveling in Taiwan — you absolutely have to try it!

Fried eggplant, 14,000 won

And then the fried eggplant. Even people who don't usually like eggplant tend to change their tune once it's fried...

The outside is well-coated in a glossy sauce and crispy, while the inside keeps the soft, appealing texture of the eggplant.

How does it taste? A perfect sweet-and-savory combo. It pairs well with beer, and works just as well as a side to the fried rice. Fried eggplant is another must-order at Cheonghwawon. And the price is noticeably more reasonable than at other restaurants.

Shrimp fried rice, 9,500 won

The shrimp fried rice — light, fluffy rice with moist egg and shrimp — felt like the base camp of the whole meal, in the best way. A Chinese meal always feels a little incomplete without fried rice, and I was glad we ordered it that day too.

A bite of noodles, a bite of fried rice, a bite of eggplant, another bite of fried rice... taking turns like this, our chopsticks and spoons never had a moment's rest.

Is a shared Chinese spread at Cheonghwawon worth it in Daehangno?

Working through the beef knife-cut noodles, xiaolongbao, shrimp fried rice, and fried eggplant, each dish had its own distinct character, making them great to order together and share. It's a good place to remember whenever you want something a little different from the usual Daehangno menu.

Once again, the plan to 'just have a simple lunch' fell apart — but falling apart in front of delicious food is a pretty happy kind of failure. If you want a hearty Chinese meal in Daehangno, Cheonghwawon is the place, and next time I want to be even greedier with the menu. Sichuan-style beef noodles? Shumai? You-po noodles?... the list never ends!