Paju stroller-friendly booth, jajang for two: Dolpanseok Jjamppong

I really love kaengban-jjajang (tray-style jajangmyeon) type dishes, but these days when you order delivery jjajangmyeon it never arrives right away, so the noodles get soggy and the fried stuff goes limp — that's why I hardly ever order Chinese food delivery. I was craving jajangmyeon out of nowhere the other day, but there was nowhere good for delivery, so I figured I'd look for a good spot nearby instead. That's how I found this rare gem near Simhaksan in Paju!!! A Paju Chinese restaurant with a rating of 4.9... a precious find of stone-plate jjamppong and stone-plate jajangmyeon!!

Dolpanseok Jjamppong

Where is Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch, and what are its hours?

Address: 경기도 파주시 돌곶이길 8-38 1층 Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–21:00 (last order 20:00) / Sat–Sun 11:00–21:00 (break 16:00–17:00 / last order 20:00) / Closed Tuesdays Group seating available, parking available, high chairs available, venue rental available, corkage allowed

I heard the Simhaksan area is so packed with good restaurants that it's hard for any place to survive there, but Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch has clearly held its own against the competition haha.

Since it's a large restaurant, venue rental is possible, and if you sign up for notifications you even get a drink coupon — no reason not to eat here haha. Turns out Dolpanseok Jjamppong actually started in Busan/Gyeongnam and has now opened a Paju branch too! The Miryang, Songjeong and Ulsan branches have apparently been on TV quite a lot.

There's a spacious parking lot right at the entrance of the building, so zero parking stress, and since there's a Lotte Outlet and the Paju Book City nearby, it's a great spot for a drive and some fresh air — a solid choice for a Paju family meal or a Paju date restaurant haha.

Can you bring a baby and a stroller to the partition booths?

What I especially liked was that since it's newly opened, the interior is super clean and tidy!! You'd normally picture a Chinese restaurant as a bit worn-down, so this fresh, clean vibe was really nice haha. Plus there are tables with partitions, so it's not as closed-off as a private room, but you still get that slightly private feeling like it's just your family eating there!! Totally fine for a family meal out.

The tables are wide and spaced far apart too, so it was so comfortable to bring the baby stroller in and eat — ㅠ.ㅠ places like this are so rare, so precious. There's also a self-serve bar, and unusually, they have pa-kimchi (green onion kimchi) — the combo of jajangmyeon and pa-kimchi is unbeatable haha. Even better, the rice is free and unlimited refills!! Whether you finish your bowl and want more, want to mix rice into the tasty jjamppong broth, or came with a baby and need plain rice — the generosity here was really wonderful.

What comes with stone-plate jjajang for two plus a whole squid?

Since the restaurant is named Dolpanseok Jjamppong, jjamppong seems to be the main dish, but I also wanted jajangmyeon, and I was so curious about the nurungji (scorched rice) stone-plate jjamppong and jajangmyeon I'd never seen before haha. The flavor that keeps bubbling on a scorching-hot stone plate, combined with crispy nurungji that I love so much... how could I not eat this?! Haha.

Cooked fresh the moment you order, so it's even hotter — the stone-plate jajang that gets more savory and deep-flavored the longer it sits on the hot stone!!

That sizzling visual and the portion size are no joke haha, so generously filling.

I added one extra squid and got a whole squid dropped right in — not chewy at all, cooked super tender, which I loved!

I love quail eggs and cabbage, and there was plenty of both, plus lots of onion and shrimp too — great value for the price.

How hot is spice level 2 at Dolpanseok Jjamppong?

I ordered it at spice level 2, and they gave us chili powder in case we wanted more heat, but level 2 was plenty spicy and delicious on its own haha.

It's a serving for two, but the portion is huge, and once you scrape up the nurungji stuck to the stone plate, it's enough food for three people. I really love nurungji haha — this combination of jajangmyeon and nurungji together felt so unique and fresh!!

Donchitang set: sweet-and-sour pork and fried chicken in one order

The donchitang set looked like great value too, which was interesting. It's a tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) and dakgangjeong (crispy sweet fried chicken) combo, so getting to pick multiple menu items in one is a plus. The tangsuyuk didn't look like the usual shape — it was round and bite-sized instead, made from nicely fried sirloin, crispy yet moist, which I liked. The chitang part looked like it was made from chicken thigh, super tender, with that sweet dakgangjeong flavor — impossible not to like haha.

A baby-food microwave and free yogurt for dessert

A high chair and even a microwave for heating up baby food... is there a more kid-friendly restaurant than this?!

Finally, on the way out, there's even yogurt and rice crackers for dessert — a full course experience. The staff were so kind and thoughtful too!! Really grateful haha. This place seems great for bringing parents along, and there was zero inconvenience even with a baby — Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch!! The Chinese food itself is excellent, and combined with unique menu items and such warm service, I definitely want to come back again!!