Smoky jjamppong broth at Surabanjeom, a Gaya-dong Chinese restaurant

Today I visited a Chinese restaurant in Gaya-dong called Surabanjeom. I sometimes crave Chinese food like jjajangmyeon or jjamppong, and while looking for somewhere to eat near Gaya-dong, I ended up here.

I ordered and tried the fried rice, jjamppong, and mini tangsuyuk. And especially!! The smoky wok flavor coming through in the jjamppong was so good. Overall the food was tasty and the value was great, so I immediately added it to my Busan food map hehe~ If you're curious, pay attention.

Where is Surabanjeom Gaya Branch? Hours and parking

Surabanjeom Gaya Branch is a Chinese restaurant at 143 Eomgwang-ro, Busanjin-gu, right across from Gaya High School. Hours are Tue–Sun 11:00–21:00 (last order 20:00), with a weekday break time of 16:00–16:30, and it's closed on Mondays.

If you're driving, no worries about parking. 🚗🚗🚗

• Taeyang Private Parking Lot next to the building is available
• 1 hour of parking support per table with an order of ₩15,000 or more

There's a parking lot right next to the building, so it was convenient to visit by car.

There was a banner set up in front of the restaurant, which was nice because you could see the menu at a glance.

It's also fairly close to Dongui University, so maybe that's why there were quite a few student customers when I visited.

What the inside of Surabanjeom Gaya Branch looks like

I snapped some photos of the inside of Surabanjeom Gaya Branch before customers came in. True to a Chinese restaurant, there were Chinese-style paintings on the walls and music playing, and I honestly liked the vibe.

While I was eating, delivery orders kept coming in nonstop, so clearly a lot of people order from Surabanjeom. The kitchen staff were busy cooking without a break.

The restroom is out through the door at the back of the restaurant. If you're going to use it, make sure to grab the key!

Self-bar items and free rice

There's a self-bar set up on one side of Surabanjeom Gaya Branch. Kimchi, danmuji, onion, and chunjang were all neatly prepared, so you can help yourself to as much as you need.

And here's the part I liked~!!! Rice is provided for free. There's a big rice cooker on one side, so anyone who wants more can just help themselves.

Next to the rice cooker there was also a water dispenser and aprons, so everything you might need while eating was conveniently available.

What's on the menu

Each table had its own menu.

There were noodle and rice dishes, cooked dishes, solo set menus, 2-person set menus, and even drinking-food sets. I think it's best to check the menu and prices from the photos.

They were also running a Naver receipt review event. If you participate, you can get either fried dumplings or mempose (deep-fried shrimp toast). The country-of-origin labeling was also neatly posted in one corner, which was nice to be able to check.

Side dishes on the table

Each table was neatly set with soy sauce, chili powder, vinegar, and utensils.

After ordering, they brought out the basic side dishes right away.

Eating the two-person set: jjamppong, fried rice, mini tangsuyuk

I looked over the menu and went with the 2-person set. I chose the combo of jjamppong, fried rice, and mini tangsuyuk — all dishes I usually love, so I ordered without hesitation.

Fried rice topped with shrimp

The fried rice was fluffy and well-fried, with a golden color from the egg, carrots, and green onion mixed in. It was topped with plump shrimp too, so it looked pretty appetizing.

I took a bite and was honestly surprised at how good it was!

The fried rice itself was tasty, but the jjajang sauce had this sweet, clingy flavor that made me curious about the jjajangmyeon too. I'll definitely have to try it next time I visit.

When you order the fried rice, jjamppong broth comes along with it too. The spicy jjamppong broth paired really well with the fried rice.

Freshly fried mini tangsuyuk

The mini tangsuyuk came out freshly fried, so it had this nutty, toasty aroma. The tangsuyuk sauce and sesame salt were served separately, so I could dip it however I liked.

I dipped a crispy piece into the sauce and took a bite — the meat was so tender and delicious that I was surprised all over again.

They must use tender cuts rather than chewy ones, because it went down easily with each bite, no heaviness at all.

From the fried rice to the tangsuyuk, every single dish was so good it was one surprise after another.

Jjamppong full of smoky wok flavor

Last but not least, the dish that satisfied me the most was the jjamppong. The generous portion looked great even before I took a bite.

The noodles were springy and had a nice chew, and above all, the smoky wok flavor coming through in the broth was absolutely amazing.

I took a spoonful of the broth first, and it was spicy with that smoky flavor, which honestly felt like the perfect hangover cure.

I usually leave a bit of food at Chinese restaurants because the flavors can be too intense for me, but that day it was so good that I finished it clean even after I was already full.

The generous seafood and sweet onion in the jjamppong made a great combo, and with that subtle smoky flavor layered in, it was genuinely delicious.

The verdict on Surabanjeom Gaya Branch

From the fried rice to the mini tangsuyuk to the jjamppong, everything at Surabanjeom was so good overall.

The jjamppong with its smoky wok flavor stood out most, and the 2-person set was generous enough that the value was great too. I want to try the jjajangmyeon next time, so I'll be back whenever I'm craving Chinese food near Gaya-dong.