Crispy fried eggplant at Sinbok Myeongwan, Gangnam Chinese restaurant

Craving something different from my usual Gangnam Station rotation, I stopped by Sinbok Myeongwan (신복면관). It's a Chinese restaurant at 6 Teheran-ro 4-gil, B126, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, with a menu that spans knife-cut noodles, dim sum, fried rice, and eggplant fritters.

I tried the eggplant fritter, dim sum, and tomato egg stir-fry. Short version: the eggplant fritter was crispy outside and soft inside, the dim sum had a lovely tender texture, and the tomato egg stir-fry worked for me even without rice.

Where is Sinbok Myeongwan near Gangnam Station, and is there parking?

Sinbok Myeongwan sits in the basement, unit B126, of a building at 6 Teheran-ro 4-gil near Gangnam Station, with 1 hour of free parking in the building. A big red sign with Chinese characters at the entrance made it easy to spot.

There were menu photos posted outside too, so I could check what they served before going in. A solid option near Gangnam Station on a day when you want Chinese food instead of the usual meat or pasta spots.

Sinbok Myeongwan menu and prices

On the menu board, beef knife-cut noodles and lamb knife-cut noodles were each ₩11,000, while beef fried rice and shrimp fried rice were each ₩10,500. There were quite a lot of choices on the board.

There's also a dim sum lineup — xiaolongbao, siu mai, crystal dumplings — plus various rice bowl dishes. It looked like a great spot for a group to order several dishes and share rather than just picking one thing each.

Of the dishes I ordered, the eggplant fritter was ₩15,000 and the tomato egg stir-fry was ₩10,800 on the menu board. I also spotted familiar Chinese dishes like yuling chicken, cream shrimp, chili shrimp, ganpung chicken, and mala tofu. With so many options, I want to come back and try more.

Fried eggplant, crisp outside and soft inside: the best dish of the day

The most memorable dish at Sinbok Myeongwan was the ₩15,000 eggplant fritter. It arrives as thick pieces of eggplant coated in a glossy sauce — crispy and textured on the outside, soft and moist inside.

Crispy outside, tender inside really fit this dish well. Eggplant's texture can vary a lot depending on how it's cooked, but fried like this, it had a clear contrast between crisp exterior and soft interior instead of feeling mushy.

The sauce coated the thick eggplant pieces so well that I kept reaching for another piece.

Of everything I ate that day, the eggplant fritter is the dish I'd think of first if I came back. If you already like eggplant fritters, it's worth ordering.

Dim sum at Sinbok Myeongwan that melts in your mouth

The dim sum at Sinbok Myeongwan was satisfying too. It came in a bamboo steamer, and the wrapper wasn't thick or dry — it was moist and soft.

The wrapper was thin enough to be slightly translucent, which was impressive too. For me, it practically melted in my mouth, making it a nice thing to eat between bites of the eggplant fritter.

Tomato egg stir-fry, eaten without rice

The tomato egg stir-fry at Sinbok Myeongwan is ₩10,800, and I surprisingly kept going back for more spoonfuls. Thick tomato chunks mixed with soft egg and a moist sauce were enough on their own for my taste, without needing rice.

I ate it that day without rice. If you're watching your carb intake, skipping the rice and focusing on the dish itself is one way to go.

That said, skipping rice doesn't automatically make the tomato egg stir-fry a diet food. It's worth choosing based on your overall meal and diet.

How the three dishes worked together as a sharing order

Eating the eggplant fritter, dim sum, and tomato egg stir-fry together kept things interesting since the textures were all so different. Crispy-tender eggplant fritter, then a soft bite of dim sum, then a spoonful of tomato egg stir-fry in between — the combination worked well.

If I had to rank them, the eggplant fritter was the most memorable, but the dim sum and tomato egg stir-fry were also great to order alongside it. If you're near Gangnam Station and want Chinese food a bit different from your usual order, or want to share a few dishes, Sinbok Myeongwan is worth considering. Menu and prices may change, so check the latest info before visiting.

Frequently asked questions

Which dish tasted best at Sinbok Myeongwan?

Personally, the eggplant fritter stood out most. The exterior had texture while the inside was soft and moist — crispy outside, tender inside fit it well.

What is the dim sum texture like?

The dim sum I tried had a moist, soft wrapper. It had a smooth texture that went down easily.

Is the tomato egg stir-fry fine without rice?

I ate it without ordering rice separately and it worked fine. If you want to control your portion size, it's a good option to pick based on your own diet.

Is Sinbok Myeongwan good for a group?

Beyond noodles and fried rice, there are plenty of choices like dim sum, eggplant fritter, yuling chicken, and shrimp dishes, so it's good for ordering several dishes to share.

What should you order on a first visit?

Based on what I tried, the eggplant fritter, dim sum, and tomato egg stir-fry combo worked well. You get crispy, soft, and moist textures all in one meal.