Daegu Chinese restaurant with beef brisket jjamppong: Machai Jjamppong

Today my husband and I met up after he got off work, wondering what to eat for a late lunch-slash-dinner, and Chinese food it was! This place is near our house, and whenever we're craving jjamppong, this is always where we go. It's Machai Jjamppong Sinam Branch. There's another Machai Jjamppong branch within walking distance, but this one's tastier. Machai Jjamppong Sinam Branch is also famous as a Dongdaegu Station spot, and it's close to Pyeonghwa Market too, so the location is perfect for meeting up after work.

Even though it was late, there were still quite a few people in the dining hall.

• We went with our usual go-to, beef brisket jjamppong
• There's a solo set too, so eating alone is fine
• Kiosk ordering meant no waiting in line, which was convenient
• There's also a self-bar with cheongyang peppers, pickled radish, and onion

Where is Machai Jjamppong Sinam Branch, and what about parking and closing days?

Machai Jjamppong Sinam Branch is at 38 Ayang-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu. Think of it as Sinam-dong, across from Pyeonghwa Market. It's about a 10-minute walk from Dongdaegu Station Exit 2, or about an 8-minute walk from Sincheon Station Exit 4 heading toward Pyeonghwa Market.

If you're driving, it's easy to find right on the main Ayang-ro road, but there isn't a large dedicated parking lot, so you'll want to use the alley in front of the store or a nearby public parking lot. Also, it's closed on Sundays, so keep that in mind before you visit!

Machai Jjamppong menu and prices

For two or more people, there's also a special set of yusanseul (stir-fried seafood and vegetables) + sweet and sour pork + kkanshoo shrimp (₩18,000 per person, with a choice of jjamppong or jjajangmyeon for dessert).

They also had a summer menu of cold jjamppong and peanut-sauce-based Chinese cold noodles.

What to order for two: beef brisket jjamppong, japchae rice and mini sweet and sour pork

We ordered beef brisket jjamppong (₩11,500), japchae rice (₩9,500), and mini-size sweet and sour pork (₩13,000). If you're coming to Machai Jjamppong Sinam Branch as a pair, this is the combo I'd recommend!

With these three dishes, my husband and I ate until we were completely full. Jjamppong and sweet and sour pork are must-orders, but jjajangmyeon felt a bit heavy, so we tried japchae rice instead — and it was seriously delicious.

How does the beef brisket jjamppong taste, and how big is the portion?

The beef brisket jjamppong tasted exactly like the version we always love. The broth color alone screams spicy, and the smoky beef brisket flavor is genuinely great.

The portion is genuinely huge — I once ordered the large size and it caused chaos... the regular size is plenty. The brisket jjamppong has crazy smoky flavor and umami. Recommended if you want a jjamppong loaded with meat!

Is the mini sweet and sour pork enough for two people?

We ordered the mini size of sweet and sour pork, and it was plenty for two of us. Every time I eat the sweet and sour pork here, I notice the oil is really fresh and the meat quality is good too. The batter is thin and crispy, so it's not greasy, and dipping it in the sauce paired perfectly with the jjamppong.

Trying the japchae rice at Machai Jjamppong for the first time

This was the first time I ever ordered japchae rice (glass noodle stir-fry over rice) at a Chinese restaurant, and it was genuinely amazing. Glass noodles, shiitake mushrooms, and onions stir-fried together with plenty of meat, topped with jjajang sauce and mixed into the rice — it has a different charm from jjajangmyeon.

It occurred to me that with this level of taste and quality, you could just order this Chinese-style japchae rice instead of making japchae for the holidays, haha. The mini jjamppong broth that came alongside was refreshing too, and I loved it.

After finishing our meal, we each poured ourselves an Americano from the self-bar, which was the perfect ending.

Who should visit Machai Jjamppong Sinam Branch?

• When you're craving a spicy, rich jjamppong broth
• When you need room seating for a family or group
• When you want a solo set for eating alone
• When you're near Dongdaegu Station looking for a great Daegu Chinese restaurant

Final verdict on Machai Jjamppong Sinam Branch

For us, the beef brisket jjamppong was already a proven favorite, but this time the japchae rice combo satisfied us so much that I think we'll be ordering japchae rice again next time!!