Busan Station Chinese restaurant: ₩4,900 jjajangmyeon at Jangchunhyang

When people think of Busan Station, Chinatown often comes to mind first. This time I visited Jangchunhyang (장춘향), a budget-friendly restaurant inside Chinatown.

Where is Jangchunhyang? Shanghai Street in Chinatown, across from Busan Station

Busan's Chinatown sits right across from Busan Station, and the vibe clearly shifts the moment you enter Shanghai Street, lined with red gates and Chinese-style decorations. This Chinatown actually traces back to the Cheonggwan-geori area formed when the Qing dynasty consulate was established in 1884, so even the walk to the restaurant has an exotic feel to it.

Personally, when I go to a Chinese restaurant, this kind of atmosphere matters quite a bit to me — and thanks to the mood carrying all the way from the street to the entrance, I was already looking forward to the meal at Jangchunhyang before I even sat down.

Jjajangmyeon for just 4,900 won

The first thing that caught my eye at Jangchunhyang was the ₩4,900 price tag on jjajangmyeon. Given today's dining prices, being able to get a bowl of jjajangmyeon at this price felt genuinely easy on the wallet. Especially if you're visiting with a group, rather than just one bowl of jjajangmyeon each, it seemed like a great idea to order several dishes and share. This time I ordered japchaebap, stir-fried jjamppong, and mini tangsuyuk.

Japchaebap: glass noodle stir-fry over rice

The first dish to arrive at Jangchunhyang was japchaebap. One bite in, it was better than I expected, which naturally raised my expectations for the rest of the meal.

With japchaebap, the rice and japchae (glass noodles) worked well together seasoning-wise. It's a familiar dish at Chinese restaurants, but overall it was easy to eat without feeling heavy.

Stir-fried jjamppong, the dish of the day

Next I tried the stir-fried jjamppong, which was, personally, the most satisfying dish I had at Jangchunhyang that day.

It has a different appeal from the soupy version of jjamppong, so I was glad I ordered it alongside the japchaebap. Having several dishes on the table let me notice the differences in flavor, and made the meal much more fun than ordering just one dish.

Mini tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork)

Tangsuyuk is a dish you don't want to skip at a Chinese restaurant, and if a group finds the regular size too much, pairing a mini tangsuyuk with other dishes to share is a good approach.

All three dishes I had this time were satisfying overall. Rather than picking just one favorite, I felt the best way to enjoy Jangchunhyang is to visit with a group and order a variety of dishes and mains to share.

Is Jangchunhyang worth it for a cheap Chinese meal near Busan Station?

What made Jangchunhyang appealing was that it's a place to enjoy familiar Chinese dishes like jjajangmyeon and tangsuyuk without any fuss, rather than fancy cooking.

The ₩4,900 jjajangmyeon in particular makes it great for a quick, casual meal, and also works well if you're going with friends or family and want to order a variety of dishes.

There's also group seating with a Chinatown view. More than anything, Busan's Chinatown itself has a distinct atmosphere, so if you're looking for a place to eat near Busan Station, it's worth combining your meal with a stroll through the Chinatown streets.

There's also a small self-serve bar. If, like me, you enjoy not just the taste of a restaurant but the local atmosphere that comes with it, Jangchunhyang in Busan's Chinatown is well worth a visit.

The Chinatown street view from inside Jangchunhyang — feels like being in China, haha.