Daejeo, Busan Chinese restaurant: 25,000 won A course, Gupo Jjamppong

Today I'm introducing Gupo Jjamppong Gimhae Airport branch (구포짬뽕 김해공항점), where you can get a proper health-boosting Chinese meal near Gimhae Airport. It's a Daejeo Chinese restaurant that's already big on word of mouth, and it's perfect for filling up before or after a trip. I'll show you everything in detail, from the clean exterior to the carefully made dishes.

Where do you park at Gupo Jjamppong Gimhae Airport branch?

The dedicated parking lot is right across from the restaurant. It's easy to stop by on your way to the airport.

Location and exterior of Gupo Jjamppong Gimhae Airport branch

The restaurant is right next to the Busan Daejeo 2-dong post office, so it's really easy to find. First, here's the exterior, which sets the first impression.

A modern, clean gray building with warm wood interior touches gives it an upscale feel, quite different from an ordinary Chinese restaurant.

Banners out front let you check the menu in advance, so you can see at a glance which dishes are the signatures.

What makes Gupo Jjamppong special?

Gupo Jjamppong is a Chinese restaurant brand built around sanghwang mushroom noodles, an herbal sanghwang broth, and sweet potato stem topping. A sign inside tells the brand's history: it has been going for 16 years, since 2009.

The notice on the wall explains why Gupo Jjamppong is special.

• First, they say it's the first in Korea to top jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) with sweet potato stems, which are good for restoring energy.
• Second, the noodles are kneaded with ground sanghwang mushroom, called a golden medicine, they say.
• Third, the base is a restorative herbal sanghwang broth simmered with plenty of sanghwang mushroom and domestic medicinal herbs, they say.
• Fourth, they stick to house-made noodles by a 15-year master, kept at 3mm thick and 30cm long, they say.
• Fifth, even the batter of the sweet and sour pork contains sanghwang mushroom for a golden crispness, they say.

You can really feel the 20 years of warm sincerity and cooking touch learned from the owner's mother. Hearing that they expanded to this Gimhae Airport branch after 14 years of love from residents of Gupo-dong made my trust in the taste shoot up.

If you write a Naver receipt review at Gupo Jjamppong Gimhae Airport branch, they give egg and garlic chive stir-fry for 1 person or chili eggplant for 2 people, so leave a review and get the perk.

Interior and facilities at Gupo Jjamppong Gimhae Airport branch

Stepping inside, the open high ceiling with exposed rafters is impressive. Traditional and modern touches coexist, so it works for a family meal or a date.

Every table has a tablet ordering system, so you can order comfortably without calling staff, another plus of this Daejeo Chinese restaurant. The space is wide and pleasant, great for a relaxed meal before heading to the airport.

There's a self-serve bar too.

The etiquette zone has apple cider vinegar water, kale juice, baby chairs, hair ties, wet wipes, aprons and more.

Course menus and prices at Gupo Jjamppong Gimhae Airport branch

Looking at the menu, besides the single dishes, the well-stocked course meals stood out. To try a variety of flavors today, I chose the A course.

• Lunch special course ₩15,000: the best value choice
• A course ₩25,000: seafood nurungji soup (crispy rice soup), chili pepper japchae, sweet and sour pork, eggplant dumplings, closing meal
• B course ₩30,000: the A course plus yusanseul, a hearty spread

You can check the course contents live on the tablet screen, which made ordering much easier.

In what order does the A course come out, and how does it taste?

The Chinese restaurant essentials: pickled radish, onion and chunjang (black bean sauce).

Seafood nurungji soup

The first dish of the A course was the seafood nurungji soup in a bubbling earthenware pot. The owner comes over and cooks it for you. It's packed with fresh bok choy, mushrooms, shrimp, conch and other seafood, and the thick, mild broth is excellent.

With one bite your mouth fills with the flavor of the sea and a healthy feeling. You can't beat it as an appetizer before the meal.

Chili pepper japchae and flower buns

Next came the chili pepper japchae (stir-fried peppers and meat), which grabs your eyes from the looks alone. It comes with two pretty flower buns with pink stripes, and the crisp-stir-fried vegetables and meat go together wonderfully. Tear a bun along its layers and pile on the spicy, savory japchae and you get both filling heartiness and umami.

Sweet and sour pork

Next is the sweet and sour pork (tangsuyuk). Dip it in the sauce and add a little of the wasabi they give you. How good is that? Really good.

Eggplant dumplings

The dish that impressed me most in the A course was the eggplant dumplings. Big eggplant slices stuffed full and fried crisp, and the color of the coating is truly luminous, maybe thanks to the sanghwang mushroom batter. Dip it in the sauce served with it and the eggplant's juice and the meat's juices burst in your mouth.

Sanghwang mushroom noodle jjajangmyeon and jjamppong

Last, of course, come jjajangmyeon (noodles in black bean sauce) and jjamppong. Since Gupo Jjamppong makes them with sanghwang mushroom noodles, the noodles are wonderfully chewy.

Is Gupo Jjamppong Gimhae Airport branch worth a visit?

It's not easy to find food made with this much care near Gimhae Airport, and Gupo Jjamppong Gimhae Airport branch is a Daejeo Chinese restaurant that nails taste, nutrition and atmosphere. Unlike ordinary Chinese food that is just heavy-handed, it left me feeling as if I'd had a restorative meal that sits comfortably in the stomach afterward.

I highly recommend it if you want to start your trip on a good note, or to shake off travel fatigue with good food. With roomy parking and friendly service, it's perfect, so do stop by once.

Address and hours of Gupo Jjamppong Gimhae Airport branch

• Address: 36 Gonghang-ro 811beon-gil, Gangseo-gu, Busan, South Korea (1st floor)
• Hours: Tue–Sun 11:00–20:30
• Last order: 20:00