Spicy jjamppong near Yeoksam Station, Seoul: Jjamppong Jijon

Returning to Jjamppong Jijon near Yeoksam Station after a long time

Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch is a five-minute walk from Exit 3 of Yeoksam Station. Parking is available too: it is free at weekday lunch, while valet parking costs ₩3,000 after 3 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. without a break, and high chairs are available.

Today I visited a Chinese restaurant I used to go to all the time when I worked near Yeoksam Station. I always came here for hangover relief, and I ordered jjamppong sujebi (spicy seafood noodle soup with hand-torn dough) every time. I work in Jamsil now, so it had been such a long time since my last visit, and it is also close to Gangnam Station.

A spacious restaurant for solo meals and company dinners

The restaurant is really comfortable and spacious, so it would work well for company dinners too. Because it is so roomy, it was also nice to eat alone without feeling self-conscious. There is a wait at weekday lunch, but I visited during a quieter time. The restroom is inside, and they even had mouthwash ready—such a thoughtful touch.

The self-service station for rice with jjamppong broth

One thing I quietly love here is the self-service station. You can take as much rice, danmuji (pickled radish), zhacai (pickled mustard stem), and kimchi as you need. It is really great for anyone who pours rice into jjamppong broth, and I also cannot resist bringing a little rice over after jjajangmyeon and mixing it into the leftover black bean sauce.

There is ade at one side too, so you can pour yourself a glass as a palate cleanser after the meal. I liked being able to comfortably help myself without calling a staff member, and seeing hair ties available made me think they really understand what customers need. It is a small consideration, but it made me happy.

My favorite menu item is the jjamppong sujebi. It is truly a hangover-relief dish.

How spicy is level-2 jjamppong?

You can adjust the spice level for both jjajang and jjamppong. I ordered level 2, described as an intense heat. If you like Buldak, you could go for level 2 or higher.

I ordered jjamppong noodles instead of sujebi today, but the flavor was the same—only the noodles differed. The jjamppong was packed with seafood such as clams, scallops, and squid, making it perfect for a hangover. Even at a higher spice level, it was not muddy or heavy; it was delicious. Level 2 began with, “Oh, that has a kick,” and the bright, spicy heat lasted through the finish.

A full spread with glutinous sweet-and-sour pork and jjajangmyeon

The glutinous sweet-and-sour pork came out freshly fried, crispy on the outside and chewy inside. I normally prefer dipping rather than having sauce poured over it, but the sauce was so good that I soaked each piece generously in it.

The glossy jjajangmyeon was neither overly sweet nor salty, so it was easy to eat. I love mixing rice into sauces, so I mixed rice into the leftover sauce too. Clams, scallops, and squid kept appearing in the video as well.

We laid out a table full of food. The pale-yellow danmuji was sweeter than at other places, so I kept reaching for it.

A gathering spot with private rooms and outdoor waiting seats

There are private rooms as well, making it a good fit for company dinners, pre-wedding family meetings, family gatherings, get-togethers with friends, and year-end gatherings.

After eating, it would also be nice to grab an ade from the self-service station and drink it at the cool outdoor waiting seats. I would recommend this spot when you are craving a bowl of fiery jjamppong near Yeoksam Station. If, like me, you want a spicy broth for a hangover or love plenty of seafood in your jjamppong, I think you will be satisfied.

It is good for everything from solo meals to family dinners, friend meetups, and company dinners, and the parking makes it a decent gathering spot too. I used to visit often when I worked near Yeoksam Station, and even after such a long time, I thought again that the jjamppong is delicious. I tell myself I should try something else next time, but once I get there, I think I will order jjamppong or jjajangmyeon again. I plan to come back whenever I need hangover relief.