Jung-gu Chinese restaurant for mazangmyeon and spring rolls: Huhugwan

Where to find mild, non-spicy Chinese food near City Hall Station

Don't you sometimes get a day when you're absolutely craving Chinese food? 🤤 But when you actually think about it, the usual jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) or jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) feels too plain, and going for mala tang or mala xiang guo means bracing yourself for a rough stomach the next day!

While searching for something special and delicious that wouldn't be too heavy on my stomach, I found Huhugwan City Hall branch, said to be a hot spot near City Hall Station with great vibes, and went right away 💨 It's close to Exit 10 of the subway station and easy to find, making it a perfect stop after work or on weekends.

What is the interior and service like at Huhugwan?

Huhugwan City Hall branch was a Chinese restaurant with a modern interior, well suited for group gatherings. The moment I walked in, the waiter greeted me warmly and kindly! The service was so warm and attentive that I felt properly taken care of throughout the whole meal.

The interior was modern and set up nicely for gatherings, so I immediately understood why it's word-of-mouth famous as a Deoksugung-area spot for office worker dinners, friend meetups, or a stop after a Deoksugung date ✨

Huhugwan's menu: hot pots lead the dinner list

On Huhugwan's menu were dinner signature dishes like the beef shank hot pot at ₩32,000 and Huhuchuan (mala hot pot) at ₩32,000. Looking at the menu, there were so many appealing Chinese dishes that my eyes went wide — especially the beef shank hot pot and the skewer-style Huhuchuan mala hot pot, which looked insanely delicious in photos! Next time, I'd love to bring a group of friends and try these hot pot dishes 🍻

Mazangmyeon for 13,000 won, with free spring rolls and fried dumplings

My real reason for coming to Huhugwan this time was to try mazangmyeon, a special dish only available during summer! I ordered it as my meal and while waiting, along with the basic side dishes, they brought out warm, freshly fried, crispy spring rolls and fried dumplings as a complimentary service 🥟

I only ordered a ₩13,000 meal, but they generously threw in such high-quality fried sides — it really lived up to its reputation for great value!

How long is Huhugwan's mazangmyeon available?

Huhugwan's mazangmyeon is a seasonal dish sold only until the end of September. Here's the visual of today's main dish, finally here! On top of the bowl were chewy, light beef shank meat along with fresh vegetables and wood ear mushroom, all arranged beautifully and generously 🤤

Once this month is over, you'll have to wait a long while, so if you're curious, make sure to visit within this month! I chose this instead of a fiery mala dish, and I loved how gentle and neat it looked from the very first glance.

How does the peanut sauce taste, and how spicy is it?

I usually love nutty peanut sauce, so I had high expectations after reading reviews about how thick it was, and mixed the noodles, toppings, and sauce together thoroughly! Taking a big bite... wow, just as the reviews said, the rich, thick nuttiness of the peanut sauce spread through my mouth, with a sweet and slightly spicy kick about the level of mild Jin Ramen, boosting the umami incredibly 🌶️🥜

It wasn't harsh or overly spicy, just gently sweet and spicy, so even people who can't handle spicy food could enjoy it comfortably!

Wood ear mushroom and beef shank on top of the noodles

The crunch of the vegetables chewed alongside the noodles was great, but personally, the wood ear mushroom was the real star! It was so fresh, with a perfectly crisp texture, and soaked up so much of the thick peanut sauce that it was incredibly delicious 👍

Wrapping the light, tender beef shank meat with the fresh wood ear mushroom and popping it into your mouth with the noodles together was a perfect combination! The sauce clung to the noodles nicely instead of sliding off, so it was so nutty that I couldn't stop using my chopsticks. It was the perfect bowl at a Chinese restaurant that matched my taste for something special without being overly intense!

Ask the staff for the egg drop soup

Also, by the way — I didn't get it this time, but from other people's reviews and visit posts, it seems the restaurant also serves a warm, soft egg drop soup 🍳🤍 Apparently this soup soothes your stomach gently and comfortably, and you can even get refills, so if you visit, don't forget to ask for the warm egg drop soup while enjoying the thick, nutty mazangmyeon!

The waiter serving us was so kind, and every dish was made with real care, so I'm already looking forward to what I'll try next time haha. Before September ends, make sure to try the special and appealing mazangmyeon, and if you want to enjoy proper Chinese food, be sure to visit Huhugwan City Hall branch, a hot spot near City Hall Station 🍜🔥

Huhugwan City Hall branch: hours and location

• Location: 2F, 2 Seosomun-ro 11-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea (near City Hall Station, walking distance from Deoksugung)
• Hours: Mon–Fri 11:30–22:00 (break time 14:30–17:00 / last order 21:00) ※ Closed Saturdays and Sundays
• Highlights: modern, stylish Chinese restaurant, kind waiter service, solid lunch and dinner Chinese menu lineup
• Mazangmyeon (summer-only, until end of September) ₩13,000 — includes spring rolls & fried dumplings
• Eggplant rice bowl ₩12,000 / Twice-cooked pepper pork rice ₩13,000
• Garlic scape fried rice / Tomato egg rice bowl ₩11,000 / Beef noodle soup ₩15,000
• Beef shank hot pot ₩32,000 / Huhuchuan mala hot pot ₩32,000 / Braised pork belly ₩28,000 / Special cumin lamb ribs ₩36,000