Ilsanji, Ulsan jjamppong restaurant: macaron menbosha, spice level 2

My partner and I went back to Daewangam Dol Jjamppong, one of our favorite restaurants. We've even brought my in-laws here before, but this time we were craving something bold and spicy, so we found ourselves back again!

Ulsan Daewangam Dol Jjamppong: the mood and what we ordered

Ulsan Daewangam Dol Jjamppong is a stone-plate jjamppong specialist on Ilsanjin 5-gil in Dong-gu, Ulsan, and this time we ordered the medium scorched-rice stone jjamppong plus menbosha (deep-fried shrimp toast) as a side. It's famous enough that it's usually packed, but luckily we went slightly off-peak and got in without much of a crowd.

The spicy, smoky smell hits you right from the entrance and gets the mouth watering instantly. Along with our usual stone jjamppong, we also went ahead and ordered the crispy menbosha as a side this time 💞

Where do you park at Ulsan Daewangam Dol Jjamppong?

Parking at Ulsan Daewangam Dol Jjamppong is available right in front of the restaurant, so keep that in mind if you're visiting ✨

Inside the restaurant

Walking in, the interior was clean and well kept. Other diners were already eating, and the sizzle of the stone plates being served plus the savory smoky smell filling the place only built up our anticipation while we waited, haha.

The staff were friendly and welcoming, and everything felt clean and well managed overall, which is part of why eating here always puts me in a good mood. We took our seats, looked over the menu, and ordered right away.

Medium scorched-rice stone jjamppong, ₩25,000: how hot is spice level 2?

The medium scorched-rice stone jjamppong is ₩25,000, with a choice of spice level 1 through 3 — we went with level 2. The menu noted that level 1 is roughly as spicy as Shin Ramyun.

The main event arrived: bubbling stone jjamppong served on a scorching hot stone plate. Level 2 was definitely spicy, but if you can handle heat well, level 3 might be worth trying. As someone who's a real spice lover among spice lovers, level 2 left me wanting a bit more. My partner, on the other hand, thought it was just right.

With bean sprouts, seafood, squid, and vegetables, this jjamppong looked incredible from the start — the toppings piled generously on top were impressively sized and delicious. Plus, thanks to the stone plate, you can eat it piping hot with steam rising all the way to the last bite, which might be this place's biggest charm.

The rich, spicy broth soaks nicely into the noodles, and the first bite always gets a 'this is the taste' reaction from me, haha. Keep eating happily for a while and you'll reach the scorched rice sitting at the bottom.

This is the real kicker... having soaked up all that concentrated, spicy jjamppong broth, it's savory yet sharp — a real treat. Once you've finished the noodles, scraping up the well-seasoned scorched rice is so fun it's hard to put your spoon down, careful ⚠️ And today we specially ordered menbosha alongside it.

Macaron menbosha, 4 pieces for ₩15,000: the side that stole the meal

Ulsan Daewangam Dol Jjamppong's handmade macaron menbosha is ₩15,000 for 4 pieces. Honestly, I didn't expect much from menbosha. My partner said menbosha has become so standardized everywhere that even buffet versions taste good, and I agreed, but we figured we'd try it anyway —

and right off the bat, the look of it is no joke... I'd never seen menbosha this thick before.

The shrimp meat sandwiched between the toast slices is so thick it instantly makes sense why it's called 'macaron' menbosha. It also looked really well fried — the crust made an audible crunch the moment it hit my mouth, and the minced shrimp filling inside was incredibly bouncy 😋 It exceeded expectations...

The frying wasn't greasy at all — savory and crispy, the texture was truly something else. It's tasty dipped in the accompanying sauce, and once it starts feeling a bit rich, a spoonful of the jjamppong broth completes a perfect sweet-salty-spicy combo, haha.

Final verdict: worth it for a family dinner too

Ulsan Daewangam Dol Jjamppong has a flavor that's easy for anyone, of any age or preference, to enjoy, so I'd strongly recommend it as a spot for family dinners or gatherings. I still remember how proud I felt when my in-laws visited and thoroughly enjoyed their meal too.

If you're craving a bold, spicy jjamppong or want a side with a bit of flair, I'd gently recommend the stone jjamppong plus menbosha combo I had.