Late solo lunch at a Gwanghwamun dim sum restaurant: Cheonghwa

I was looking for somewhere to eat lunch between Jonggak Station and Gwanghwamun Station and ended up at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon! This area is full of office workers, so lots of people come looking for lunch spots, and apparently Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon is one of the busiest around lunchtime too.

Why Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon is easy for a solo lunch near Jonggak Station

A place where solo dining works too

Finding somewhere to eat alone at lunchtime around Jongno isn't as easy as you'd think, so instead of wandering around, I'd recommend just treating yourself to some good dim sum here one day. I visited a bit after the lunch rush. During peak lunch hours there can be walk-in waiting, but if you shift your timing a little later, you can enjoy your meal in a more relaxed space.

You're welcome to sit wherever you like, on the 1st or 2nd floor.

How the table-order tablet works at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon

Easy ordering via table-order

You order through the table-order tablet at each table. After taking your time browsing the menu, you can pick what you want without needing to call over any staff, making ordering simple and convenient.

[Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon menu]

The basic side dishes came out — pickled cabbage and peanuts!

Two dim sum dishes: crystal moon dumplings and xiaolongbao

The first dish I ordered! Crystal moon dumplings! Whole shrimp and chives wrapped in a translucent, chewy skin. Soft yet light in flavor, and I really liked it.

Second, xiaolongbao! A signature dim sum dish, filled with pork and absolutely packed with broth.

The crystal moon dumplings and xiaolongbao are different in feel, but both are equally delicious! The combination of the signature xiaolongbao, loaded with juicy pork filling, and the crystal moon dumplings, with their translucent, chewy skin wrapped around shrimp and chives, made for a satisfying meal.

Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon has the image of a beef noodle specialist, but word has gotten around that the dim sum here is delicious too. If you want dim sum bursting with broth above all else, I'd recommend the xiaolongbao.

Look at all that broth. The aftertaste of this flavor just won't fade.

Beef fried rice, ordered on the side

Next, the beef fried rice I ordered as an extra. Fluffy fried rice with beef added — light yet filling, and the flavor was excellent.

A meal covered by these three dishes!

Two floors of seating for solo diners, dates and groups

From lunch to dates to gatherings

With the restaurant split across the 1st and 2nd floors, it can be used flexibly, from solo diners to larger groups. It's genuinely popular with office workers at lunchtime, so if you're looking for a lunch spot in Gwanghwamun, it's fairly accessible. If you're alone, you can eat comfortably at a 2-person table; if you're a couple, ordering one noodle dish and one dim sum dish to share also seems like a good idea.

Where to walk after lunch: Gwanghwamun Square and Gyeongbokgung

After the meal

Rather than just eating and heading straight home, it's worth pairing the meal with nearby attractions for a full day out.

• Gwanghwamun Square: A good place to head toward after eating at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon. As one of Seoul's representative squares, it also works well as a route connecting Gwanghwamun and Cheonggyecheon.
• Gyeongbokgung Palace: A representative Seoul attraction that pairs well with a visit to Gwanghwamun Square.

The walking course from Gwanghwamun to Cheonggyecheon is really lovely, and it's even featured in Seoul's official tourism guide as a walking route starting at Gwanghwamun Station and following Cheonggye Plaza and Cheonggyecheon — so it makes for a great outing after the meal.

Is Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon worth it? Final verdict

It's a beef knife-cut noodle specialist, but this time I visited in the style of trying out a variety of dishes. If you're looking for lunch around Jonggak or Gwanghwamun, or planning a full day that combines a meal with sightseeing nearby, I think this is a good place to visit.