Pimatgol noodle shop, summer solo dinner: Sichuan noodles, Cheonghwa

Even in summer, there are days when you crave a spicy, steaming bowl of soup. Today was exactly that day. And honestly, finishing a hot noodle dish under cool air conditioning is half the fun, haha.

I heard there's a place in Pimatgol near Jonggak Station, by Gwanghwamun, that does beef knife-cut noodles really well, so I visited Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon (청화 우육도삭면). Here's my honest review of eating there solo!

What's on the menu at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon?

As the name says, Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon specializes in Taiwanese-style beef knife-cut noodles (uyuk dosakmyeon). The menu is split into dim sum, meals, dishes to share, and extras.

• 3 knife-cut noodle options: beef noodles, Sichuan-style beef noodles, youbal knife-cut noodles
• 3 dim sum options: crystal dumplings, xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), shumai

I was curious about the coconut milk, but it was sold out. So sad, boohoo.

My picks today: Sichuan-style beef noodles and guobaorou!

What free side dishes come with the meal?

The basic sides at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon were two: zha cai (pickled mustard stem) salad and peanuts. The zha cai is a little tangy and salty, which cut through the richness. The peanuts are nutty, so I munched on them before the food arrived!

How do the Sichuan-style beef knife-cut noodles taste?

The Sichuan-style beef noodles at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon come in a spicy broth full of red chili oil, with thick slices of beef, minced meat, and chewy knife-cut noodles. I usually like spicy red broth, so I ordered the Sichuan style instead of the plain beef noodles.

As soon as it was served, the spicy aroma rising from the hot broth wafted over and got my appetite going. The broth was full of red chili oil, and that spicy flavor really came through.

On top of the noodles I could see minced meat, thin scallions, and chunks of beef. Quite a generous lineup!

Thick-cut beef and well-seasoned minced meat

The beef was sliced thick. Each bite was tender yet still had some chew, practically melting on my tongue, and it went well with the spicy broth.

And then there's the generous heap of minced meat. It was seasoned too, so with the Sichuan broth it made a great sweet-and-salty combo.

The broth was deep and rich, and I caught myself spooning it up again and again..!!

Are the knife-cut noodles firm enough for chewy-noodle fans?

I finally tried the noodles, and true to being shaved off with a knife, they were thick and chewy with a satisfying bite. The noodles soaked up the broth well, so every mouthful burst with that spicy flavor.

Slightly spicy broth, chewy noodles, and tender meat: a variety of textures and flavors in one bowl, so I enjoyed it to the very end. I'm a firm-noodle person and love the unique texture of knife-cut noodles, and Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon cooked them just right, so the chewiness really came through.

Is guobaorou worth ordering with the beef noodles?

The guobaorou at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon is a great partner for the Sichuan-style beef noodles. Excellent choice!! The golden fried pieces came out in a generous portion and looked so appetizing.

Each piece was big, which made it look even tastier, haha.

I cut a piece to a good size and took a bite: crispy outside, tender inside, a lovely contrast of textures.

The batter wasn't thick, just right, so it wasn't heavy or greasy, and the tangy-sweet sauce coated on top woke up my appetite with each bite. Exactly my kind of guobaorou! The meat was thicker than I expected too, so the chewy batter and tender lean meat worked nicely together.

I wanted it a little sweeter and tangier, so I dipped it generously in the sauce at the bottom, and it wiped out the richness of the Sichuan-style noodles. So I kept alternating: a bite of beef noodles, a bite of guobaorou, haha.

Is Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon good for eating alone?

At Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon, the 1st floor mainly seats solo diners or parties of two, and the 2nd floor seats parties of two up to large groups. I visited on a weekday evening, and more people than I expected were eating alone or finishing and leaving. It seems like a place where you can have a good meal without any pressure! If you're looking for a good solo meal or date spot around Jonggak Station and Gwanghwamun in Jongno, give Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon a visit!!

Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon hours and location near Jonggak Station

Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon is open daily from 10:30 to 22:00, with last order at 21:40. It's at 19 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, near Jonggak Station (Line 1) and Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5).