Couple's Chinese A-course near Gumyeong Station, Busan: Gupo Jjambbong

Today I'm introducing Gupo Jjambbong, a great eatery in Gupo :)

Gupo Jjambbong Gupo Main Branch: hours and how to get there

Gupo Jjambbong Gupo Main Branch is open from 11:00 to 21:00, with last order at 20:30. Reservations, takeout, delivery and group visits are all possible, and they also have baby chairs, easy payment, parking, and pets are allowed.

The restaurant is about an 8-minute walk from Gumyeong Station, and you can also get there on foot from Deokcheon Station.

Where do you park at Gupo Jjambbong?

There's a lot right beside the building that fits up to 4 cars, and I was told parking isn't enforced during the daytime, so you can park there. There's also a super cheap lot about a 3-minute walk away at ₩600 per hour, so it seems like a fine place to come by car.

Bringing pets to Gupo Jjambbong

Pets are allowed too! But only small dogs, and you need a bag.

Gupo Jjambbong atmosphere, solo seats and baby chairs

The inside was neat and clean. The chairs are yellow and blue, so the place felt lively and colorful.

There's also a straight counter-style table that's comfortable for dining solo. A great spot for eating alone in Gupo! The restroom is inside too, so that's convenient.

They have baby chairs for little guests as well, so it's a good place to eat out with a baby.

Herbal broth and wild ginseng mushroom noodles at Gupo Jjambbong

Gupo Jjambbong is a place that makes its food with real care. They say they simmer a herbal broth with sanghwang (wild ginseng mushroom), known for its strong anticancer reputation, plus 5 kinds of Korean medicinal herbs, and brew a tasty, healthy restorative jjambbong (spicy seafood noodle soup) every day.

The origin of ingredients is honestly labeled and the restaurant's philosophy is posted too. You can definitely feel they take pride in what they do.

It's also a proven favorite that has appeared on all three major TV networks. Featured on TV 4 times!

The walls have menu explanations, and reading them was fun. The noodles here aren't just any noodles either. They mix sanghwang mushroom powder and soybean powder into the dough to make healthy, chewy sanghwang mushroom noodles.

Water and side dishes at Gupo Jjambbong

Even the water isn't just water! You get sanghwang mushroom tea here! Feels like eating here will make me healthier, hahaha. The basics are pickled radish, onion and chunjang (black bean paste).

If you need more sides, help yourself at the self-serve bar, as much as you'll eat.

Vinegar and chili flakes are on every table.

Gupo Jjambbong A-course price and lineup

The A-course at Gupo Jjambbong is ₩25,000 per person and needs a minimum of 2 people. You order easily by tablet at the table. The menu is pretty varied, right? I was curious about the course, so I ordered the A-course (₩25,000) x 2.

The A-course I ordered includes seafood nurungji soup (crispy scorched-rice soup), chili pepper stir-fry, tangsuyuk (Chinese-style sweet and sour pork), eggplant dumplings and jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles). Swapping to jjambbong costs ₩2,000 extra! A course packed with all the good stuff.

There's also a lunch set, orderable only from 11:00 to 14:00, that's a good value, so if you're going at lunchtime, it's worth ordering that.

If you can't decide, check out the recommended menu too!

There's also a receipt review event, so write a review and be sure to claim it.

Seafood nurungji soup: the first course, poured at your table

The first dish out in the A-course was the seafood nurungji soup.

They pour the broth and toppings right at the table over house-made nurungji.

It's a healthy dish loaded with shrimp, broccoli, bell pepper, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, ginkgo nuts, bok choy, sweet pumpkin, squid and more. The broth was seasoned just right, the ingredients were varied and it tasted great. The lightly starchy broth kept me reaching for more. Delicious from the very first dish, so I was even more excited for the rest, haha.

Chili pepper stir-fry and flower buns

The chili pepper stir-fry (gochujapchae) at Gupo Jjambbong is full of smoky wok flavor and comes with 1 flower bun (kkotppang) per person.

It really has that proper wok smokiness. Crunchy texture and nicely seasoned too. Eaten with the flower bun, it's even better!

Eggplant dumplings, the most-ordered dish

The eggplant dumplings here are said to be the most-ordered item! Other bloggers called them delicious and the recommended menu says they're number one in orders, so I was looking forward to them. You get 1 piece per person, served with soy sauce.

At first glance they look like crispy fried eggplant. But inside there's dumpling filling! Packed with tasty meat. I could see why they're the top order. Crispy outside, juicy inside, and delicious. A great side dish.

Tangsuyuk with wasabi and fresh vegetables

The tangsuyuk in the course comes in just the right amount. Unusually for tangsuyuk, it comes with onion, lettuce and garlic chives. The sauce is served neatly in its own dish too. It looks pretty, right?

My husband and I don't care whether we pour the sauce on or dip, but that day I felt like pouring it on, so I did, haha.

Another unusual thing about the tangsuyuk here: they give you wasabi. They say eating the tangsuyuk together with fresh vegetables and wasabi gives it a more pungent, tastier kick.

I tried it just as recommended, and oh, tangsuyuk with wasabi and vegetables was good! Eating it that way felt different. I also noticed a faint cinnamon flavor in the tangsuyuk. It was my first time having cinnamon-flavored tangsuyuk, and it felt like eating something even healthier!

Jjajangmyeon to finish: are the wild ginseng mushroom noodles really chewy?

The A-course ends with jjajangmyeon. The noodles, made with sanghwang mushroom powder and soybean powder, were clearly a different color from regular noodles. And they were really chewy! After one bite I immediately said, "Wow, so chewy." Healthy and tasty noodles, confirmed!

Oh, and they put ginseng (sam) on top. You can really feel they're serious about healthy food, haha.

Mix the sauce and noodles well~ It's a sweet jjajangmyeon! Rich in umami and delicious. Even though it's a course, the portion wasn't small.

Apple cider vinegar water in the etiquette zone after your meal

The etiquette zone at Gupo Jjambbong also had apple cider vinegar water ready. Such a thoughtful touch, to help you feel fresh and digest well after Chinese food!

Gupo Jjambbong A-course: final thoughts

It had been a while since I'd had a Chinese course, and Gupo Jjambbong's course was well put together and the food was tasty, so I left well fed. You can feel how serious they are about healthy, delicious food. I recommend it to anyone looking for a Chinese restaurant in Buk-gu near Gupo Market, Gupo or Gumyeong Station :)