Jujube-topped mini tangsuyuk at a Hanam Misa Chinese restaurant

O Hyeongje Hwangje Nurungjitang, Hanam Misa — a great spot for a family gathering

The summer heat is finally easing off and we're getting clear autumn skies, so it's a great time to go for a drive and see some blue sky. I was driving through Hanam recently and stopped at O Hyeongje Hwangje Nurungjitang, a Hanam Chinese restaurant known for its bubbling nurungjitang (scorched rice soup) and crispy tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork). I don't usually eat nurungjitang, but maybe because I'm raising kids now, these healthy-looking dishes have started calling to me haha. Let's get into the review!

• 📍Address: 616-1 Misa-daero, 1st floor, Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do
• 🕑Hours: Daily 11:00 – 21:20

Where O Hyeongje Hwangje Nurungjitang is, plus weekday lunch parking and the wait

O Hyeongje Hwangje Nurungjitang is close to Hanam Pungsan Station on Line 5 and sits right across from Misa Cycle Park, so you can go for a digestive walk after the meal.

Even though we went on a weekday lunch, the parking lot was completely full and there was even a wait ahead of us — I clearly had no idea this was such a well-known Hanam Chinese restaurant haha. Still, there are parking spots scattered around, so just follow the parking staff's guidance.

Inside the dining room: why it suits a family gathering

To match all that parking, the dining room inside is also quite spacious. The window seats look out and feel roomy, which I liked. The crowd spans a wide range of ages too, so it seemed like a good spot for a family gathering — I saw a lot of older guests in particular, which made me think it'd be nice to bring my own parents here sometime!

At the counter they also sell gangjeong-style snacks and black soybeans separately. Classic thing parents always end up buying haha.

Self-serve side dish corner and robot servers

O Hyeongje Hwangje Nurungjitang runs a self-serve side dish corner where you can grab extra banchan (side dishes). I scooped up more of the squid jeotgal (salted seafood) since it was so good, hehe. There's also dessert fruit ready to go, so you can clean your palate after the meal!

Before you even head to the self-serve corner, a robot server brings a generous helping of the basic side dishes, so it's more than enough — you can just head to the self-serve corner if you run out.

Ordering seafood abalone nurungjitang and mini tenderloin tangsuyuk

What we ordered at O Hyeongje Hwangje Nurungjitang was the seafood abalone nurungjitang and the mini fresh tenderloin tangsuyuk.

For the seafood abalone nurungjitang, they perform right in front of you — pouring the nurungjitang and seafood into a scorching hot stone bowl, which somehow makes it look even more delicious haha. The broth comes out still bubbling hot when it's poured in, so be careful not to burn yourself!

With ginseng sprouts, abalone, and a mix of vegetables and seafood on top, it's healthy but also rich and deep in flavor — truly an 'emperor's' nurungjitang, living up to its name. The chewy texture of the glutinous rice was pretty addictive too — is it okay for my mouth to have this kind of luxury...

Mini fresh tenderloin tangsuyuk, topped with jujube

The mini fresh tenderloin tangsuyuk came with the sauce served separately, plus pineapple, carrots, and other toppings. Way too generous a portion to call 'mini.' Unlike other places, this one even had jujube on top, which made me think they're really serious about health and nourishment haha.

One bite gives you that crispy fried coating with a satisfyingly packed meat filling inside the thin batter 👍 Tangsuyuk is basically a must if you're bringing kids! I enjoyed it a lot too, haha.

Final verdict after a drive out to Hanam

It's genuinely hard to find a place that does proper nurungjitang these days, and since this is a nurungjitang specialty restaurant with a spacious dining room in Hanam, it's a perfect stop on a drive. I have a feeling more branches will pop up soon. If you're heading out for a drive around Hanam and want a family gathering spot good enough to bring your own parents, definitely give O Hyeongje Hwangje Nurungjitang a try!