Iksan Chinese restaurant for brisket jjamppong: Hwangbihong

I visited Hwangbihong (황비홍), a spot in Busong-dong, Iksan that is known for great jjamppong. It is somewhere I find myself returning to whenever I crave a rich broth, and this visit was just as satisfying.

Where is Hwangbihong, and where can you park?

Hwangbihong, a popular jjamppong spot in Busong-dong, is beside Ije Park. You can park along the roadside in front of the restaurant or on nearby side streets.

Even from the outside, the red accents and neat signboard immediately made it feel like a proper Chinese restaurant. You can tell at a glance that it has that beloved neighborhood-restaurant energy, right?

A comfortable interior for solo meals or family dining

The interior was clean and well maintained overall. The tables were spaced comfortably, so it was easy to relax over a meal. There were all kinds of diners, from people eating alone to families. I loved the welcoming yet clean atmosphere.

There is a self-service bar on one side. It was generously stocked with danmuji (yellow pickled radish), onions, chunjang (black bean paste), and even napa cabbage kimchi. You can also freely pick up small plates, scissors, tongs, and disposable aprons there, which was convenient. I especially liked how well it was kept clean.

Hwangbihong’s menu and its chive noodles and dried radish greens

• Noodles: jjajangmyeon, gan-jjajang, chili jjajang, jjamppong, seafood dried-radish-greens jjamppong, meat jjamppong, chili jjamppong, samsun jjamppong, beef brisket jjamppong, black soybean kongguksu (cold soybean noodle soup)
• Rice dishes: fried rice, jjamppong rice, meat jjamppong rice, seafood dried-radish-greens jjamppong rice, beef brisket jjamppong rice
• Dishes: fried dumplings, pork loin sweet-and-sour pork
• Alcohol and drinks: soju, beer, gaoliang liquor, erguotou, Yantai gaoliang liquor, cola, cider

I really recommend visiting Hwangbihong because the noodle color and main ingredients are so distinctive~ Its hallmarks are green chive noodles, which the owner kneads by hand, and dried radish greens! Chives are said to have excellent detoxifying properties and a warming nature, to the point that they are called a vegetable for the liver. They also contain components that aid digestion, so I did not feel that characteristic heaviness after eating Chinese food at all. Dried radish greens are said to be rich in vitamins and dietary fiber, helping lower blood cholesterol and prevent constipation. They are the real stars of the show, softening jjamppong’s intense flavor while helping balance out the nutrition!

Ordering gan-jjajang, beef brisket jjamppong, and mini sweet-and-sour pork

We ordered gan-jjajang, beef brisket jjamppong, and mini pork loin sweet-and-sour pork. The prices were reasonable too, so it felt like an easy choice for a family meal, haha.

Mini sweet-and-sour pork ₩12,000

The sweet-and-sour pork looks delicious from the start, doesn’t it? It was golden and cleanly fried, and really tasty. It was a generous amount that was perfect for two people to share as a side. The batter was not thick, while the meat was nice and thick, so it had a great bite. It was the textbook crisp-outside, moist-inside kind, and the sauce was not overly sweet, making it great alongside the beef brisket jjamppong.

Beef brisket jjamppong ₩14,000

The beef brisket jjamppong was seriously so good. It came heaped with plentiful brisket, and the nutty aroma and smoky wok flavor were so intense that they instantly got my appetite going. There was no skimping on the savory brisket or vegetables. Especially the brisket—it felt like it never ran out, no matter how much I ate!

The moment I tasted the broth, I could feel the deep, rich flavor of the stock. The savory brisket melted into jjamppong’s characteristically spicy broth, making it warming and flavorful without any heaviness. The noodles were wonderfully springy and soaked up the broth well, and scooping up the brisket and vegetables together gave the most incredible texture!

Gan-jjajang ₩11,000

The gan-jjajang looked incredible too, right? The glossy, freshly stir-fried black bean sauce and springy noodles arrived separately. It was a classic gan-jjajang sauce, packed with generously cut onions and pork. As I poured the sauce over the noodles and mixed it all together, the onions retained their crunch. The balance of sweetness and the savory saltiness of chunjang was just right, and I enjoyed it right to the end without getting tired of it.

If you are looking for spicy, rich jjamppong or proper Chinese food in Busong-dong, Iksan, I recommend Hwangbihong.