Paju Chinese restaurant early lunch: stone jajang set and jjamppong

I heard a Chinese restaurant near Simhaksan was doing proper stone jjamppong and stone jajang, so I went to check it out. Here's my recommendation for Dolpanseok Jjamppong, a Paju Simhaksan restaurant known for its stone jajang and Donchitang.

Where is Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan, and is there parking?

Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch, a favorite Paju Simhaksan spot, sits near the Paju Lotte Outlet in the Simhaksan restaurant district. The address is 8-38 Dolgotji-gil, 1st floor, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.

Since it's a newly opened restaurant, the exterior looked clean and fresh, and there was plenty of parking right in front, which made things easy.

Inside: high ceilings and partition seats

The interior of Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch was also spotless and the hall was bigger than I expected. I went for a slightly early lunch.

As lunch peak hour approached, the place filled up almost completely. It seemed word had already gotten around as a Paju Simhaksan favorite. The high ceilings made it feel open and comfortable, and there were also private partitioned seats. Next time I'll try booking ahead.

They make the hot stone jajang and stone jjamppong fresh to order.

I love rice crackers and got to have those as dessert, and there was even a microwave available for baby food.

Rice refills are unlimited, so it's a good idea to grab a bowl after finishing the noodles.

I followed the posted tips on how to eat it best.

There was also a Naver receipt review event running. Pickled radish and onions came out first, and I sipped cold water while waiting for the food.

Menu and prices at Dolpanseok Jjamppong

• Stone jjamppong (medium) + Donchitang SET ₩42,000
• Stone jjamppong (large) + Donchitang SET ₩52,000
• Stone jajang (medium) + Donchitang SET ₩41,000
• Stone jajang (large) + Donchitang SET ₩51,000
• Stone jjamppong (medium) + Tungbosha (4pcs) ₩42,000
• Stone jjamppong (large) + Tungbosha (4pcs) ₩52,000
• Stone jajang (medium) + Tungbosha (4pcs) ₩41,000
• Stone jajang (large) + Tungbosha (4pcs) ₩51,000
• Stone jjamppong (medium) + Handmade Pork Soup SET ₩41,000
• Stone jajang (medium) + Handmade Pork Soup SET ₩40,000
• Stone jjamppong (large) + Handmade Pork Soup SET ₩51,000
• Stone jajang (large) + Handmade Pork Soup SET ₩50,000
• Samgye seafood nurungji soup (limited) ₩43,000
• Cold jjamppong (summer only) ₩10,000
• Nurungji stone-plate jjamppong medium (2 servings) ₩29,000
• Nurungji stone-plate jajang medium (2 servings) ₩28,000
• Nurungji stone-plate jjamppong large (3 servings) ₩40,000
• Nurungji stone-plate jajang large (3 servings) ₩39,000

The origin labeling was done in a fun way. Most ingredients are domestically sourced.

Stone jajang (medium) + Donchitang SET, 41,000 won

I started with the stone jajang (medium) + Donchitang SET for ₩41,000. Even in the medium size, the portion was substantial and the stone plate itself was quite large.

I waited a bit before digging in, since they said it tastes better after resting than eating it right away.

Because it's stone jajang, you're supposed to scoop some into a side plate and let it cool before eating. The ingredients were generous — big shrimp, squid, and other seafood, plus plenty of onion that stayed crunchy and delicious.

The texture of the noodles, slightly scorched from the stone plate, was great, and the sauce was thick and tasty. I could really feel what makes stone jajang special.

The nurungji (scorched rice) stuck to the bottom of the stone plate was also a treat. If you want more rice, grabbing a bowl from the self-serve bar and mixing it in would be perfect.

What the Donchitang in the set tastes like

Next up was the Donchitang, included in the set. It was a dish I'd never seen before, and it looked really appetizing.

Half of it was handmade pork soup — basically fried pork that tasted like tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), but the breading reminded me of donkatsu. The crispy texture was great, and with the sweet dipping sauce, I got the flavors of both donkatsu and tangsuyuk at once. The pieces were bite-sized, perfect for feeding a kid.

The other half was chitang, like Korean fried chicken, not spicy but with a nice sweet sauce and a crispy-outside, juicy-inside texture. If you visit this place, definitely try the Donchitang — it was every bit as good as the stone jajang and stone jjamppong.

Nurungji stone-plate jjamppong, medium for two, 29,000 won

Since the restaurant's name is literally about stone jjamppong, I figured I had to try it, so I ordered the nurungji stone-plate jjamppong medium for ₩29,000.

They piled on a mountain of bean sprouts, which I love. Just like the stone jajang, they mixed the stone jjamppong well and let it rest a bit.

I scooped some onto a side plate, let it cool, and dug in. It was loaded with seafood and vegetables, and had a nicely spicy kick that wasn't overwhelming — even spice-shy folks could handle it. The smoky wok-hei flavor was spot on too. I finished off the stone jjamppong without any trouble.

Is Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan worth a visit?

I had a great meal at Dolpanseok Jjamppong, a Paju Simhaksan Chinese restaurant recommended for its stone jajang and Donchitang. Being newly opened, the place was clean inside and out, and the stone jajang, stone jjamppong, and Donchitang all had their own distinct, appealing flavors. I left satisfied and would definitely recommend it as a Paju Simhaksan favorite.