Handmade gyoza and stone-plate jjamppong set in Paju: Dolpanseok

After shopping at Lotte Outlet, on a rainy day I finally made it to Dolpanseok Jjamppong, a Paju Simhaksan restaurant that had been on my mind. Jjamppong served on a hot stone plate — I was curious what that would even taste like, and once I tried it I understood why it's so popular.

Where is Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch, and when is it open?

Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch is located at 8-38 Dolgotgi-gil, 1st floor, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Hours are 11:00–21:00 (last order 20:00), closed every Tuesday, with parking available.

The Simhaksan restaurant alley: exterior and parking at Dolpanseok

It's located right in the Paju Simhaksan restaurant alley, so it's easy to reach if you're out and about in Paju. There's a dedicated parking lot right in front, so parking was hassle-free.

Is Dolpanseok Jjamppong a good spot for a family meal?

The space is spacious and comfortable, and each table has some separation from the others, giving it a private feel. The tables are also large, so it seemed like a good spot for family meals or gatherings.

Dolpanseok Jjamppong menu and prices in Paju

• Nurungji stone-plate jjamppong medium ₩29,000 / large ₩40,000
• Nurungji stone-plate jjajang medium ₩28,000 / large ₩39,000
• Samgye seafood nurungji tang ₩43,000
• Chili pesto stone jjajang medium ₩29,000
• Nurungji stone-plate white jjamppong medium ₩29,000
• Stone-plate mapo tofu medium ₩25,000
• Handmade tungbosha ₩15,000
• Handmade pork tang & chicken tang ₩15,000

Besides the à la carte items, there are also various combo sets available.

Self-serve bar: green onion kimchi and unlimited rice

The basic side dishes were onion and pickled radish, and the self-serve bar also had green onion kimchi.

Rice refills are unlimited, so you can enjoy jjajang or jjamppong with as much rice as you want for a hearty, filling meal. You could really feel the owner's generosity.

Ordering the stone-plate jjamppong (medium) + donchitang set for 42,000 won

I ordered the jjamppong (medium) + donchitang combo for ₩42,000 and the handmade gyoza dumplings for ₩8,000.

The nurungji stone-plate jjamppong arrives, as the name suggests, on a piping-hot stone plate — and just the sight of it, piled high with bean sprouts, sets it apart from regular jjamppong.

How to eat stone-plate jjamppong with the nurungji at the bottom

• While the stone plate is still hot, use tongs to mix the noodles and bean sprouts (don't scrape the bottom — that's where the nurungji is).
• Once the broth soaks into the noodles, enjoy the deeper flavor, almost like a stir-fried jjamppong.
• Finally, scrape up the nurungji at the bottom of the stone plate with a spatula.

The smoky, wok-hei-scented broth, served bubbling and thick, soaked into the noodles for a rich, thick flavor. It was spicy and savory in just the right way, with tons of umami — the kind of flavor that keeps your chopsticks moving.

Loaded with fresh seafood like shrimp, squid, and clams, it delivered on the promise of a proper seafood jjamppong.

Sitting on the hot stone plate, the noodles didn't get soggy and stayed warm and springy right to the last bite.

The nurungji stone-plate jjamppong has this strange addictive quality — I found myself falling for a totally different charm than regular jjamppong.

After eating most of the noodles, I scraped up the nurungji underneath with the spatula. The rich seafood broth had soaked all the way through, making it a delicacy among delicacies. Finishing the jjamppong off with the nurungji made for a truly satisfying, filling meal.

The handmade gyoza dumplings were golden and crispy on the outside, juicy and moist on the inside — great alongside the jjamppong.

What exactly is donchitang (pork and chicken soup)?

Donchitang was one of the menu items I'd been curious about!

It comes out as a half-and-half plate of fried pork and sweet crispy chicken.

The pork had no gaminess and was fried in a crispy batter — great with the sweet-and-sour sauce. The sweet crispy chicken was made with thick pieces of chicken coated in a sweet glaze, a familiar and comforting flavor. Both young and old could enjoy this, so it's a great side to order for the whole family.

Free dessert corner: coffee and yogurt drinks

For dessert there was coffee, yogurt, and even rice crackers! I was touched by the owner's thoughtfulness and left having had a truly satisfying meal.

If you're out for a drive or a day trip around Paju and craving something distinctive in Chinese food, I'd recommend stopping by Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch, a Paju Simhaksan favorite!