Bujeon Station Chinese spot, solo Italian-style cream shrimp: Suraban

Suraban: a Chinese restaurant near Bujeon Station for eating alone

Suraban Seomyeon (수라반점 서면점) is a Chinese restaurant near Bujeon Market, between Seomyeon Station and Bujeon Station. I stopped in on my own after my regular lifting appointment at a dermatology clinic in Seomyeon! I was eating solo, but Suraban also has group and banquet seating, so it works for families too!

I was on my way back to Ulsan after the appointment, and I really didn't want anywhere noisy!

I was trying to think of a decent Chinese place for one, and after the clinic, before catching the Donghae Line, I remembered Suraban, a spot I'd had my eye on for a while haha. It has a huge range of Chinese dishes and great service, so it's a popular Bujeon Station favorite.

How far is Suraban Seomyeon from Seomyeon Station and Bujeon Station?

Suraban Seomyeon sits right about halfway between Seomyeon Station and Bujeon Station, so it's a 5–10 minute walk from the Donghae Line or subway stations. A perfectly convenient location, and the route was really tidy and easy.

Tip: Don't miss the Naver receipt review event

Suraban even has a Naver review event, so be sure to get the fried dumplings and menbosha (shrimp toast)! 🩷🥰 Every table has a notice about the Naver receipt review event. It's really easy to join and you get extra freebies, so if you're visiting, definitely take part in this great little deal!

What does Suraban's cream shrimp taste like?

🍤 Italian-style cream shrimp, thick like pasta

Suraban's basics like jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) and jjamppong are solid and generous, but today my AirPods Pro 3 got stolen and I was so sad, so my pick was the cream shrimp! hahaha Honestly, I get so scatterbrained whenever I come to Seomyeon.

(But in the end, I found my stolen AirPods Pro 3! Someone had listed them on Danggeun (a secondhand marketplace app). I found them while searching during my meal at Suraban.) Maybe eating at Suraban brings good luck!

Maybe because it's a Bujeon Station Chinese favorite, Suraban's cream shrimp is a completely different style from an ordinary Chinese restaurant's.

It felt like facing a rich cream pasta at a fancy Italian restaurant: the cream sauce is really thick and piled on generously!!

The batter is crispy outside and tender inside, the shrimp are springy, and even with all that sauce tossed through, the crunch lasted until I finished, which amazed me. It's not just thick batter either: big plump shrimp fill it, so the chew is excellent. It was smooth without being heavy, and I enjoyed it right to the last piece.

Aww… look how shiny and plump those shrimp are!!

I wanted to try the cold jjamppong and the Chinese-style cold noodles too. They seem to be new summer menu items!!

Are the rice and side dishes free at Suraban?

At Suraban the rice is free, and the side dishes (pickled radish, onion and chunjang) are self-serve with unlimited refills. Refills are nice, but the really great part was that I could grab rice and eat it too.

Free rice service

Amazing, right…?

Free rice, and pickled radish, onion and chunjang to help yourself to as much as you like: Suraban is a generous Chinese restaurant near Bujeon Station.

Can you get free coffee after your meal at Suraban?

Yes, you can have a free Americano after your meal at Suraban. The thing that made the finish even more amazing was this Americano service, sob!

Finished off with an iced Americano after the meal.

No need to go to a café: Suraban covers everything from the meal to the coffee.

What's the atmosphere at Suraban Seomyeon, and is it okay for solo dining?

Suraban is a calm, pretty Chinese restaurant that's perfect for eating alone! Inside, it doesn't have that greasy feel Chinese restaurants often have; it's really clean and tidy, and the tables are spaced comfortably. If you dislike crowded, busy places, you can eat in comfort without worrying about noise, so I really recommend it haha

Suraban's free perks save on both rice and café costs (so satisfied!)

• Unlimited free white rice: At Suraban the rice itself is free! The cream shrimp sauce was so good that I wanted a bit of rice, and I could just grab some without a second thought, so it felt like I really saved on the price of a bowl.
• Free iced or hot Americano: After your meal you can brew yourself freshly made coffee, with proper ice, for free. Coffee isn't cheap these days, and with dessert covered at Suraban there's no need to head to a café as a second stop. My belly and my wallet were both happy, and I was completely touched.

✍️ Overall verdict

Suraban Seomyeon has an easy-to-reach location, solid basic meals, and a special Italian-style cream shrimp. On top of that, it gives you rice and good-quality coffee for free, so it's a tidy, satisfying place that's kind to your wallet too.

If you're passing by, or heading to the Donghae Line after a clinic visit like me, and want a quiet, filling meal of delicious dishes, I recommend stopping in once :)