Gupo jjamppong restaurant with seaweed broth in Busan: Hongmigwan

Hongmigwan is a Chinese restaurant on the 1st floor of 93 Nakdongdae-ro 1780beon-gil, Buk-gu, Busan, near Gupo Market. It's open 11:00–21:00 with a break time from 15:30–17:00, last order at 20:00, and closed every Sunday.

Here's my review of Hongmigwan, a jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) spot in Gupo, Busan, visited during weekday lunch hours.

I'd heard a rumor that a chef from a luxury hotel's Chinese restaurant cooks here, so I'd wanted to visit for a long time — and I finally made it.

How to get to Hongmigwan from Deokcheon Station

Hongmigwan sits near Gupo Market. It's about 442m on foot from Exit 1 of Deokcheon Station, so it's convenient to reach by subway too. You can walk right through Gupo Market to get there, making it a nice combo with a stroll through the market.

Parking right in front of Hongmigwan

There's paid parking directly in front of Hongmigwan — ₩2,000 for the first 30 minutes, then ₩500 per 10 minutes (max ₩2,500). It's also convenient to use the nearby Gupo Market public parking lot.

Inside Hongmigwan: seating for solo diners

The inside of Hongmigwan was smaller than I expected. There are several 4-person tables, plus single seats by the window that are good for solo dining.

The open kitchen layout let me peek at the cooking process, which was fun in its own way. Staff cleared tables right away once guests left, giving the sense that the place is kept tidy and well managed.

Waiting times and amenities at Hongmigwan

There's no separate waiting system — you just take a seat in order at the waiting area inside the store. There were also chairs outside for waiting, so even with a line it was comfortable. Takeout, delivery, and reservations are all available, and Wi-Fi too, so it was quite convenient overall.

The tables came with basic setup — paper cups, vinegar, and soy sauce — while pickled radish and onion were self-serve from a bar.

Hongmigwan's menu: how many kinds of jjamppong?

Hongmigwan offers a wide range of jjamppong varieties alone, including samseon jjamppong (three-treasure seafood jjamppong), jjamppong gukbap (jjamppong rice soup), stir-fried jjamppong, hwangtaebaek jjamppong, and oyster jjamppong.

Beyond noodle and rice dishes like yuni jjajang, jaengban jjajang, japchaebap (glass noodle rice bowl), and japtangbap (mixed rice bowl), there was also a full lineup of cooked dishes — yangjangpi, palbochae, yusanseul, dongpo pork, and nanja wanseu — so it was fun just reading the menu.

I especially liked that there was a good-value lunch set letting you try several dishes at once. What impressed me most, though, was the handmade noodles and seaweed broth — the noodles are hand-mixed from flour and starch and aged for 24 hours, while the broth is made from Wando-grown seaweed, dried shrimp, dried shiitake, and ginger, and used across all the dishes.

What comes in the weekday lunch set

For the Hongmigwan lunch set that day, I ordered mini sweet and sour pork, 4-piece chili shrimp, one jjamppong, and one jjajang.

The sweet and sour pork came out first, with a batter that wasn't too thick and meat packed generously inside.

The sauce wasn't overly sweet and had a clean flavor, so I kept reaching for more.

The chili shrimp had plump, springy shrimp meat that was great to bite into, and the sauce was mild rather than overpowering.

Samseon jjamppong: handmade noodles and seaweed broth

The samseon jjamppong I'd most looked forward to lived up to Hongmigwan's reputation as a jjamppong spot in Busan.

The handmade noodles stayed wonderfully chewy, and the broth was spicy and refreshing without being overwhelming.

Thanks to the seaweed broth, there was no greasy or heavy aftertaste — it finished clean.

Adding jjajang for a jjamjjamyeon-style pairing

The jjajang we ordered alongside had a strong but not heavy chunjang (black bean paste) flavor, making it perfect for sharing bites with the jjamppong.

Taking turns with a spoonful of jjamppong broth and a bite of jjajang, I realized this was the true definition of jjamjjamyeon (half-and-half jjajang and jjamppong).

Is Hongmigwan worth it? Final thoughts

If you're looking for a good jjamppong spot in Gupo, Busan, I'd recommend Hongmigwan. The depth of flavor from the handmade noodles and seaweed broth, plus a wide range of cooked dishes, make it a solid Chinese restaurant overall. The samseon jjamppong in particular was loaded with seafood, hearty enough to enjoy as a full meal on its own. Hongmigwan is a great Gupo, Busan jjamppong spot to pair with a stroll through Gupo Market.