Bongdam, Hwaseong Chinese restaurant mala jjamppong: Dongcheonhong

What kind of place is Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch?

Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch is a Chinese restaurant on Samcheonbyeongma-ro in Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong, known for chefs with long careers in Chinese cooking who properly bring the wok-hei flavor to their dishes. Since starting married life in Bongdam, I've been hunting down hidden gems around the neighborhood one by one, and I heard there was a proper, dignified Chinese restaurant here that breaks away from the usual neighborhood Chinese-food-joint style, so I went to check it out.

It's beloved by locals for fresh, tidy ingredients and deep flavor — a jjamppong spot in Bongdam. Let's go take a look!

• Address: 1079-12 Samcheonbyeongma-ro, Bongdam-eup, Hyohaeng-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, 2nd floor
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:30
• Parking: Plenty of space in front of the restaurant

Is parking and getting to Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch convenient?

Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch sits right on Bongdam's main road, so it was easy to find by car, and the parking space was well laid out too, so there was no parking stress at all!

The restaurant is on the second floor, so we climbed the stairs. We visited at the weekend opening time of 11am, and the place was already packed with customers.

What's the atmosphere and the rooms like at Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch?

Inside, Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch has a distinctly refined and comfortable atmosphere compared to a typical Chinese restaurant. The lighting was great and the space was spacious, which made it even better.

There are also well-equipped private rooms where you can enjoy a quiet, intimate meal. I thought they'd be perfect for hosting important people — family birthday gatherings, business meetings, work dinners, and more.

How do you order at Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch?

Here's the menu! My husband and I ordered mala jjamppong, samseon bokkeumbap, and xiaolongbao.

Ordering at Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch is done via kiosk, and there's also a Naver review event running, so be sure to join in!

The basic side dishes are zha cai (pickled mustard greens) and danmuji (pickled radish).

Doesn't that clean, tidy presentation look good?

What does the mala jjamppong broth taste like at Dongcheonhong?

The core of Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch's mala jjamppong is its rich broth, a meat-and-seafood stock with huajiao (Sichuan pepper) flavor woven through it. So! The mala jjamppong finally arrived! The moment it landed on the table, a subtle, tingly mala aroma and a deep charcoal-grilled scent hit my nose in the most tempting way.

I tried the broth first. Most mala jjamppong out there just has the spice hitting you aggressively, but the mala jjamppong at Dongcheonhong, a jjamppong spot in Bongdam, Hwaseong, was on a whole different level.

Wow~ the broth is seriously rich!

That exclamation just came out on its own. The generous meat gives off a heavy, savory juiciness, and the fresh seafood brings a refreshing, sweet umami that solidly backs it all up.

A true broth of broths — meat and seafood stock — with the tingly, distinctive huajiao flavor of mala melted in perfectly, giving it an almost addictive quality! The broth had soaked well into the noodles too, so every bite of noodle brought a wave of deep flavor filling my mouth.

Is Dongcheonhong's samseon bokkeumbap greasy?

Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch's samseon bokkeumbap (three-treasure fried rice) wasn't clumped up in oil and the seasoning was just right, so it wasn't greasy even after finishing it. The dish that shows you the basics of a Chinese restaurant is fried rice!

It came out well fried, each grain of rice coated nicely rather than clumping together in oil.

Above all, the seasoning was neither too strong nor too bland — perfectly balanced — so even eating the fried rice on its own without mixing in much jjajang sauce, savoriness and umami filled my mouth.

Shrimp, squid, and other seafood were generously packed in too, giving a great popping texture with every bite! It had been a while since I'd had fried rice that didn't feel greasy afterward.

What about the side dish, xiaolongbao?

The xiaolongbao we ordered as a side dish at Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch had a taste that stayed true to the basics. Taking a bite of the freshly steamed, still-steaming xiaolongbao, the thin, chewy skin and the softly minced meat filling came together for a clean, satisfying finish.

And that wraps up our meal at Dongcheonhong, a Chinese restaurant in Bongdam, Hwaseong. A weekend lunch that made our mouths happy.

Who would we recommend Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch to?

The number one Chinese restaurant in Bongdam, with both flavor and class!

Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch's mala jjamppong and samseon bokkeumbap were a satisfying meal — you could feel the care and skill of the professional chefs in every single dish.

(Now I'm curious about all their other dishes too?) The mala jjamppong especially isn't a light spiciness — it's got a deep, richly simmered broth flavor that's outstanding, so if you're a mala fan or a jjamppong lover, this is a strongly recommended must-try.

(And we made sure to grab dessert coffee afterward too.) If you're in Bongdam, Hwaseong looking for a dignified spot for a family meal out, or a gathering place with comfortable private rooms, or if you want to taste a jjamppong broth on a whole different level along with tidy, proper Chinese food, I strongly recommend Dongcheonhong Bongdam Branch!