Sichuan restaurant near Sinchon Station: suan cai fish set, Sammi

Today's pick is Sammi Tantanmyeon (삼미탄탄면), a place near Sinchon Station where you can eat Chinese food that's close to what you'd get locally! It isn't just tantanmyeon (Sichuan-style noodles in spicy sauce). They also serve rice bowls, dim sum and all kinds of Chinese dishes, so there's plenty to choose from.

• Name: Sammi Tantanmyeon
• Hours: daily 11:00–22:20
• Parking: not available
• Kiosk: yes
• Takeout/delivery: takeout available

Where is Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon?

Sammi Tantanmyeon Sinchon is a 4-minute walk from Sinchon Station Exit 3. The address is 16 Myeongmul-gil, 1st floor, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

It's right on the way if you're heading from Sinchon Station toward Yonsei University, so the location is perfect!

Inside Sammi Tantanmyeon at lunchtime: atmosphere and seating

I went at lunchtime, so every seat but one was taken. There's a mix of tables, from solo seats to 4-person tables.

And the funny thing was how many foreigners there were. A place the locals approve of? My expectations just shot to the max.

Spoons, chopsticks and napkins are next to the table, and they kindly gave us wet wipes when we asked!

Sammi Tantanmyeon menu and how to order

You look at the menu on the kiosk next to the table, and you can order and pay there too, which was handy.

Oh, I wanted to try this so badly! Ordering right now!

Naver Map also has a photo of the menu like this.

Three dishes for two people: how much was it?

So what did we order? Three dishes! Chashu tantanmyeon, suan cai fish set and pork garlic scape rice bowl, ₩33,300 in total.

There were only two of us, but we couldn't resist and, after some agonizing, ordered three.

• Chashu tantanmyeon ₩10,500
• Suan cai fish set ₩13,000
• Pork garlic scape rice bowl ₩9,800
• Total ₩33,300

Is the chashu tantanmyeon peanutty or spicy?

Sammi's chashu tantanmyeon is a Sichuan-style version with more spicy mala flavor than nutty peanut. My sister ordered it with a "we're at a tantanmyeon place, so we have to" attitude. I'd assumed it would be the rich, peanut-heavy kind, but the traditional Sichuan mala sauce and the peanut sauce blended into a really tasty bowl.

The mala heat is stronger than the nutty side, and the minced meat and chashu (braised pork slices) on top are so, so good. The noodles are also a bit thinner than mixian (rice noodles)? With a nice, moderate thickness, which I liked.

Pork garlic scape rice bowl and the free egg soup refills

The pork garlic scape rice bowl (₩9,800) is a hearty option for days when you crave rice more than noodles. The savory pork gets the fragrant flavor and crunch of garlic scapes, and the scrambled egg and the bell peppers scattered through add yet another texture and taste. You get meat and vegetables together, so I recommend it if you're dining solo and want rice rather than noodles, or just want something filling.

They also bring a soup. It's an egg soup with a slippery texture that was fun and slid right down. If you want more, they'll refill it!

What does the suan cai fish set taste like?

And last was the suan cai fish set (₩13,000)! Suan cai yu is a Sichuan dish cooked with suan cai, Chinese pickled vegetables, and fish (yu).

The sour suan cai flavor and the mild taste of the fish go together so well. The broth isn't red, yet it's spicier than you'd expect with a strong sourness. If you love tom yum goong, you'll go crazy for it.

Pieces of dried tofu here and there are a nice chew too.

A tip from my sister, who knows her Chinese food: recreate kao yu

If you eat the fish from the suan cai fish set together with the chashu tantanmyeon broth, it tastes like kao yu (grilled fish). And the meat and broth from the tantanmyeon over rice is really delicious, so I highly recommend this three-dish combo.

Is Sammi Tantanmyeon worth going back to?

Sammi Tantanmyeon feels like a guaranteed good place: cooked by locals and full of locals. If you want that numbing Sichuan flavor, definitely get the chashu tantanmyeon, and if you want a filling rice meal instead of noodles, go for the garlic scape rice bowl! Garlic scapes made salty with a soy-sauce flavor are so good in Chinese food.

And finally, the suan cai fish! A chef on a Korean TV cooking show (Naengjanggo-reul Butakhae) once said Chinese food is just salty, sweet and sour, and this tasted exactly like that, with spicy heat in place of the sweetness. It was really... so good... and it reminded me of the suan cai I had in Taiwan, which I loved. I want to go again even as I write this..

Sammi Tantanmyeon tips at a glance

• Recommended if you want unusual food at lunch, or a solo meal
• Eat the fish from the suan cai fish set with the tantanmyeon broth and it tastes like kao yu, so good
• The tantanmyeon is the spicy Sichuan kind, not the usual peanut sauce, but it's so tasty, so definitely eat it with rice