Fried eggplant and xiaolongbao at Cheonghwawon, Daehangno noodle shop

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch at a glance

📌 Quick summary of Cheonghwawon Daehangno

• Vibe: a Taiwanese beef noodle specialist with a wait
• Menu highlight: juicy xiaolongbao and rich-broth knife-cut beef noodles
• Space highlight: generous seating across two floors, comfortable for groups

Why Cheonghwawon Daehangno works for dinner before a play

I don't get out to Daehangno much these days since I mostly just shuttle between home and work. I finally made plans with a friend, and since we had tickets to a play that evening, I went looking for somewhere to fill up beforehand and ended up at Cheonghwawon, a well-known Daehangno spot. Hearing it specialized in Taiwanese beef noodles, I walked in half excited, half curious.

Hours, address and how to get to Cheonghwawon

🏠 Location — 1F & 2F, 36 Daemyeong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul / 5 minutes from Hyehwa Station

⏰ Hours — 11:00–22:20, last order 21:50

📋 Reservations — walk-in only

Cheonghwawon Daehangno menu and prices

• Beef knife-cut noodles ₩10,500
• Beef fried noodles ₩12,800
• Beef fried rice ₩9,500
• Shrimp fried rice ₩9,500
• Fish-fragrant eggplant rice bowl ₩9,800
• Xiaolongbao ₩9,500
• Shumai ₩9,500
• Guobaorou ₩17,000
• Fried eggplant ₩14,000

Today's picks — xiaolongbao, beef knife-cut noodles, fried eggplant, beef fried rice

Seating on the first and second floors at Cheonghwawon

There was already a wait when we arrived, which caught me a bit off guard.

After we got a table on the first floor and looked around, I noticed there were plenty of tables on both floors — it felt bigger than I expected.

The second floor, up the stairs, had a completely different atmosphere. One wall had the brand logo and the words 'Taiwanese beef noodles' in large letters, which made it instantly clear what this place specializes in. With seating combined across both floors, Cheonghwawon Daehangno seems like a solid choice if you're looking for a Daehangno restaurant that can handle a group.

What we ordered: xiaolongbao, knife-cut beef noodles, fried eggplant, beef fried rice

There was too much I wanted to try, so I ended up ordering a bit of everything. Xiaolongbao, beef knife-cut noodles, fried eggplant, and beef fried rice all filled up the table (the xiaolongbao came out first, so we ate that ahead of the rest).

Side dishes at Cheonghwawon: roasted peanuts and pickled cabbage

Before digging in, the basic side dishes came out first — roasted peanuts and pickled cabbage. The peanuts had a glossy sheen and were nicely salty, while the cabbage was pickled in an orange-tinted sauce that gave it a tangy kick.

Xiaolongbao full of hot soup

After cleansing my palate with the side dishes, the xiaolongbao arrived. Picking one up with chopsticks, I could feel the soup sloshing around inside. The amount of broth packed in was genuinely impressive 👍

The flavor itself wasn't intense, more on the mild side, which made it easy to eat without feeling weighed down!

Fried eggplant: crisp outside, soft inside

Thick-cut chunks of eggplant came out in batter, glistening on the surface and sprinkled with black sesame seeds — it looked a bit like a candied sweet potato dish. Biting in, the outside was sweet and the inside was moist! Of everything we ordered, this was the one I liked best.

Knife-cut beef noodles in a rich broth

The wide, thick strands typical of knife-cut noodles sat generously in a deep brown broth. The meat and noodles were fully submerged, with a heap of chopped scallions on top — even at a glance, the broth looked rich. One spoonful confirmed it: a deeply simmered, full-bodied flavor.

Beef fried rice at Cheonghwawon

The beef fried rice came next, mounded up high with a generous pile of diced beef on top. Having just eaten the beef knife-cut noodles, the flavor profile felt fairly similar. Next time, I'll try the shrimp fried rice instead.

Is Cheonghwawon Daehangno worth a visit, and when to go

If you're craving rich beef noodles in Daehangno, or want to fill up before a play, Cheonghwawon is worth a visit. And being in Daehangno, the value for money is genuinely good!

Enjoying Taiwanese food, affordable and delicious