Solo lunch near Sinchon Hyundai: Cheonghwaweon Chinese restaurant

Why Cheonghwaweon for a solo lunch in Sinchon

A Sinchon restaurant recommendation for solo beef noodle lunches: Cheonghwaweon.

A lot of people near Sinchon or Yonsei University are looking for somewhere to have a solid solo lunch, right? When you're craving chewy handmade noodles and dumplings packed full of filling rather than something churned out en masse, Cheonghwaweon, a Chinese restaurant in Sinchon, is a great pick. That's where I went.

A Chinese restaurant recommendation near Sinchon Hyundai Department Store

It's easy to get to, being near Yonsei University and Sinchon Hyundai Department Store, and the menu lineup and price range are great too — it holds its own as a good-value lunch spot in Sinchon, and a fine place to eat solo.

From the menu lineup to the atmosphere to the taste, everything satisfied me, so I wanted to introduce it. Let's get into the story of Cheonghwaweon, a Sinchon favorite :)

How far is Cheonghwaweon from Sinchon Station Exit 3?

Cheonghwaweon is the only restaurant in Sinchon specializing in Taiwanese beef noodles and Hong Kong-style dim sum. It's a 3-minute walk from Exit 3 of Sinchon Station (Line 2), and very close to the front gate of Yonsei University.

The signature menu includes beef dao xiao mian (knife-cut noodles), cream shrimp, shumai, mala tofu, and yurinji — dishes that are great to order when you're visiting with friends too.

Inside Cheonghwaweon: space and interior

Stepping inside Cheonghwaweon, I really felt that exotic Greater China vibe. Even outside regular meal hours, the place was packed with customers.

No premade or half-prepared dishes are used at all here — a chef with plenty of local experience trims and prepares the ingredients fresh every day, cooking with care. Cooking only starts once you order, so it can take a bit longer during peak hours.

Cheonghwaweon's menu and the three dishes ordered, with prices

The menu is packed with beef dao xiao mian along with a wide range of traditional Chinese dishes and handmade dim sum.

Here's what I ordered!

• Beef dao xiao mian ₩9,500 — the signature dish, made with 4-times-aged dough and rich bone broth
• Shumai ₩7,500 — Hong Kong-style handmade dumplings made by a chef from Guangdong
• Guobaorou ₩16,000 — fried to order in fresh oil

Beef dao xiao mian, 9,500 won

Dao xiao mian (knife-cut noodles) has a history going back to when knife use was restricted in the Yuan dynasty out of fear of Han Chinese rebellion — so in Shanxi, people began shaving dough into noodles with a special tool instead of a knife.

Maybe because they only use special dough aged in four stages, the noodles were chewy and soft.

The broth, simmered with bone stock and fresh vegetables together, had a deep, refreshing flavor. Boiled for 4 hours, the broth's aroma had soaked deep into the meat.

Shumai, 7,500 won

If you love dim sum, this shumai is not to be missed.

Inside the yellow wrapper, it's packed with plump shrimp and minced meat filling — the natural juiciness and springy texture of the ingredients were amazing.

Guobaorou, 16,000 won, taken home

I got the guobaorou to go and ate it at home. It added a nice bit of fun to my lunch. The sweet and sour sauce wasn't overly clingy, so it never got soggy, even to the last bite.

Who should eat at Cheonghwaweon

• Anyone near Sinchon Station or Sinchon Hyundai Department Store looking for a good-value lunch spot
• Anyone wanting to try authentic Taiwanese beef dao xiao mian and Hong Kong-style handmade dim sum
• Anyone wanting an exotic atmosphere for solo dining, dates, or gatherings with friends

I recommend Cheonghwaweon, a favorite spot in Sinchon.