Jonggak Chinese restaurant for two: eggplant beats noodles, Cheonghwa

Where is Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon, the Gwanghwamun beef noodle spot?

Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon (청화 우육도삭면) is a Chinese restaurant specializing in beef noodles, on the first floor of Le Meilleur Jongno Town. It's a short walk from Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5, Exits 3 and 4) and Jonggak Station (Line 1, Exit 1).

Whenever I crave something hot and brothy or a noodle dish near Gwanghwamun, I end up here really often. The beef noodles are genuinely good, and I sincerely recommend the fried eggplant (eoyang gaji) too. It's also close to the Jongno 1-ga bus stop, so it's an easy place to pick when you're meeting someone around Gwanghwamun or Jonggak.

Is the restaurant spacious, and is there a break time?

The restaurant spans the first and second floors, so it's roomier than I expected. It works for a quick solo bowl, and it also looked fine for office lunches or bigger group meals.

The interior was tidy, and I liked that it runs with no break time. Honestly, it's surprisingly hard to find somewhere to eat at awkward hours, so that's a clear plus.

How are the noodles and broth in the beef dosakmyeon?

The signature dish is, of course, the beef dosakmyeon (knife-cut noodles in beef soup). Dosakmyeon is made by shaving dough off with a knife, unlike ordinary noodles, so the texture is distinctive. Cheonghwa says it makes its noodles in-house, which made them taste even better to me.

When you actually eat them, they're not neat and uniform. They're a little rustic and chewy, and that chew really comes alive with the broth.

The broth is a rich stock simmered from bones, and it was really satisfying to sip. It doesn't push only on harsh, intense flavors, which is probably why I liked it more.

Sichuan-style beef noodles for mala fans

If you like something in the style of malatang (spicy numbing hot pot), try the Sichuan-style beef noodles at Cheonghwa.

That day I had the Sichuan-style beef noodles and my wife had the beef dosakmyeon. It's a good pairing for swapping bites, haha.

Which side dish is better: guobaorou or fried eggplant?

If the noodles alone feel like not enough, the sides are worth ordering. I tried guobaorou (crispy sweet and sour pork) and fried eggplant (eoyang gaji). The guobaorou portion is really big, and it tastes a bit sweeter than tangsuyuk (Korean sweet and sour pork).

Honestly, first-timers might hesitate to order fried eggplant at all, but I really think that's just prejudice. I had that prejudice too, shut my eyes and ordered it once, and since then I eat it all the time.

Honestly, it looks like goguma matang (candied sweet potato), but the eoyang gaji is crunchy outside and moist inside, with a savory, spicy flavor that goes really well with the beef noodles. Order it for a sweet-and-salty combo and you just keep eating.

Honestly, guobaorou can get a bit cloying, but I wanted to order another round of the fried eggplant. This time I actually enjoyed the fried eggplant more than the beef noodles, so I really want to recommend it. Haha.

What dim sum and rice dishes does Cheonghwa have?

The dim sum is good too. I really enjoyed the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and shumai (open-topped steamed dumplings). I skipped it that day, but personally I find the xiaolongbao amazing.

If you're craving rice, I recommend the eoyang gaji deopbap (fried eggplant rice bowl) or the shrimp fried rice. They pair well with beef noodles plus guobaorou or fried eggplant, so they're good to order when you go in a group.

Is there parking at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon?

You can park in the underground lot of Le Meilleur building, and I'm told it's free for 2 hours. Parking is the biggest worry when you drive around Jongno and Gwanghwamun, so I think 2 hours free is a huge plus.

Overall verdict

Overall, I think Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon is a solid Jonggak Chinese restaurant, with a good location, space and menu. It suits everything from solo meals to office lunches and casual get-togethers, so if you're looking for a good Gwanghwamun beef noodle spot, I'd recommend giving it a try.