Sinchon Chinese restaurant, spicy Sichuan beef noodles: Cheonghwaweon

Cheonghwaweon (청화원)

Where is Cheonghwaweon in Sinchon, and when is it open?

• 📍Address: 10 Myeongmul-gil, 1st floor, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
• 👉🏻260m from Sinchon Station Exit 3
• 🕙 Hours: Daily 11:00 - 22:20 (last order 22:00)
• 🚗 Parking: No parking ❌❌ / Groups welcome

Today I visited Cheonghwaweon, the only spot in Sinchon specializing in authentic Taiwanese beef noodles and Hong Kong-style dim sum. Since a native Taiwanese chef makes everything by hand here, you can really taste the authentic mainland flavor.

A 7pm visit: how long is the dinner wait?

I visited at 7pm. Sinchon's university street was absolutely packed... such a hot spot :) Cheonghwaweon was hot too. There were so many people I had to wait a bit before getting in.

There's no dedicated parking lot, so please use a nearby public parking lot (Changcheon public parking lot). I parked at Yonsei University and walked over.

How Cheonghwaweon makes its dim sum by hand

Cheonghwaweon's famous dim sum. A professional dim sum chef from Guangdong personally minces the shrimp and meat for the filling, then carefully pleats each piece by hand. It's a long, complicated process, which apparently is exactly why the handmade dim sum tastes so incredible.

Inside Cheonghwaweon: seating and atmosphere

The interior. It was bigger than I expected, clean and comfortable. All the staff were foreign, and it felt like there were even more foreign customers than Korean ones.

What we ordered at Cheonghwaweon and what it cost

First, the basic setup: roasted peanuts and Taiwanese-style cabbage kimchi (pickled cabbage).

• ✔️Sichuan-style beef knife-cut noodles ₩10,500
• ✔️Yuxiang eggplant rice bowl ₩9,800
• ✔️Shrimp fried rice ₩9,500
• ✔️Siu mai ₩9,500

Sichuan-style beef knife-cut noodles, 10,500 won

✔️Sichuan-style beef knife-cut noodles — a numbing Sichuan broth with chewy handmade knife-cut noodles

I ordered this one craving something spicy, and it really had that mala tang vibe. If you like mala tang, you'll definitely love this. So I was totally into it 🙋🏻‍♀️ The beef topping, the wide chewy knife-cut noodles, the rich spicy broth... all of it was so good.

Siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), 9,500 won

✔️Siu mai — dim sum packed with shrimp

Gotta try the Hong Kong-style dim sum... siu mai!! Just gorgeous from the looks of it. Packed with whole shrimp, super plump and springy texture. Dipped in soy sauce with ginger on top, one big bite and it was so, so good.

Shrimp fried rice, 9,500 won

✔️Shrimp fried rice — shrimp and egg stir-fried with rice into a light, fluffy fried rice

I ordered this for my daughter, but my husband ended up enjoying it more haha. Packed with shrimp and seasoned just right, this fried rice was so good. A flavor that both kids and adults would like without complaint.

Yuxiang eggplant rice bowl, 9,800 won

✔️Yuxiang eggplant rice bowl — eggplant fried fresh to order and stir-fried in yuxiang sauce

My personal favorite, the yuxiang eggplant rice bowl. Why is it so good? The sauce isn't too salty, just the right sweet and spicy balance... totally addictive. Piled high over rice, I just kept eating and eating haha.

Who is Cheonghwaweon in Sinchon best for?

Cheonghwaweon, a Sinchon favorite, felt like eating at a local restaurant abroad. Since the dishes are made by native chefs, the level of finish was really high and the meal was super satisfying. Whether you're going solo, on a date, or with family, I'd recommend giving Cheonghwaweon in Sinchon a visit 🙏