Jjambbong spot in Godeok, Pyeongtaek with handmade dumplings: Jangsu

Near the US military base in Pyeongtaek, around the front gate of the Air Force Operations Command, there are lots of genuinely old local restaurants. They have won over foreign visitors, soldiers and Pyeongtaek locals alike and have been loved for a long time. At lunchtime in particular, one local place stood out, packed with neighborhood uncles and men.

You know the rule: a restaurant that fills up with men is the real deal. Big portions, kind prices, great taste, that honest, hearty feeling, right? I wondered what could be so different that people were swarming a place in the middle of nowhere like this. After trying this jjambbong specialist in Godeok, Pyeongtaek, Jangsu Jjambbong, I totally understood why.

Location and parking at Jangsu Jjambbong Jeonmunjeom

Jangsu Jjambbong Jeonmunjeom (장수짬뽕전문점) is at 81-12 Godeokbuk-ro, Godeok-myeon, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do, right in front of the military base entrance. You can tell from the exterior alone, right? It was my first time seeing a US base entrance in person, which was kind of fascinating, and since I'd heard it gets so crowded, I went for an opening-time run.

Why? Because even with a parking lot this big, it fills up fast. It's truly a local favorite. Cars were parked along the road too, and I immediately thought this is a must if you visit Pyeongtaek.

Hours and days off

Hours are 11:00–19:00, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00. On Saturdays and public holidays it is open 11:00–15:00. It is closed every Sunday, and it takes a short summer vacation on August 15, 16 and 17, so please check before you go!

Inside Jangsu Jjambbong: atmosphere and seating

The moment we walked in, we felt the distinct smell and mood of a local restaurant. Even so, it felt fresh rather than greasy, which I liked even more! The seating is spacious, so it works for group gatherings, company dinners and family meals in Pyeongtaek, and plenty of people were also eating alone.

There are restrooms inside, which was really nice, and as soon as we sat down the door bell kept ringing as more customers streamed in! The restrooms are separate for men and women inside, which was really nice.

It seemed like a family-run place, and everyone was so kind! I also noticed pretty green potted plants.

Menu and prices: what we ordered

Here are the menu and prices at Jangsu Jjambbong, the jjambbong specialist in Godeok, Pyeongtaek. Ugh, I wanted to eat my way through all of it. There are tons of reviews saying the tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) is great and I agonized over it, but my friend is a dumpling fanatic, so we ordered Gobul jjambbong for ₩12,000, shrimp fried rice for ₩10,000 and fried dumplings for ₩7,000.

They set out onion and pickled radish first, and there's a self-serve bar for extra side dishes, so just help yourself. Each table also has soy sauce, vinegar, chili powder and other seasonings.

How is the Gobul jjambbong (gochujang bulgogi jjambbong)?

Before we knew it, our food arrived! The fire aroma was insane the second it landed. I kept drooling while taking photos, so I snapped them fast and dug in haha.

Gobul jjambbong! I wondered what it could be, and it turns out to be gochujang bulgogi (chili paste marinated beef) jjambbong! I ordered it without a second thought! It's loaded with meat like this.

Wow, you have to try this. The smoky wok aroma hits and you just say wow, this is the real thing, and the meat is seriously good, a real rice thief (so tasty it makes you eat more rice).

And the broth is really deep, spicy and sharp, yet it truly soothes your stomach. I like jjambbong deep and rich rather than clear, and this was exactly the flavor and fire aroma I want, a taste I could eat every day.

The wok flavor was spot on, so it became my all-time favorite jjambbong. Even in the middle of summer, every table had jjambbong, and now I get why. The noodles are made in-house, chewy and really delicious. In blog reviews I saw there is also a bone jjambbong, but it seems to be on a break for now! There are lots of jjambbong unique to Jangsu, so it felt fresh and new, and it's an honest, hearty place you won't regret traveling far for.

Handmade fried dumplings, another shock

Another shock: the fried dumplings. Wow, please, you absolutely must try them. You can tell they're handmade just by the aroma, and the moment I saw them I thought I was so right to order these.

The moment I bit in, juicy filling burst out through the crackling, crispy wrapper. This is what fried dumplings should be!! I vowed that next time it's one order of dumplings per person. Ugh, I'm curious about the other dishes too ㅠㅠ Boss, please open a branch in Hanam.. so delicious.

They're tender all the way through and perfect. With shrimp inside they're even springier and plumper, just amazing. They're great dipped in the jjambbong broth, and by the way, they get even crispier as they cool, so they taste even better.

Why the shrimp fried rice stands out too

Shrimp fried rice, topped with plenty of shrimp. Fried rice is something any Chinese restaurant serves, so I didn't expect much, but at Jangsu Jjambbong in Godeok, Pyeongtaek, even the fried rice is special.

Wow, the wok aroma is this good!? Fluffy, light grains, this is textbook fried rice~ The boss's skill is no joke. The springy shrimp and the nutty oil gently coating the rice made a perfect balance with the spicy Gobul jjambbong!

A local favorite really is different. No wonder it's hot at lunch and closes at 3 pm on Saturdays and holidays. I was so glad to find a truly good restaurant. I'd strongly recommend it if you're traveling to Pyeongtaek or on a stressful day when you crave proper Chinese food.