Chinese restaurant near Paju's Simhaksan trail: octopus jjamppong set

Lunch after a Simhaksan outing: where is Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch?

Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch (돌판석짬뽕 파주심학산점) is a newly opened stone jjamppong restaurant at 8-38 Dolgoji-gil, Paju, Gyeonggi, on the 1st floor, close to the Simhaksan trail. We were out near Simhaksan and wondering where to eat lunch, so we stopped by this newly opened place.

The exterior looked clean, and since it had only just opened, I was even more curious. It's close to the Simhaksan trail, so it's a great spot for anyone looking for a good meal near Simhaksan in Paju.

At the entrance to the village there's a Simhaksan Deulkkot Maeul (wildflower village) marker stone, and it had a nice drive-course feel.

Hours, break time and parking

• Address: 8-38 Dolgoji-gil, Paju, Gyeonggi (1st floor)
• Hours: 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m., last order 8:00 p.m.
• Break time: 4:00–5:00 p.m.
• Closed: every Tuesday
• Parking: available

There's a large parking lot in front of the restaurant, so we could visit without worrying about parking.

Big menu photos stand at the entrance, and my mouth was watering before we even went in.

I heard this restaurant started in Busan.

Atmosphere and dessert corner at Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch

Right at the entrance there's a dessert corner with coffee, a yogurt drink and rice crackers.

The first thing you see is the kitchen, which looked busy even though lunchtime had passed. Inside, the ceiling is high so it doesn't feel stuffy, and the tables are spaced widely, which is nice for family meals. Quite a few customers were still there.

Many families and couples were visiting, and the mood suits a family meal or a date in Paju.

After a while the restaurant quieted down. There are plenty of baby chairs too, so family meals should be no trouble.

What did we order, and for how much?

At Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch we ordered the stone jjamppong (medium) + chitang (chicken gangjeong, sweet-spicy fried chicken) set for ₩41,000, added octopus for ₩5,000, and got six handmade gyoza (dumplings) for ₩8,000. Ordering was easy on the kiosk at the table.

You can choose the spice level, and we went slightly spicy so we could enjoy it without strain.

Self-bar: free side dishes and rice

You can take as many basic side dishes as you like from the self-bar, and steamed rice is free too. There were pickled radish, onions and spicy scallion kimchi, and it was convenient to take just what we needed.

How was the octopus stone jjamppong that stays hot to the end?

The biggest strength of the stone jjamppong here is that the stone bowl keeps it hot to the very last bite. After a little while the jjamppong arrived in its stone bowl, bubbling away.

It was piled with bean sprouts, and the octopus we added and the assorted seafood were generous, so it looked delicious just sitting there. I took a spoonful of broth first, and the rich, spicy flavor filled my mouth.

The crunchy bean sprouts made it clean-tasting, and the noodles were chewy, so we enjoyed it to the end. It doesn't cool down even as time passes, so it should satisfy slow eaters too.

How were the handmade gyoza and the chitang (chicken gangjeong)?

The handmade gyoza we ordered alongside were crispy outside and moist inside. I briefly thought about getting the mala dumplings, but I'm glad I went with the handmade gyoza.

Biting in, they were juicy with a chewy wrapper, and they went really well with the jjamppong. The dipping sauce looks like soy sauce but doesn't taste like it, more sweet and tangy, so I kept reaching for it.

The chitang (chicken gangjeong) in the set was also better than expected: crispy fried chicken coated generously in a sweet-spicy sauce. Kids would like it, and it paired well with the fiery jjamppong.

The portions were generous, enough for two, or actually too much, so in the end we packed up the leftovers and took them home.

Naver event grapefruit ade

During the meal we also enjoyed a cool grapefruit ade that we got through a Naver event. There's plum ade too, so just ask for whichever you prefer, and do make sure to claim it.

The grapefruit ade was tasty. After spicy jjamppong it felt extra refreshing.

Is it a good stop after a Simhaksan drive or walk?

If you're planning a drive or a walk around Simhaksan, Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch is a place I'd recommend for a meal nearby.

Jjamppong you can enjoy to the end on a hot stone plate, crispy gyoza and sweet chitang made for a satisfying meal.

If you're looking for a family meal out, a date in Paju, or a good Chinese restaurant there, Dolpanseok Jjamppong Paju Simhaksan Branch is worth a visit.