Free peanuts and 5 dishes at Daehangno noodle house Cheonghwawon

Today I want to introduce a Daehangno spot I've genuinely been going to a lot lately.

36 Daemyeong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 1st–2nd floor

What kind of restaurant is Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch?

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch serves Taiwanese-style beef noodles alongside dim sum. Whenever I'm stuck on what to eat, this is the first place that comes to mind. It's become my most frequent go-to lately, so I've got plenty of photos to share haha.

The sign says 'Taiwanese Beef Noodles' in big letters, so the place is super easy to find. Cheonghwawon has more of a genuine Taiwanese old-school shop feel than the usual image of Chinese food in Daehangno, and that first impression won me over right away haha. The green signage lettering catches your eye even from a distance!

Inside Cheonghwawon: atmosphere and seating

Inside, the ceilings are high and the full glass front lets in plenty of daylight, so the whole place feels bright. The green plants and pendant lighting give it a nice mood for photos too, and the tables are spaced generously — one of the more comfortable Daehangno spots to visit with a group. Each table has enough distance that you don't have to worry about the neighboring seats.

How to order at the kiosk, and the five dishes we picked

Ordering is done via kiosk, and since photos and prices are shown together, even first-timers won't get confused. There's actually a bit of fun in tapping around and deciding what to get haha.

We ordered knife-cut beef noodles, shumai, xiaolongbao, yuxiang pork rice bowl, and cream shrimp! Pairing dim sum with a noodle dish and sharing is the perfect Daehangno lunch combo. The more people you have, the better — you can order a bit of everything and try it all!

The complimentary peanuts at Cheonghwawon

The peanuts that come out automatically at Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch had a savory taste that kept me reaching for more. Snacking on them while waiting for the food kept things from getting boring. Not salty, just nutty and addictive.

How do the knife-cut beef noodles taste?

Let me start with the main dish, the knife-cut beef noodles. The thick, hand-torn noodles come topped with plenty of beef and herbs, and the broth is spicy with a tingly kick — perfect for a hangover cure. The noodles are chewy and thick, giving a real bite. The broth had such good depth I wanted to drink it all.

Xiaolongbao and cream shrimp

Next up, xiaolongbao (soup dumplings)! The moment you lift the steamer lid, the scent of broth rises up, and biting into one on a spoon releases a burst of hot, savory soup. The wrapper is thin enough that you can feel the filling directly — an honest, well-made xiaolongbao. Paired with vinegar and shredded ginger, they go down without ever feeling greasy!

The cream shrimp is crispy outside and plump inside, coated in a sweet-savory cream sauce with almonds on top that kept me reaching for more. I'd heard plenty of people come to Cheonghwawon specifically for this cream shrimp, and after tasting it, I got why. The sauce isn't overpowering, so you can still taste the shrimp itself!

Yuxiang pork rice bowl and flying fish roe shumai

The yuxiang pork rice bowl comes with shredded pork and wood ear mushroom stir-fried in a spicy-sweet sauce, served over white rice — mix it up and it disappears in no time! The spicy, savory flavor is the kind you keep thinking about, so I'm 100% coming back for this. Get the rice-to-sauce ratio right when mixing and the flavor doubles haha.

Last up is the shumai topped with flying fish roe! You get a solid, plump bite of shrimp packed in there haha. Topped with flying fish roe, it looks pretty too, and the salty flavor pairs well with rice! If you asked me to choose between this and the xiaolongbao out of the three dim sum dishes, honestly I couldn't pick haha.

Who is Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch best for?

If you're looking for a Daehangno restaurant near Hyehwa Station where you can enjoy beef noodles and dim sum together, I highly recommend Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch! It's also an easy pick for lunch dates or gatherings in Daehangno. I'll be back and will update this post when I revisit!