Dongtan jjamppong lunch date: 10 dumplings over tangsuyuk, Bultina

I went to Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong Dongtan Namgwangjang Branch (불티나꼬막짬뽕 동탄남광장점) last week. It was a date with my wife, and we went full of expectations because everyone calls it a local favorite! The spicy broth is truly top-notch and the portions are generous, which makes it a great jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) place in Dongtan. Even the basic flavor has a pleasantly spicy kick, and you can adjust the spice level, so I especially recommend it if you like spicy food. We can't handle spice well, so we went with basic, though!

Whenever people talk about which jjamppong place in Dongtan is good these days, Bultina's name always comes up. I'd heard it's a place people queue for, and honestly I figured that was half exaggeration. But after going myself, I completely changed my mind.

Is there a lunch wait at Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong Dongtan Namgwangjang?

Yes, there's a wait at the lunch peak. If you arrive a little before lunchtime, there's a good chance you'll be seated without waiting.

We arrived a little before lunchtime, and the restaurant filled up the moment we sat down. If we'd been a bit later, we'd have been waiting outside too. While we were choosing our order, I looked toward the door and people kept streaming in, then waiting. Watching that, I really got it: "So it's a place people queue for, and that's no lie."

So if you're going for lunch, I recommend going a bit early rather than right at lunchtime. If you hurry a little like we did, there's a good chance you can sit right down. (You should expect a wait at the lunch peak.)

How spicy is Bultina's basic-flavor cockle jjamppong?

The basic-flavor cockle jjamppong isn't fiery; it's more of a pleasantly spicy kick. We ordered both of our bowls in the basic flavor.

The first spoonful of broth made me say "so good" right away. The spice hits you, but it isn't so harsh it hurts your tongue; it's the kind of spiciness that keeps you going back for more. The broth has a rich jjamppong character, so the first sip left a strong thrill. I think more than half of jjamppong is the broth, and Bultina's spicy broth was truly top-notch.

Can you adjust the spice level at Bultina?

Yes, Bultina Dongtan Namgwangjang Branch lets you adjust the spice. The basic flavor already has a little kick, so it was enough for us, but you can go spicier, so if you like heat, try going up a level. On the other hand, if you don't handle spice well, just order based on the basic flavor.

How big are the portions? Do you need tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork)?

The jjamppong portion was bigger than I expected, so we were plenty full even without tangsuyuk (Korean sweet-and-sour pork). At a jjamppong place you always wonder whether to share a tangsuyuk, right? We looked at the menu and hesitated a bit, then just added one side of fried dumplings. That turned out to be the masterstroke.

The fried dumplings came out with about 10 on the plate, which surprised me. I assumed a side would only be a few pieces, so that was totally unexpected. They go great dipped in the jjamppong broth, and with the generous jjamppong portion we were stuffed afterward. If we'd ordered tangsuyuk too, we'd probably have left some. We usually order tangsuyuk with our jjamppong and finish it all, but at Bultina I felt the dumplings were enough.

What should two people order at Bultina for lunch?

So if two people go to Bultina, two jjamppong and one plate of fried dumplings, like ours, was just the right amount. If you eat a lot or have a bigger group, that's when you might consider adding tangsuyuk.

Who Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong in Dongtan is best for

If you like spicy jjamppong broth, I highly recommend Bultina Dongtan Namgwangjang Branch. It's especially great for people who like spicy food. You can start at basic and raise the spice, so there's the fun of tuning it to your own taste. It's also good if you want a hearty, filling meal. One bowl at lunch kept me full all afternoon.

Honestly, Dongtan has more than a couple of jjamppong places, so I figured they'd all be about the same. But Bultina beat my expectations on broth, portion and generous sides. After one meal I immediately understood why people queue for it. It's also a perfect place to go with friends or family who like spicy food.

Still, it's so popular that if you arrive right at lunchtime, be ready to wait. But the taste is worth the queue, and I plan to go again. Next time I'm going to try raising the spice one level, haha