Gangnam Chinese dining with Sichuan pork: Jjamppong Jijon

I decided to meet up with some friends near Yeoksam Station for the first time in a while. Since one of them works near Yeoksam Station, I suggested a few restaurants I wanted to try first. They said there was a great Chinese restaurant they had visited for a company dinner, so we decided to go. I personally love Chinese food too, and the restaurant we ended up at was Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch (짬뽕지존 역삼점).

Jjamppong Jijon is a chain restaurant with several locations in Seoul, already proven for its flavor. My friend said they visit often because the jjamppong (spicy Korean Chinese noodle soup) is so good. As its name suggests, Jjamppong Jijon is known for its jjamppong, but I heard its other dishes are delicious too.

At Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch, I tried Sichuan sweet-and-sour pork and sundubu-myeon. Both were very satisfying. The pork had an addictive sweet-and-spicy flavor without any meat odor, while the sundubu-myeon had adjustable heat and a rich, deeply flavored jjamppong-based broth, which I especially loved.

Location and hours between Yeoksam and Gangnam stations

Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch sits right between Gangnam Station and Yeoksam Station. It was about a five-minute walk after getting off the subway, so it was easy to reach by public transport. The restaurant was on the second floor, with an outdoor staircase on the building that made it easy to head up.

The hours were 10:00 to 22:00, with last orders at 21:30. There was no regular day off. For a Chinese restaurant, it stays open fairly late, making it a nice spot for a company dinner or drinks.

A spacious restaurant atmosphere suited to company dinners

There was a wide terrace-like space in front of the restaurant, with tables and chairs that looked convenient for waiting.

The restaurant was neat, with large windows by the entrance and fairly high ceilings, so it did not feel stuffy. It was well cleaned and had an upscale feel that would be nice with anyone.

With its upscale atmosphere and generous space, it seemed perfect for a company dinner. The tables were arranged in rows, so groups could sit together easily. There are so many offices nearby that I imagine lots of people look for company-dinner venues, so keep this place in mind. I heard it gets very busy at lunchtime, but because we went in the evening, it was a little quieter and nice for a relaxed dinner.

There was a self-service corner in the middle of the restaurant. It had onions, chunjang (black bean paste), danmuji (pickled yellow radish), zhacai, and kimchi, and you could also help yourself to rice.

The self-service corner also had aprons, yuja tea, and maesil tea. I thought it was such a thoughtful touch to have drinks ready for dessert after the meal.

Tablet ordering and sold-out menu items

Ordering and payment were possible through the tablet PC installed at each table. There was also a notice saying that a receipt review would get you free fried dumplings or a soft drink.

We decided to order one dish first and then have jjamppong. I love yuringi, or fried chicken with a tangy sauce, and wanted to order it, but we were told they had run out of ingredients. Perhaps because so many guests had already eaten at lunch, quite a few menu items were sold out. I thought I should visit at lunchtime next time, even if it would be busier.

So we first ordered the largest size of Sichuan sweet-and-sour pork. We also ordered beer and soju for a fun meal. While eating the pork, we added sundubu-myeon too.

Sweet and spicy Sichuan sweet-and-sour pork

The Sichuan sweet-and-sour pork was well fried and coated in a spicy sauce. It came with sliced onion and red cabbage to enjoy alongside it.

A delicious dish had arrived, so we toasted with somaek, a beer-and-soju mix, in happy anticipation.

The batter was coated in sauce, but it was chewy without losing its crispness. The meat inside was quite thick, with absolutely no unpleasant odor, and its juices were intact, making it wonderfully savory. The sauce was sweet and spicy without being too salty—just exactly what delicious Sichuan sweet-and-sour pork should taste like. Its appealing spice meant I did not get tired of it even after eating a lot.

Eating it with onion and red cabbage added freshness. The food was good, so the drinks tasted even better, and the mood really warmed up.

Sundubu-myeon at the standard spice level

Wanting noodles as well as something brothy to go with our drinks, we decided to order jjamppong. Among Jijon jjamppong, sujebi jjamppong, rice-noodle jjamppong, and sundubu-myeon, I chose sundubu-myeon because I missed Gangneung's jjamppong sundubu. I selected the standard spice level. Sesame seeds and scallions topped the dark-looking jjamppong.

Sundubu-myeon was a delicious jjamppong dish with sundubu, or soft tofu, added. The nutty soft tofu in the spicy jjamppong broth nicely softened the heat and made it even more savory.

It was packed with seafood and meat, so the refreshing flavor of the seafood and the savory meat made the broth deep and rich. It was among the top five jjamppong dishes I have had lately. I thought, of course—they do not call themselves Jjamppong Jijon for nothing.

The noodles were cooked to an easy-to-eat texture and had soaked up the broth beautifully. Jjamppong, with both broth and carbs, is always the best snack with soju. Since I love jjamppong so much, I think I would eat at Jjamppong Jijon every week if there were one in my neighborhood. We enjoyed our drinks with the delicious food, and everyone who came was satisfied.

Overall thoughts on Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch

I met up with friends at Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch, located between Yeoksam Station and Gangnam Station. The restaurant was very spacious, making it a great place for a company dinner in Yeoksam-dong.

The Sichuan sweet-and-sour pork and sundubu-myeon we ordered were both great dishes to enjoy with drinks. The pork was delicious with thick meat in a sweet-and-spicy sauce, while the sundubu-myeon was tasty jjamppong with soft tofu, and its flavor did not fall behind Gangneung jjamppong sundubu.

At Jjamppong Jijon, with its delicious food and lovely atmosphere, we were able to enjoy our drinks and have a fun get-together. It was such a satisfying restaurant that I would like to visit again.