Daehangno Chinese eatery, post-musical Sichuan noodles: Cheonghwawon

Where to eat after a musical in Daehangno?

After watching the musical Someday in Daehangno, my husband and I headed to Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch (청화원 대학로점), a Taiwanese beef noodle and dim sum restaurant near Hyehwa Station. Last weekend we finally had a Daehangno date for the first time in ages, and since I'd booked Someday, I was excited all the way to Hyehwa Station.

After a fun show we were starving, so I looked for a nice, tasty Chinese place in Daehangno for after a play or musical, and ended up at Cheonghwawon, which is apparently the hot spot these days.

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch location and opening hours

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch is at 36 Daemyeong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 1st and 2nd floors. It is open daily from 11:00 to 22:20, with last order at 21:50. Come out of Hyehwa Station Exit 4 and it's right next to the CGV, so we found it right away.

It was really easy to find! Access is so good that it fits perfectly into a Daehangno lunch or date route.

What is the atmosphere like at Cheonghwawon?

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch is split over two floors, so it felt quite roomy. The exterior looked clean, and inside, warm wood-toned furniture and lush green plants came together for a comfortable yet stylish Asian food restaurant feel.

With the nice atmosphere and reasonable prices, I thought it would also be a great place to casually enjoy lunch in Daehangno.

What we ordered for two, and the prices

At Cheonghwawon you order on a tablet set at each table, and I liked being able to pick while looking at photos of the dishes. These are the dishes we chose carefully on the tablet. You can't have Taiwanese food without a cold beer, so we ordered a bottle of Cass too.

• Sichuan-style beef knife-cut noodles: ₩10,500
• Crystal dumplings: ₩9,500
• Tiger rice bowl: ₩9,800
• Cass beer: ₩5,000

It's a Daehangno restaurant where a local Taiwanese chef cooks everything himself, so my expectations were sky-high before the food even arrived!

Complimentary sides: roasted peanuts and zha cai

First came the free sides: lightly salty roasted peanuts, crunchy zha cai (pickled mustard stem), and a special sauce for dipping dim sum ^^

Sipping beer and nibbling the nutty peanuts before the main dishes arrived really got my appetite going.

How spicy is the Sichuan-style beef knife-cut noodle soup?

The Sichuan-style beef knife-cut noodles (₩10,500) at Cheonghwawon were numbingly spicy, with a deep savory flavor underneath. Over the rich red broth sat minced meat topping, sliced green onions and big chunks of beef, so it looked impressive from the first glance.

The knife-cut noodles themselves were so appealing! The thickness is uneven: the thin parts soak up the broth, while the thick parts are chewy like sujebi (hand-pulled dough flakes), which made them fun to eat. If you like beef noodle soup, you'll definitely be satisfied.

The tingly Sichuan spice and the deep, rich beef broth filled my whole mouth. It isn't just aggressive heat; there's a deep savory base, so I couldn't stop spooning it up.

What are the crystal dumplings like?

The crystal dumplings (₩9,500) at Cheonghwawon are dim sum with chives and shrimp in a wrapper so thin and transparent you can see the filling. We came to a dim sum place, so we couldn't skip the dumplings, right? They arrive prettily arranged in a bamboo steamer, and the transparent wrappers were striking.

The moment I lifted one with my chopsticks, I could feel how plump and springy the wrapper was. Biting in, the fragrant chives and bouncy shrimp burst out of the chewy skin. It was full of juice too, and every bite was rich and savory.

Chewy outside and moist inside, they were the perfect partner to soothe the spice of the Sichuan beef noodles between bites. It really tasted like a dim sum spot with a local chef's touch.

What does the tiger rice bowl taste like?

The tiger rice bowl (₩9,800) at Cheonghwawon is a smoky, wok-fired rice bowl stir-fried in vivid red with egg, pork, and plenty of green and red chili peppers. The name alone was intense and made me curious, and it looked gorgeous too.

The wok flavor was so well done that I couldn't help exclaiming! The spicy, salty stir-fried pork and soft egg mixed through the rice, making an addictive taste any Korean would love. It's spicy from all the chilies, but the clean aftertaste kept it from getting tiring, and I scraped the bowl clean.

Is Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch worth it for a date?

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch keeps the taste of Taiwan while adjusting it so it suits Korean palates, so I recommend it for a dinner date after a show. It was our first Daehangno date in a long time, and the meal was as successful as the play. The Taiwanese beef noodles, the really high-quality dim sum and the smoky tiger rice bowl: we were thoroughly happy with all three.

The place is clean and has a nice mood, so it's good for couples on a date and also great for a hearty lunch in Daehangno with friends. If you're looking for special, tasty Chinese food near Hyehwa Station, do stop by Cheonghwawon right at Exit 4! Next time I come to Daehangno for a show, I plan to return and try other dim sum and dishes.