Chinese restaurant near MMCA Deoksugung for cumin lamb ribs: Huhugwan

I wanted to enjoy some culture and take things slow after a long while, so I went for an outing to Deoksugung. After a leisurely walk around the serene palace grounds, I stopped by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art's Deoksugung branch right next door and took in a solid exhibition. Seeing the elegant palace views alongside great artwork felt truly healing.

After finishing the museum visit and enjoying a stroll along the charming Deoksugung stone wall path, a pleasant hunger started creeping in. So for a good meal, I headed to Huhugwan, which had built up a word-of-mouth reputation as a Chinese restaurant nearby.

Huhugwan's hours and what the room feels like

Huhugwan is open Mon–Fri 11:00–23:00 with a break time from 16:00–17:00. Apparently it's not open on weekends (Sat, Sun) for now due to store circumstances, sigh.

The exterior alone gave off a clean, exotic vibe — plenty good for a date or a gathering spot. And it was even better that there were solo dining seats.

Stepping inside, the interior had me excited even before the food arrived.

There were so many delicious-looking menu items that I ended up deliberating for a while.

As soon as I sat down, they brought out peanuts — I enjoyed them a lot.

Eggplant rice bowl 13,000 won and cumin lamb ribs 36,000 won

For Huhugwan's menu, I picked mostly the signature items. For a rice dish, I went with the eggplant rice bowl (₩13,000), and for a proper main dish, I ordered the cumin lamb ribs (₩36,000), haha.

I also made good use of the free Naver coupon for spring rolls/fried dumplings — it was convenient that you could add the 'I want to use a coupon' option at ₩0 when ordering. It made a perfect side to lightly whet the appetite before the main dishes arrived. Freshly fried, crispy on the outside and packed inside, the spring rolls and fried dumplings were exactly what I needed to get my appetite going before the meal, and it was hard to believe the quality given they were free~

The main dishes were excellent too. The eggplant rice bowl had that distinctive soft eggplant texture, and the sauce, carrying a smoky wok-fired aroma, blended beautifully with the rice. It wasn't overly seasoned but had a subtle savoriness — a great, filling meal.

The cumin lamb ribs that came alongside were cooked tender with no gamey smell, keeping their distinctive flavor intact, and thanks to the spicy, fragrant cumin seasoning, I really got to feel the unique charm of Chinese cuisine!!

How the receipt review gets you a free Tsingtao draft beer

A Naver receipt review event sign placed on one side of the table at Huhugwan also caught my eye. If you ask staff for your receipt and write a photo review, they give you a Tsingtao draft beer (320ml) or a mini mianbaoxia — a pretty solid event.

I chose the cold draft beer without hesitation. The refreshing, crisp Tsingtao draft cleanly washed away the heavy, oily character typical of Chinese food, and it paired fantastically with everything we ordered.

Why Huhugwan works for a meal after Deoksugung and the MMCA

Huhugwan has a waiting area right in front of the restaurant, so it should be fine even if there's a wait~ Overall, between the quality of the food, the atmosphere, and the friendly service from the staff, I had a genuinely pleasant time throughout the meal. Instead of the greasy, heavy feeling you usually associate with Chinese restaurants, the sophisticated, clean plating and interior made it feel like a great date spot too.

If you're looking for a refined yet distinctive Chinese restaurant near Deoksugung or City Hall Station, I'd strongly recommend Huhugwan. I'm also curious about the braised pork belly and hot pot dishes I didn't get to try this time, so I'm planning to go back soon with friends. If you're in Jung-gu, Seoul and trying to decide on a hearty, satisfying meal, definitely stop by!