Daehangno Taiwanese restaurant, pre-show dinner for two: Cheonghwawon

Why we picked Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch for dinner before a play

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch (청화원 대학로점) is a Chinese and Taiwanese restaurant on Daemyeong-gil, near Hyehwa Station. We were looking for somewhere to eat before our play started. My husband and I recently went on a Hyehwa date after a long while to see a play in Daehangno, and this is where we stopped for dinner.

The food was good, the portions were generous, and above all the owner was so kind that I felt happy through the whole meal!

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch hours and parking

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch is at 36 Daemyeong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 1st and 2nd floors. It is open 11:00–22:20, with last order at 21:50. There is no dedicated parking lot.

• Address: 36 Daemyeong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (1st and 2nd floors)
• Hours: 11:00–22:20 (last order 21:50)
• Parking: No dedicated lot. If you bring a car, you'll need to use a nearby public or paid parking lot.

Given how Daehangno is, public transport seems the easiest way to get here.

What did the two of us order?

The two of us ordered knife-cut beef noodles (우육도삭면), xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), guobaorou (crispy sweet-and-sour pork) and iced black tea (빙홍차). I thought it would be a fair amount, but I was a little startled when the food arrived.

• Knife-cut beef noodles (udo-sakmyeon)
• Xiaolongbao
• Guobaorou
• Iced black tea

The portions were way bigger than I expected. We like ordering several dishes and sharing, but we still left quite full.

Knife-cut beef noodles with a chewy bite

The knife-cut beef noodles at Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch cost ₩9,800, and they were the first thing we tried! The broth was dark, so I was excited, and one sip had the deep flavor of beef broth without feeling too heavy.

The spice aroma isn't overpowering either, so even first-timers to beef noodles should find it easy to eat. And of course, the charm of knife-cut noodles is the noodles themselves. They are really chewy.

They're thicker than regular noodles so they're satisfying to chew, and they soak up the broth well, so my chopsticks kept going back. The greens (dried radish greens, maybe?) were nutty, and there was plenty of meat, so one bowl alone is quite filling.

💰 Knife-cut beef noodles ₩9,800

These are the side dishes that come with it!

Juicy xiaolongbao

The xiaolongbao at Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch is ₩8,900, with a thin wrapper packed with juice. I ate it right away, before it cooled. I carefully picked one up with chopsticks and bit in, and the hot juice spread out so moist and delicious.

Personally, I'm disappointed when xiaolongbao wrappers are too thick, but Cheonghwawon's skin is on the thin side, which I liked even more. It also paired nicely with the beef noodles.

💰 Xiaolongbao ₩8,900

My top pick: guobaorou that stayed crispy to the end

Surprisingly, the dish I remember most from that day at Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch was the ₩16,000 guobaorou. The outside was really crispy while the meat inside stayed moist, and the batter wasn't too thick.

The sauce is sweet and sour, but not overly strong, so it kept us reaching for more. Best of all, the crunch lasted quite a long time even as it sat there!

Places that aren't good at guobaorou sometimes serve it that goes soggy fast, but Cheonghwawon's was delicious to the very end. My husband said it was tasty and kept picking at it too.

💰 Guobaorou ₩16,000

Drink: iced black tea

I debated having a beer, but ended up ordering iced black tea (bing hongcha), which you can't skip with Taiwanese food. It's sweet yet clean, so it goes well with Taiwanese dishes! Personally, I was happy that it also cut the greasiness.

Inside Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch: was it crowded on a weekend evening?

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch has 2nd-floor seating as well as the 1st floor, so even on a weekend evening we could eat without feeling as cramped as I expected.

The tables are also spaced fairly generously, which was nice for chatting on a date. Restaurants in Daehangno are often so packed that it gets hectic, but this was a relatively comfortable place to eat, so keep it in mind!

Verdict: a satisfying, hearty meal before a show

I wasn't sure where to eat before the play and ended up at Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch, and we left with a much more satisfying meal than I expected.

• Knife-cut beef noodles have an appealing chewy texture
• Xiaolongbao is moist and juicy
• Guobaorou has an impressive crunch
• 2nd-floor seating makes it comfortable
• The owner is really kind

The portions are quite large, so it was great for two people sharing several dishes, and above all the food was tasty overall, so we were happy! If you're looking for a hearty meal before a play or show in Daehangno, I recommend Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch :)