Gwanghwamun Chinese restaurant, yuxiang eggplant bowl: Cheonghwa

Where is Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon, and is there parking?

I visited Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon's Jongno branch, located on the first floor of Lemeilleur Jongno Town. It's a great option if you're looking for a Gwanghwamun lunch spot or a place for dinner with coworkers after work. Sitting between Gwanghwamun and Jongak stations, it's easy to walk to, and it has a spacious underground parking lot, making it ideal for driving in or for group gatherings.

• Address: 19 Jongno, Lemeilleur Jongno Town 1F, 118-1, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• Hours: Daily 10:30–22:00 (last order 21:40) / open every day
• Parking: Lemeilleur building basement lot, 2 hours free

Stepping inside, you're greeted by a clean, pleasant wood-tone interior, good for a cozy date or a relaxed meal with colleagues.

The moment you order, you can watch a lively bit of theater in the corner of the restaurant — the noodles being hand-shaved right there — a treat for both the eyes and the mouth.

The complimentary savory peanuts and crunchy zha cai (pickled mustard tuber) are more than enough to whet your appetite before the main dishes arrive, and they balance out the spicy dishes perfectly. Even during busy hours with a wait, turnover is fast, so it doesn't eat into office workers' precious lunch break. Between the friendly service and generous portions, this is the kind of place that turns you into a regular after just one visit!

Tablet ordering and the side dishes at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon

You can order conveniently via the tablet at your table, and the basic side dishes are zha cai, danmuji (pickled radish), and savory peanuts.

Hand-cut noodles and the three dishes ordered

Uyuk dosakmyeon, knife-cut beef noodles (11,000 won)

This is the restaurant's signature dish, prized for its deep, rich meaty aroma. The broth, simmered for a long time, isn't overpowered by spices and suits Korean palates perfectly — genuinely impressive. Thanks to dosakmyeon's distinctive chewy, uneven noodle strands, shaved to order with a knife, every bite stays springy right to the last, and the generous topping of tender beef makes it filling.

Yuxiang eggplant rice bowl (10,800 won)

Highly recommended if you're looking for something special or want to discover a new side of eggplant. The eggplant, crispy outside and tender inside, gets an extra punch of umami from the spicy-sweet signature yuxiang sauce. The more you chew, the more the vegetable's juices mingle with the sauce, and mixed into white rice, it's an absolute rice thief.

Tiger stir-fried rice bowl (10,800 won)

A stir-fried rice bowl with a distinctive, addictive flavor. The spicy sauce carries a subtle smoky wok aroma, harmonizing chewy ingredients with fresh vegetables. Packed with spicy yet savory flavor, it's the perfect fiery Chinese dish to blow off office stress. Besides what I ordered, I noticed a lot of people eating dim sum or dumplings too — I'll definitely have to try those next time!

Is Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon good for a group meal in Gwanghwamun?

With its clean atmosphere and flavors that are both exotic and crowd-pleasing, this place holds its own as a Gwanghwamun dinner-gathering venue or a casual meetup spot. If you're looking for a can't-miss Chinese restaurant in Gwanghwamun, how about chewy dosakmyeon and a hearty rice bowl at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon for lunch or dinner today?