Jongno Chinese restaurant for beef knife-cut noodles and dim sum

Daehangno lunch: noodles, dim sum, and a dish all at once

There are so many restaurants in Daehangno that choosing lunch can actually be hard. This time, rather than having just one rice dish, I wanted somewhere I could have noodles, dim sum, and a dish on the side, so I had lunch at Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch (청화원 대학로점). I actually ordered three things: beef knife-cut noodles, shumai, and guobaorou! We ate upstairs, and sharing each dish made for a seriously filling lunch.

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch information

The address is 1F and 2F, 36 Daemyeong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. It is open daily from 11:00 to 22:20, with last orders at 21:50. There is no dedicated parking, but takeout and group visits are available, and the restaurant operates across the first and second floors. Hours and closing days can change, so it is best to check the latest store information before visiting.

Cheonghwawon has plenty of choices, from beef noodle soup and knife-cut noodles to dim sum and dishes such as guobaorou that are great for sharing. I came for lunch that day. Rather than ordering one noodle dish per person, we decided to share one beef knife-cut noodle dish, one dim sum, and one main dish. In the end, the dishes were different enough from one another that it was a good combination to alternate between.

Taking our time sharing food upstairs

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch has seating on the second floor as well as the first. I ate upstairs that day. Since Daehangno restaurants can get busy around showtimes, seating capacity is something to keep in mind. For a lunch appointment or a meal with friends where you want to sit and slowly share several dishes, it is useful to know there is second-floor seating.

What were the beef knife-cut noodles like?

The first thing I tried was the beef knife-cut noodles. Unlike typical thin noodles, knife-cut noodles are broad and substantial, with a definite chew. Picking up the meat with the noodles instead of eating just the broth and noodles made the bowl feel more complete. Above all, having one warm, brothy dish made it nice to eat between bites of shumai or guobaorou. If ordering only dim sum feels a little lacking and you want a proper meal too, adding the beef knife-cut noodles is a good option.

Alternating shumai and noodles

For dim sum, I chose shumai. Shumai is a dim sum dumpling with shrimp and pork, so it gave a different texture from the noodles. Five pieces initially felt like a small amount, but as I ate, the overall portion did not feel small. It was a dish to savor. Especially when you want to try several kinds of Chinese food at once, it works well as a side-like addition. A shumai after some beef knife-cut noodles, then another sip of broth—eating that way made the meal feel less monotonous than sticking to a single dish. If you like dim sum, it would also be nice to compare other choices, such as xiaolongbao or crystal dumplings, and choose what suits your taste.

The most satisfying dish: guobaorou

Third was the guobaorou, a crisp sweet-and-sour pork dish. Once we had chosen noodles and dim sum, I wanted one more dish to share, and the guobaorou filled that role. The lean meat inside the crisp coating had no unpleasant meatiness and was deliciously chewy, which I found very satisfying. Personally, it was the tastiest dish. Since it is fried and comes with a sweet-and-sour sauce, I liked how alternating it with the warm beef knife-cut noodles shifted the direction of the flavors. If you are visiting with two or more people, adding a shareable dish like guobaorou makes the table feel much more abundant. Portions can feel different depending on your group size and appetite, so it is worth considering how many other dishes you are ordering too.

Choosing dishes for your group size

The three dishes each had a very clear role at this lunch. If you like trying a bit of everything as I do, one noodle dish, one dim sum, and one main dish is an easy combination because the menus do not overlap. On the other hand, if you visit alone, it seems more practical to center your order on a meal dish such as beef knife-cut noodles and add dim sum according to how hungry you are, rather than ordering several dishes from the start.

• Check your visit time — dining demand in Daehangno can change around performance times.
• Check the hours again — restaurant operating information can change.
• Check parking — as dedicated parking is difficult, decide in advance whether to use public transportation.
• Choose the number of dishes for your group — once you order main dishes, the table fills up faster than expected.
• Include one noodle dish — it makes the meal more substantial than having only dim sum and main dishes.
• Choose dim sum to your taste — preferences can differ depending on fillings such as shrimp or meat.
• Share the guobaorou — it is an easy dish to add when several people visit.
• Eat hot dishes slowly — check the temperature of noodles and freshly served dim sum before eating.
• Leave extra time if you have a performance scheduled — calculating travel time after your meal will put your mind at ease.

Is Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch good for lunch?

Is it good for lunch?

I visited for lunch and had beef knife-cut noodles, shumai, and guobaorou together. I liked being able to choose both a meal dish and dishes to share.

Are there seats upstairs too?

Yes. The restaurant has a first and second floor, and I ate on the second floor.

What is a good combination for a first visit?

For several people, adding one dim sum and one main dish to a noodle dish makes it easy to sample a variety of menu items.

Which dim sum did you have?

I had shumai. There are also dim sum choices such as xiaolongbao and crystal dumplings, so you can choose according to your taste.

Would it work for a meal before a theater show?

If you are planning both a meal and a performance in the Daehangno area, it is in a convenient location for planning your route. If you have a fixed showtime, though, I recommend allowing plenty of time for your meal.

If you are looking for a warm, filling lunch in Daehangno, want dim sum and noodles in one meal, or are visiting with two or more people and want to share several Chinese dishes, this is worth adding to your list. On the other hand, if you need to have one dish quickly and leave right away, it may be more efficient to keep things simple with noodles or rice rather than ordering several dishes. This time I had beef knife-cut noodles, shumai, and guobaorou upstairs for lunch. Next time I am craving Chinese food in Daehangno, I think it would be nice to choose one more type of dim sum based on the size of the group.