Solo lunch: half-sauced sweet and sour pork, sujeonggwa noodles

Today I'm writing up my visit to Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch, a great spot in Yeoksam for when you're craving a spicy soup!

The name Jjamppong Jijon already screams "jjamppong specialist," and true to that, but they also have plenty of great side dishes like soft tofu noodle soup and sweet and sour pork to make it a filling meal.

What I ordered and how much it cost

Here's what I ordered that day:

• Sweet and sour pork — ₩20,000
• Soft tofu noodle soup — ₩14,000
• Zero-sugar cola — ₩3,000

That was the order.

I also joined the Naver receipt review event and got dumplings as a free service item!

Sweet and sour pork, sauce poured on only half

First up was the sweet and sour pork, priced at ₩20,000. Going to a Chinese restaurant and only having jjamppong or jjajangmyeon always feels like it's missing something, right? That's where sweet and sour pork comes in.

The sweet and sour pork at Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch lived up to its name — the batter had a nice chewy texture. What I really liked was that they didn't pour sauce over the whole thing, nor did they serve it completely separate — instead, sauce was poured over just about half the plate!

Thanks to that, both dipping-sauce fans and pour-the-sauce-on-top fans could be happy. The sauced side was moist and chewy, while the sauce-free side kept that crispy, springy fried texture.

Personally, I sometimes find sweet and sour pork gets too soggy from the sauce over time, so having only half sauced meant I could keep eating it my way right to the end.

How spicy is the regular soft tofu noodle soup?

For my main, I ordered the soft tofu noodle soup for ₩14,000. I went with the regular spice level, and it was less spicy than I expected.

Even people who don't handle spicy food well should be able to manage the regular level fairly comfortably. I'd assumed "soft tofu noodle soup" meant a simple jjamppong-style dish with soft tofu as the main ingredient, but once it arrived, there were way more ingredients than I expected.

Loaded with scallops, clams, and meat

Along with the soft tofu, there were scallops, clams, and meat mixed in, so even one bowl felt pretty filling!

It wasn't just a soft-tofu-heavy dish — with seafood and meat thrown in, it was fun picking through the different ingredients as I ate. The clams and scallops especially gave the broth a real seafood flavor, which paired nicely with the soft texture of the tofu.

The regular spice level wasn't intensely hot or tongue-numbing, so I could keep spooning up the broth without any hesitation. If you want something spicy but not too spicy, or want a change from regular jjamppong, the soft tofu noodle soup is worth trying.

With such a variety of ingredients packed in, ₩14,000 for a hearty bowl felt like a good deal.

The free dumplings from the receipt review

And the dish that surprised me the most was actually the free dumplings.

Since these dumplings came from joining the Naver receipt review event, I honestly didn't expect much. But one bite in, I was surprised at how good they were! You usually picture free dumplings as the familiar, mass-market kind you'd find at a supermarket, but the dumplings here at Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch felt different from the usual ones I've had.

Since they weren't the typical dumpling taste, they stuck in my memory, and they exceeded my expectations. They were a nice light side to go with the main dishes, and if the receipt review event is still running, I'd definitely recommend checking it out.

Overall thoughts on Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch

Trying the sweet and sour pork and soft tofu noodle soup together at Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch turned out to be a pretty great combo.

The chewy sweet and sour pork, with sauce on just half, let me enjoy dipping and pouring at once, and the soft tofu noodle soup in regular spice was easy to eat without feeling overwhelmed. I was especially happy that the ingredients weren't just soft tofu but also scallops, clams, and meat, making the bowl feel generous.

On top of that, the dumplings from the Naver receipt review event exceeded my expectations, so overall I left full and satisfied. If you're in Yeoksam craving jjamppong or Chinese food, and especially if you want something other than regular jjamppong — with soft tofu and seafood together — give the soft tofu noodle soup a try.

Ordering the sweet and sour pork alongside it was perfect for alternating between a spicy spoonful of broth and a chewy bite of pork :) If you're looking for a Yeoksam Station restaurant, a Yeoksam Chinese restaurant, or a Gangnam jjamppong spot, this place is worth a visit!