Sinsa Chinese restaurant reunion for three: meat jjamppong at Samsin

It had been a while since I'd seen my high school friends, and honestly I was stressing over where to take them for a proper catch-up ㅠ! But I heard there was a Chinese restaurant on Garosu-gil that was perfect for talking over a meal, so we headed straight there~!

Where is Samsin Garosu-gil, and what are the hours?

Samsin Garosu-gil is on the 2nd and 3rd floors of 46 Gangnam-daero156-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Hours are 11:00 - 23:00, until 24:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, with a break time from 16:00 to 17:00.

It's right on the main Garosu-gil alley. It's on the 3rd floor and super easy to find haha.

Private rooms at Samsin Garosu-gil: why they work for meetings and dates

Here's what the inside of Samsin Garosu-gil looks like. Doesn't it feel like a fancy hotel Chinese restaurant?! We booked through Naver Reservation and got seated in a room. The room was great, but even the regular seats are arranged privately, so it'd also be perfect for a business meeting or a blind date~^^* People do a surprising amount of meetings on Garosu-gil 🥰

Here are the basic side dishes: kimchi, danmuji, soy sauce. The danmuji was thinly sliced, which I liked.

I really loved the basic table setting too — gold-foil bowls?! When would you ever get to eat off those otherwise... perfect for a business meal too. Chinese food is great for laying out dishes and chatting while you eat. Tableware that people of any age would love!!

What three people ordered, starting with the xiaolongbao

At Samsin Garosu-gil you order via QR code. Here's what the three of us ordered! The portions were just right.

Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) came out first. Perfect for one each between the three of us. You lift it gently with a spoon and pop the broth inside — the meaty juices were incredible. This is a must-order!

Then the main dishes came out one after another — let me show you each one below haha.

Tangsuyuk served in an earthenware pot

Next up, tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork)!! Normally I don't bother ordering tangsuyuk at a proper Chinese restaurant, but something about this one made me really want to try it~ and wow, one bite and it was genuinely amazing. It comes in a heated stone pot, so the sauce stays hot the whole time! The meat stayed piping hot too 👍

Meat jjamppong: how much meat is in the broth?

This is the meat jjamppong (spicy seafood/meat noodle soup) — can you see how much meat is in there? So much meat. And with all that meat in it, the broth is out of this world. Deep, rich broth with just the level of spicy that Koreans love!! I think I'll order this jjamppong again next time I come. If my stomach had had room, I'd have ordered a bowl of rice just to mix into that broth. I'm still thinking about it ㅠ!!

Gochu-jjajang, spicier than the jjamppong

Last up is gochu-jjajang (spicy black bean noodles), and I actually love gochu-jjajang over regular jjajang. I prefer that punchy spiciness to the usual sweet jjajang flavor, and this one was even spicier than I expected! Felt hotter than the jjamppong, honestly~? If you can handle spicy food, I recommend the gochu-jjajang!

Is Samsin Garosu-gil a good reunion spot in Gangnam?

If you're looking for a good-vibe Chinese dining spot on Garosu-gil, I recommend Samsin 🥟 From xiaolongbao to mianbaoxia to galbi-jjim jjajangmyeon, the menu is varied enough to work for a gathering or a date! With clean interiors and food to match, it's a Garosu-gil spot I'd happily revisit ✨