Dongtan hangover jjamppong: level 1 milder than Shin Ramyun, Bultina

Why Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong for a hangover in Dongtan Namgwangjang

Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong (불티나꼬막짬뽕) is a cockle jjamppong restaurant at Dongtan Namgwangjang, and the writer calls it a true hangover-food hotspot, haha.

I'd had a little to drink the night before (?) and was craving something hot and spicy, lol. So I went to Bultina, and I understood right away why people call it a hangover spot.

Atmosphere and crowd at Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong Dongtan Namgwangjang

The first thing I noticed walking in was how clean and hygienic it was for a Chinese restaurant. And the mix of customers was really varied!

There were lots of families, a table of young students, and office workers too. You trust a place more when you see that, right? Haha.

What's on the Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong menu?

The menu is simpler than I expected: cockle jjamppong, cockle jjamppong rice, jajangmyeon (noodles in black bean sauce), kids' jajang, tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) and fried dumplings. There's even a kids' jajang, so it looks good for family meals!

How spicy is level 1 cockle jjamppong at Bultina?

You can choose from 4 spice levels, and level 1, which a staff member described as about Shin Ramyun, was actually milder than I expected. The levels are:

• Level 1 - tasty spicy
• Level 2 - hearty spicy
• Level 3 - fiery spicy
• Level 4 - crazy spicy

I asked the staff, who said level 1 is about Shin Ramyun, so I ordered level 1, but personally I found it not that spicy! I expected Shin Ramyun-level heat and it felt much milder? So if you usually like spicy food, I'd recommend level 2 or higher, haha.

Portion size: how many cockles and how much meat in the jjamppong?

The cockle jjamppong had plenty of broth, noodles and ingredients, so the portion was big. When the bowl came out, wow... I was happy right away because there was so much, lol. The broth looked generous, there were quite a lot of noodles, and the toppings were really abundant.

Big pieces of onion and vegetables were piled on the red broth, with a whole lot of cockles and meat, so it looked filling just to see. You really feel they don't skimp on toppings 👍

How does cockle jjamppong broth differ from regular jjamppong?

The broth differs from ordinary seafood or meat jjamppong broth: a faint sea aroma unique to cockles rises up, and the cockles are nicely chewy. It was my first proper cockle jjamppong and it was so charming, haha. If anyone asks me for a jjamppong place in Dongtan, I'd recommend Bultina.

Cockle jjamppong sometimes has just a few cockles, but not here. As I stirred through the broth, cockles kept showing up, lol.

It's not just cockles; there's meat too, so the broth feels even deeper! When I lifted a bite, yellow noodles came up loaded with onion, meat and vegetables, and looking at it again I want to eat it again 😭

The noodles were springy and soaked up the broth, haha. The broth was surprisingly right in the middle: not super clean-tasting, not super rich and heavy either, a really well-balanced spot between light and deep!

Is cockle jjamppong good hangover food if you don't usually like jjamppong?

Level 1 cockle jjamppong at Bultina is pleasantly mild and spicy, so even the writer, who doesn't really like jjamppong, kept spooning it up. For the record, I don't usually like jjamppong, lol. But this was so good 😭 So it's seriously great as hangover food too!!!

I told a friend who lives nearby, and it turns out they're a regular who goes quite often the day after drinking, lol. It seems to be well known around here as a Dongtan jjamppong spot. If you're looking for a meal near Dongtan Namgwangjang, or you're craving hot, spicy broth, give Bultina a try! Especially if you need a hangover fix, save it and definitely visit, haha. Next time I'm challenging level 2!!!!!!

Parking at Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong Dongtan Namgwangjang

Parking is free for up to 1 hour 30 minutes. You must pay in advance before leaving.