Level-1 jjamppong with smoky wok flavor, free rice: Jjamppong Jijon

I've been craving jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) for a while, so I went looking for a good place to get it, haha. Lately it's surprisingly hard to find a spot that really nails jjamppong. I think the deep flavor of the broth matters, but honestly the smoky wok flavor is what makes or breaks it. Thinking it over, the place that came to mind for proper smoky flavor was Jjamppong Jijon.

So, wanting some jjamppong after a long while, I headed to Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch! It seemed like a good spot for a solo meal near Yeoksam Station, and also great for an office lunch or a group visit, so I wanted to introduce it.

Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch hours and parking

• ⏰ Hours: Daily 10:00–22:00 (last order 21:30)
• 🚗 Parking: Lot in front of the building (valet fee ₩3,000)
• 📍 Location: 2nd floor, Building B, 21 Teheran-ro 10-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch is on the 2nd floor of the building. There's a dedicated parking space, which is convenient for anyone driving over. Valet was also available for ₩3,000. Parking around Yeoksam Station can sometimes be a hassle, so having this option was nice.

From solo diners to groups: the interior and self-serve corner

Once inside, the interior was bigger and cleaner than I expected. With everything from 4-person tables to larger group tables, it looked comfortable for solo diners and groups alike. Since it's a Chinese restaurant, it's easy to order a few dishes to share, so it also seemed like a good fit for office dinners or gatherings.

On one side, there was also a self-serve corner. They even had domestic kimchi ready, and free rice too! When you're eating jjamppong or jjajangmyeon, sometimes you want a little rice on the side, so having free rice available was great. This kind of detail really boosts satisfaction, haha.

Along with the kimchi, you could also help yourself to danmuji (pickled radish) and jjachai (pickled mustard greens), which was nice.

Ordering was easy right from the table. After some deliberation, we went with level-1 jjamppong + jjajangmyeon + crispy sweet and sour pork. Rather than just jjamppong alone, adding jjajangmyeon and sweet and sour pork felt like a more filling way to enjoy the meal, so that's what we picked.

How was the jjajangmyeon?

The first dish to arrive was the jjajangmyeon. There was a generous amount of black bean sauce on top of the noodles, with plenty of vegetables and meat mixed in. I mixed the sauce well into the noodles and took a bite right away.

It tasted exactly like the jjajangmyeon we all know and love, full of that distinct umami flavor. The vegetables weren't mushy, keeping a nice bite alongside the meat for good texture overall. The sauce clung well to the noodles, so even eating the noodles alone was never bland — I kept going back for more.

Level-1 jjamppong: rich broth and smoky flavor

And then, finally, the jjamppong I'd been waiting for arrived. Personally, out of everything I ate that day, the jjamppong was by far the best.

The first sip of broth had a rich flavor somewhat reminiscent of Gyodong jjamppong style. The broth was thick, yet the aftertaste was surprisingly clean, which kept me reaching for the spoon again and again.

And of course, when it comes to jjamppong, smoky wok flavor matters too, and it came through subtly, which I loved. The spicy, rich broth blended beautifully with the noodles — after not having it for a while, it tasted even better. The noodles were also plump and chewy, giving a great texture when eaten with the broth.

Looking closer, there was a good variety of seafood inside. From scallops to wood ear mushrooms to squid, there were plenty of ingredients, so it wasn't just noodles the whole time — picking out seafood along the way was part of the fun. The scallops and squid especially added a refreshing seafood flavor. Since the broth was rich yet clean-finishing, I ended up finishing the bowl almost without pause. This is definitely the taste that comes to mind when you're craving jjamppong with real smoky flavor.

Was the crispy sweet and sour pork crunchy?

Last up was the crispy sweet and sour pork. As soon as it arrived, the outside looked extremely crispy.

Taking a bite, the crispy texture really held up. Eating the sweet sauce together with the pork was an amazing combination, haha. In particular, the crispy exterior with a chewy interior was really satisfying.

The ratio of meat to batter was well balanced too, so it wasn't a sweet and sour pork where the batter overwhelms everything — you could really taste the meat as well. Mixing in a piece of sweet and sour pork between bites of jjajangmyeon or jjamppong made for a really great combination.

Dessert: coffee, yuzu tea, and plum tea

After finishing the meal, there was also a dessert corner available. Alongside coffee, they had yuzu tea and plum tea ready, so you could finish off with whatever drink you liked. After eating something spicy like jjamppong, a warm cup of tea afterward felt like it cleaned up the palate nicely.

In summary

Overall, I got to enjoy the basic Chinese restaurant lineup of jjamppong, jjajangmyeon, and sweet and sour pork, all done well, and the spacious interior made it comfortable whether dining alone or in a group. The jjamppong was my personal favorite — the rich broth plus smoky flavor made it feel like a proper jjamppong after a long time. It also seems like a good option for a simple solo bowl of jjamppong near Yeoksam Station, so I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a place to eat alone near Yeoksam Station.

• The jjamppong, with its rich broth and subtle smoky flavor, was the standout dish
• Plump, chewy noodles plus scallops, squid, and wood ear mushrooms made every bite interesting
• The crispy, chewy crispy sweet and sour pork paired beautifully with the sweet sauce
• Free domestic kimchi and rice make for a hearty, satisfying meal
• A good pick if you're looking for solo dining near Yeoksam Station, a Chinese restaurant for lunch near Yeoksam Station, or a group dinner spot in Yeoksam-dong