Yeongjong Chinese restaurant, capsaicin-free jjamppong: Bongga Gyodong

Location, hours and parking at Bongga Gyodong Banjeom

Bongga Gyodong Banjeom is a Chinese restaurant at 1F, 50-8 Hwarangmok-ro, Yeongjong-gu, Incheon, on Eungol Café Street near Exit 2 of Unseo Station. Hours are Mon-Fri 11:00-19:00 (break 15:00-16:00) and Sunday 11:00-15:00, closed every Saturday. There's a baby chair on hand and parking is available.

I like jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) way more than jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles), so I'm always on the hunt for a great jjamppong spot. I've been to pretty much every Chinese restaurant on Yeongjong Island at this point, but today I'm telling you about the one that hit my exact taste the hardest — so good it instantly became my go-to.

If you're looking for a good Chinese restaurant on Yeongjong, you really need to try this place. It's Bongga Gyodong Banjeom on Eungol Café Street, near Exit 2 of Unseo Station. Park right in front if there's a spot open, or anywhere along Eungol Café Street — roadside parking is allowed throughout, so don't stress about it.

Tablet ordering, a baby chair, and what we picked

Ordering at Bongga Gyodong Banjeom was easy — just use the tablet right at your table. Every menu item had a photo and description, so picking wasn't a hassle at all.

The signature dishes here are, of course, the jjamppong varieties 😋 Gangneung Chodang soft tofu jjamppong rice, Gyodong jjamppong, Gyodong jjamppong rice, and spicy meat jjamppong are the headline dishes at this Yeongjong Chinese restaurant. My husband and I went with Gangneung Chodang soft tofu jjamppong rice and Gyodong jjamppong, plus a cold cider (Korean soda) and tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork).

Even before the food arrived, I was already in a good mood — we came with our young baby and needed a baby chair, and the owner wiped it down extra clean before bringing it out! Friendly places always seem to make the food taste even better.

Gyodong jjamppong broth: spicy and sharp, no capsaicin

You can already tell from the color of the broth alone what you're in for with Bongga Gyodong Banjeom's Gyodong jjamppong. And that broth — so rich and thick!!! The spice level was exactly right too.

I can't really handle food loaded with capsaicin, but this jjamppong broth was deep, sharp and thick! Not that tongue-and-head-aching capsaicin heat — this was genuinely delicious spicy. Even writing this review, I want to eat it again... might go back again this weekend 🥰

Gangneung Chodang soft tofu jjamppong rice and house-made noodle Gyodong jjamppong

The Gangneung Chodang soft tofu jjamppong rice was a work of art — soft, silky tofu meeting the jjamppong broth — and the Gyodong jjamppong's house-made noodles were chewy perfection. Honestly too close to call which one I liked better.

If it's your first visit, I really recommend ordering the Gangneung Chodang soft tofu jjamppong rice. It's a rare dish you won't easily find elsewhere!!!

How was the tangsuyuk?

Bongga Gyodong Banjeom's tangsuyuk was 200% my style too... These days most Chinese restaurants serve kkanpunggi or ggwabaro instead, but I'm firmly Team Tangsuyuk. Crispy, freshly fried tangsuyuk — genuinely so, so good!!!

My husband and I don't eat huge portions, so ordering two mains plus one dish usually leaves leftovers, but we cleaned every plate!! I'm even on a diet, but I forgot all about that and just had a truly delicious, filling meal. The complimentary yogurt was great too ✨ — a nice cool finish after the spice.

The interior and the self-service bar

The interior at Bongga Gyodong Banjeom was clean and tidy overall, with a self-service bar too! Customers kept streaming in nonstop, so I kept waiting for a lull to photograph the space, and only managed to snap it right before we left. Seems like everyone looking for a great jjamppong spot on Yeongjong already knows about this place.

There are tons of restaurants along Eungol Café Street, and I've been to plenty of places not just there but all over Unseo-dong and Yeongjong Island — but it's been a while since I've written a review and kept salivating the whole time 😋✨

That thick, rich Gyodong jjamppong broth is still on my mind. Turns out I didn't even realize Gyodong jjamppong was exactly my type. My personal #1 jjamppong spot on Yeongjong: Bongga Gyodong Banjeom on Eungol Café Street, near Exit 2 of Unseo Station! Wrapping up this review already planning my next visit!