Hwaseong Chinese restaurant for a cockle jjamppong revisit

While deciding what to eat at Dongtan Namgwangjang, there was a place I ended up visiting again. It was Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong Dongtan Namgwangjang Branch 🔥

When I first came here before, jjamppong (spicy noodle soup) with cockles seemed so unusual, and I remembered enjoying it much more than expected, so I naturally came back this time too. To give you the conclusion first: satisfied again!

• A warming spicy jjamppong loaded with cockles
• Even the jajangmyeon is reliably good
• A spacious, clean dining room
• Easy ordering right from the table
• Menu prices that do not feel overly expensive

Especially if you love a warming spicy broth, this is a Dongtan Namgwangjang spot worth trying at least once.

An easy-to-visit location and spacious dining room in Dongtan Namgwangjang

Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong Dongtan Namgwangjang Branch is on the first floor at 149 Nojak-ro in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. It is in the heart of Dongtan Namgwangjang's commercial area, making it an easy place to stop by for dinner. The large “Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong” sign out front also makes it easy to find.

Once inside, the restaurant is quite a bit larger than expected. The tables are not packed together, and the whole place is bright and clean, so it looked suitable for anything from a solo meal to a family dinner or a casual meal with friends. I had found it comfortable on my earlier visit too, and it was still the same this time.

What we ordered: cockle jjamppong and jajangmyeon

This time, we ordered cockle jjamppong for ₩11,000, jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) for ₩8,000, and Zero Coke for ₩2,000. ₩21,000 in total!

Considering restaurant prices these days, I personally felt that having one dish each plus drinks for two people was not too burdensome. We could also order on the tablet at the table, which was convenient since there was no need to call over a staff member.

A warming spicy jjamppong with cockles that keep appearing

The star at Bultina Kkomak Jjamppong is, true to its name, the cockle jjamppong. Right from the appearance, the red broth is generously topped with cockles and all kinds of ingredients. It is definitely a little different from the combination you usually see in regular jjamppong.

The cockles' distinctive chewy texture goes surprisingly well with the broth. The broth is not simply spicy either; it has a savory depth from the seafood that kept me reaching for another spoonful. And rather than just a few cockles placed on top for decoration, more kept turning up as I ate, which was great haha.

You can choose the spice level too. There are levels 1 through 4, so anyone from people who cannot handle much spice to people who love it should be able to order according to their taste. I prefer it deliciously warming rather than overwhelmingly intense.

The unexpectedly good jajangmyeon

The jajangmyeon we ordered alongside it was ₩8,000. Since this is a cockle jjamppong specialty spot, I only expected the jjamppong to shine, but the jajangmyeon was quite good too. There was plenty of chunjang (black bean paste) sauce, so it was not lacking once mixed with the noodles, and it was not overly sweet either.

I also recommend one person ordering the warming cockle jjamppong and the other ordering jajangmyeon, then sharing. One sip of jjamppong broth followed by jajangmyeon is just perfect… 😂

Add tangsuyuk and gun mandu when visiting in a group

Beyond the main dishes, the menu has small tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) for ₩17,000, medium for ₩22,000, large for ₩27,000, and gun mandu (pan-fried dumplings) for ₩6,000, so if you are visiting with several people, adding an order of tangsuyuk would be a nice choice.

I also remember having tangsuyuk on my earlier visit, and it went well with the jjamppong, so I am thinking of ordering them together again next time.

A comfortable place worth revisiting

For me, taste matters at a restaurant, but the places I return to are ultimately the comfortable ones. This place has a spacious, clean dining room, tablet ordering, and easy access to basics like danmuji (pickled radish) and onions, so the whole meal felt comfortable. The staff were friendly too, making it easy to visit without any pressure.

Most of all, the cockle jjamppong that had felt so novel the first time was still delicious when I came back—that was the biggest plus! If you are looking for something a little different from ordinary jjamppong in Dongtan Namgwangjang, it would be worth trying. I think I will come back again whenever I am craving a warming spicy broth 😊