Tofu skin wraps with yuxiang pork in Daehangno, Seoul: Cheonghwawon

Craftsmanship that never loses its edge — this is Cheonghwawon, a Chinese restaurant in Daehangno.

How to find Cheonghwawon: next to CGV at Hyehwa Station Exit 4

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch is a Chinese restaurant right next to CGV, just outside Exit 4 of Hyehwa Station on Line 4. The current storefront sign actually reads 'Taiwan Beef Noodle,' so don't let that throw you off when you're looking for it.

It was a drizzly early-autumn evening — August 17, 2026. We'd already passed the start of autumn on the calendar, but the damp heat was still sticking around, the kind where you could still get away with a sleeveless dress. I'd just watched a play in the area and got hungry, so here's my review of 'Cheonghwawon Hyehwa Branch,' a Chinese restaurant in Daehangno. The place spreads comfortably across two floors, which made me feel instantly at ease.

Is there a wait at Cheonghwawon, and is it comfortable for solo diners?

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch is usually busy, but even on weekends you rarely have to wait long, since the food comes out fast and tables turn over quickly. I walked in and found a seat on the first floor right away. Once seated, you order through the electronic ordering system, and the kitchen gets to cooking quickly and cleanly.

There's a restroom off to one side too. With so many small tables around, a lot of Gen Z locals and college students come in alone for a quick rice bowl or mapo tofu. They bring you cold water along with simple roasted peanuts and pickles. It's a cozy, low-pressure spot for solo dining, which is why I find myself dropping in whenever I'm in the neighborhood.

There's also a dim sum steaming station on one side, which I think makes this one of the more well-rounded Chinese restaurants in Daehangno. The landscaped interior looks pretty cool too, doesn't it? It gives off a real Asian-fusion vibe.

The free roasted peanuts and pickles at the self-serve bar

Roasted peanuts and sweet-and-sour pickles — everything about them was spot on. It's nice to pick at a few bites as an appetizer before the main dishes arrive. Overall, from the kitchen to the side dishes, everything felt clean and well-managed, like a place that hasn't lost its original commitment to quality.

Yuxiang pork ₩17,800 Gongbao chicken rice bowl ₩9,800

Yuxiang pork, 17,800 won: wrapping the pork in tofu skins

The two dishes I ordered at Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch — yuxiang pork (경장육슬) for 17,800 won and gongbao chicken rice bowl for 9,800 won — are my two favorite menu items here. Yuxiang pork is exactly what it sounds like: shredded pork shoulder stir-fried in a sweet black bean sauce, served with carrot, scallion, cucumber, and bell pepper, all meant to be wrapped up in a piece of tofu skin. The balance of vegetables and protein is just excellent overall.

The pork sauce is quite sweet, with that distinctive slightly bitter chunjang (black bean paste) flavor running through it, which pairs really well with the mild, plain vegetables and tofu skin. It's seasoned well enough that you don't need extra salt, and the MSG level is just right, so the more you chew, the more savory it gets.

Look at that glossy sheen on the pork from being stir-fried in oil. It had this effortlessly sweet flavor that kept me reaching for more. There must have been a fair amount of oil, but strangely, it wasn't greasy at all. I really do think Chinese cuisine, with its world-renowned culinary mastery, has an irresistible charm all its own. The vegetables, neatly laid out on the wooden board, were crisp and fresh throughout.

Loading up the tofu skin with a piece or two and wrapping it all into one bite — the texture and flavor were effortlessly outstanding. The pickles were crisp and tangy too, cutting through any richness. There's plenty of pickles and peanuts at the self-serve bar, so help yourself as much as you like.

Gongbao chicken rice bowl, 9,800 won: a different taste at each branch

The gongbao chicken rice bowl I'd been looking forward to tastes slightly different from branch to branch, but I always order it here because I think the Hyehwa branch makes the most generous, best-stir-fried version. They pile in plenty of carrot, bell pepper, and chicken, and the sauce is thickened with starch so it stays moist.

Among the Chinese restaurants in Daehangno, this place stands out for its distinctly different seasoning, which keeps people coming back. It was a day I filled up healthily on soft tofu skin, vegetables, and meat.

Cheonghwawon Daehangno Branch: address and opening hours

• Getting there: near Hyehwa Station Exit 4
• Hours: no break time (open year-round, no closed days)