Sindang izakaya early 5pm dinner: mapo tofu and yakisoba, Lucky Dragon

A hidden gem near Sindang Station, a Chinese-style izakaya <Lucky Dragon JCB Sindang>

I went to <Lucky Dragon JCB>, near Sindang Station and Sindang Central Market. This felt like a place local Sindang-dong residents who don't feel like cooking would love. It works well for a proper meal or for drinks, and the menu lineup felt a little fresh and not run-of-the-mill — a hidden neighborhood favorite.

Where is Lucky Dragon JCB Sindang, and how do you get there?

Lucky Dragon JCB Sindang is located at 43-8 Dasan-ro 42-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul. It's a 2-minute walk from Exit 4 of Sindang Station on Line 2, and reservations are available.

What is the atmosphere like inside Lucky Dragon JCB Sindang?

We rushed over for a weekday opening run around 5pm. The interior is a warm wood tone, and the ceiling colors were really pretty.

Feels like a good spot for a drink, right? The tables weren't small either — nice and roomy.

Lucky Dragon JCB Sindang menu and prices

• Mapo tofu ₩14,900
• Yakisoba ₩10,900
• Kuro-subuta (Japanese-style black vinegar sweet and sour pork) ₩16,900
• Handmade yaki gyoza ₩6,900
• Chahan (fried rice) ₩8,900
• Chinese-style soba ₩10,900
• Tomato tsukemono ₩4,900
• Paihuanggua (cucumber salad) ₩6,900
• Potato salad ₩7,900
• Yantai Special 250ml ₩17,000 / Yantai Special 500ml ₩32,000
• Kirin draft beer 435ml ₩6,900
• Terra draft beer 500ml ₩4,500
• Soju ₩5,000

There were two of us, so we ordered kuro-subuta (Japanese-style black vinegar sweet and sour pork), mapo tofu, and yakisoba.

How did the kuro-subuta, mapo tofu and yakisoba taste?

Let's dig in.

Kuro-subuta (Japanese-style black vinegar sweet and sour pork), 16,900 won

First up, kuro-subuta, Japanese-style black vinegar sweet and sour pork. The meat is cut into easy-to-pick-up pieces coated well in black vinegar sauce, stir-fried with chunky vegetables. A sweet and tangy sweet and sour pork with a distinctive flavor from the black vinegar sauce.

Mapo tofu, 14,900 won — served with a bowl of rice

And then the dish I was most looking forward to — mapo tofu. I really love mapo tofu, haha.

I've never been to China, but somehow this felt like what it would taste like there...? Worlds apart from the thick, mild mapo tofu you get at a typical Chinese restaurant.

A spicy, numbing aroma hits you right away, but the spices don't overpower — a fresh take on mapo tofu. And of course rice is a must with mapo tofu. They served us a bowl on the side. The tofu was soft and silky, and honestly, this was rice thief material.

Yakisoba, 10,900 won — generous pork and squid

Just as the mapo tofu's kick started to feel a bit strong, in went the chopsticks for the yakisoba.

Yakisoba loaded with pork and squid. And ginger on the side is a must to complete the dish.

That familiar-yet-delicious umami... the yakisoba was so good too. Our menu picks paired well together, which made me happy.

Is Lucky Dragon JCB Sindang worth it, and can you eat alone?

The strength of Lucky Dragon JCB seems to be its not-so-common Japanese-style Chinese menu, with dishes that work well as either a proper meal or drinking snacks. When I visited, there was someone dining solo, slurping ramen — this seems like a good spot for a solo dinner too. Prices aren't intimidating either, so it's easy to order a bunch of different dishes. I'll definitely be dashing back here next time I don't feel like cooking.