Korean restaurant in Yangcheon for udon and pork cutlet: Haengbokhan

Where can you have udon and pork cutlet together in Sinjeongnegeori?

Wanting warm udon and crisp pork cutlet, my husband and I went to Haengbokhan Udon Gage Sinjeongnegeori Station Branch (행복한우동가게 신정네거리역점). Located on the first floor at 257 Jungang-ro in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, we chose it for a casual lunch where we could order both dishes.

We ordered pork cutlet, eomuk udon (udon with fish cake), and bibim mandu (dumplings with seasoned vegetables). It was quite a generous spread for two, but we also wanted to share a few different dishes, so we added the side.

How were the broth and noodles in the eomuk udon?

The eomuk udon arrived first. Its large bowl was generously filled with udon noodles and fish cake.

The broth was clean-tasting and savory, without being overly salty or intense. The gentle flavor of the fish cake blended well with it. The noodles were chewy rather than overcooked, and we could choose from different kinds of fish cake. The portion felt satisfying.

Did the pork cutlet pair well with the udon?

The pork cutlet was fried to a golden brown and came cut into easy-to-eat pieces. It was convenient to pick up one piece at a time.

The outside was crisp and the meat inside was moist. The coating was not excessively thick, and the meat was not dry. Eating only the pork cutlet could become a little rich, but having some of the eomuk udon broth each time refreshed my palate.

The sauce had a familiar flavor that suited the savory pork cutlet. My husband dipped his pieces generously, while I used just a little so I could enjoy the crisp texture.

What did adding bibim mandu bring to the meal?

Bibim mandu consisted of crisp grilled dumplings served with seasoned vegetables. The dumplings were crisp outside and moist inside. With the crunchy vegetables and a sweet, spicy, tangy sauce, they felt fresher than eating the dumplings alone.

A bite of bibim mandu while eating the pork cutlet helped cut through its richness with the tangy sauce. The mild eomuk udon, savory pork cutlet, and spicy-tangy bibim mandu each tasted different, which made it enjoyable to alternate between them.

Was the portion right for lunch for two?

For us, the pork cutlet and eomuk udon alone would probably have been filling enough. Adding the bibim mandu made it quite a spread, but we placed all three dishes in the middle and shared them, finishing everything. It was a good combination for two people who want to try several things.

It was a comfortable place for a couple to have lunch together. Since the dishes were familiar, it also seemed suitable for a family meal or for having a bowl of udon alone.

This lunch was satisfying in portion, and the dishes went well together. I especially liked being able to have warm udon broth and tangy bibim mandu between bites of pork cutlet.