Gwanghwamun Taiwanese noodle shop date: 1 bowl, 2 dim sum, Cheonghwa

Why we keep returning to Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon for Gwanghwamun dates

Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon (청화 우육도삭면) is the Taiwanese beef noodle shop my boyfriend and I have been going to for years whenever we want beef noodles around Gwanghwamun and Jonggak. When you crave hot, deep broth and chewy noodles, beef noodle soup is the dish you have to top up on regularly, right? >.< Every time we have plans around Gwanghwamun or Jonggak, we ask each other "What should we eat for lunch/dinner today?" and our feet end up here anyway. It's our real go-to spot, haha

We've honestly been back many times, so we're total regulars! With prices these days, it's rare to find a place where you can stuff yourself with quality knife-cut noodles and handmade dim sum at this price, so I'm amazed every time. Best value ever, hahaha. Let me walk you through how we polished off the signature beef knife-cut noodles, xiaolongbao that burst with juice, and chewy, springy crystal dumplings >.<

Where is Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon, and what's it like inside?

The restaurant sits in the central business area between Gwanghwamun Station and Jonggak Station, so office workers turn tables fast at lunch, and it's super easy to drop by after work or on a weekend date, haha. Inside, there's a faint scent of Taiwanese spices and lots of energy. Tables turn over quickly, so even if there's a bit of a wait, a seat opens up soon!

The staff are quick and friendly, so we got settled in happily as soon as we walked in >.< The table comes set with spicy special chili oil (rayu) sauce, black vinegar, and chewy zha cai (pickled mustard stem), and my mouth was watering before the food even arrived, hahaha

What should two people order at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon?

For two, one bowl of beef knife-cut noodles plus two baskets of dim sum (xiaolongbao and crystal dumplings) is exactly the right amount and filling. Since we come so often, we didn't even look at the menu and just ordered our favorite winning combo, haha

• Beef knife-cut noodles (uyuk dosakmyeon)
• Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings)
• Crystal dumplings (sujeong dalmandu)

After a little while, the steaming dim sum baskets and the bowl of beef knife-cut noodles in deep red broth arrived one after another, and that fragrant, rich smell hit my nose and my energy shot up~!☆

How do Cheonghwa's beef broth and knife-cut noodles taste?

The broth is a deeply simmered beef stock with a subtle Taiwanese spice aroma, and it was clean rather than greasy. I picked up my spoon first and slurped the broth. Aaah... it was so refreshing, like my insides opened up, ㅠㅠ Not greasy or heavy, but clean, with a deep savory flavor that clings to your mouth.

The key here is the dosakmyeon (knife-cut noodles), made by shaving dough off with a knife instead of using machine-made noodles >.< The edges are thin and soak up the broth, while the middle is thick, so every bite has a wonderfully chewy, bouncy texture, hahaha

The big pieces of beef are stewed so long they're tender enough to eat without teeth. Put a piece on top of the noodles and slurp them together, and it's honestly heaven, haha. Depending on your taste, add a bit of the rayu sauce on the table…

What's the best way to eat xiaolongbao at Cheonghwa?

The proper way to eat xiaolongbao here is to place it on a spoon, poke the wrapper to drink the juice first, then top it with ginger strips dipped in black vinegar and eat it in one bite. Time to meet the steaming xiaolongbao! You should never just bite into it whole, there's a method, hahaha

Carefully set it on your spoon, then gently poke the thin wrapper with a chopstick and golden, rich juice comes pouring out >.< First slurp up the hot, savory broth pooled in the spoon, then add a little pinch of ginger strips dipped in black vinegar and pop it all in your mouth in one go... The savory meat filling with no gamey smell and the thin, chewy wrapper just melt in your mouth ㅠㅠ My boyfriend said as soon as he ate it, "As expected, even the dim sum here beats the specialty shops," haha

Do crystal dumplings go well with knife-cut beef noodles?

The crystal dumplings (sujeong dalmandu) are half-moon dim sum with a clear potato starch wrapper filled with whole shrimp and chives. They're light and chewy, and great to alternate with sips of the beef noodle broth. They look so dazzling >.< As the name suggests, the half-moon wrapper is so thin and clear you can see right through to the filling!

The wrapper has that sticky, mochi-like chew typical of potato starch, which makes chewing really fun, haha. Bite in and the plump whole shrimp pops, and with the fragrant chive aroma the savory flavor fills your whole mouth, hahaha. Light, not greasy, and ultra-chewy, it was the perfect side to alternate with the beef noodle broth!

Is Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon a good Gwanghwamun date meal?

After cleaning out the noodles and two baskets of dim sum, we were full and happy, haha. You can enjoy this quality of knife-cut noodles and dim sum right in the middle of Gwanghwamun at an easy, friendly price, so of course we've been regulars who come back periodically for years, hahaha

If you're near Gwanghwamun, Jonggak, or Jongno and want beef noodles with truly rich broth, or a great-value date spot with juicy dim sum, I strongly recommend trying the combo of beef knife-cut noodles, xiaolongbao, and crystal dumplings at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon >.<