Jonggak beef noodle shop, after-work date for ₩31,600: Cheonghwa

The other day after work, my fiancé and I were craving a rich, steaming-hot broth, so we went to Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon (청화 우육도삭면), a Taiwanese beef noodle shop I'd newly discovered near Jonggak Station. I love noodle dishes in general, and I'd heard this place serves not ordinary noodles but distinctive knife-cut noodles (dosakmyeon). We filled up on that, plus handmade dim sum packed with filling and a spicy stir-fried chicken rice bowl (•͈ᴗ•͈)

What's the Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon restaurant like? A two-floor spot near Jonggak Station

Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon isn't far from the Jonggak Station exits, so it's easy to walk to. The big sign by the entrance stood out from far away.

Inside, the 1st and 2nd floors are connected as one two-level space. The tables aren't squeezed together, so it felt comfortable while we ate.

Every seat has an ordering tablet set up ( ᐛ )و

You can browse the menu slowly on the screen and place your order right there, which was one of the convenient things about the place.

Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon menu and prices: how much did two people pay?

The restaurant centers on Taiwanese noodle dishes, along with a range of handmade dim sum and meals. Each menu item comes with a photo, so even dishes we'd never tried were easy to pick. We chose three: the soupy knife-cut beef noodles, shumai as a side, and, since we figured we'd want a rice dish, the kung pao chicken rice bowl.

• Knife-cut beef noodles ₩11,000
• Shumai (pork dumplings), one tray ₩9,800
• Kung pao chicken rice bowl ₩10,800
• Total ₩31,600

All three dishes came to ₩31,600, which I think is quite reasonable for a meal in the middle of Gwanghwamun, given today's prices.

How are the knife-cut beef noodles? Rich beef broth and hand-shaved noodles

The Taiwanese knife-cut beef noodles (₩11,000) came out first, in a white bowl with reddish broth and plenty of chopped scallions on top. We waited only a moment after ordering before it arrived, freshly cooked.

I lifted the noodles with my chopsticks, since they were what I was most curious about. Unlike smooth machine-pulled noodles, they were irregular in thickness and shape.

They're shaved off thinly with a knife, so the middle is thick and chewy while the edges are thin and soak up the sauce, which gives a unique texture (≧◡≦)

The broth has a gentle spice aroma underneath, but it isn't overpowering, so even people sensitive to spices could sip it comfortably. It's not greasy and leans light.

The beef topping came in thick chunks, and it must have been cooked for a long time because it was tender and cut easily with my teeth. Putting a piece of beef and some scallion on a wide noodle and eating them together gave a nice flavor that spread through my mouth, so I kept eating slowly and savoring it.

Shumai dim sum at Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon: thin wrappers and springy shrimp

The shumai (₩9,800 per tray) had a thin yellowish wrapper around a rounded ball of filling, with an orange garnish on top. It arrived steaming at our table while we were midway through the noodles. The garnish added a bit of visual fun, and when I carefully picked one up with chopsticks, I could feel its hefty weight.

The wrapper isn't thick, so you really taste the filling itself. Along with the savory flavor of the minced meat, I got little bursts of shrimp pieces. The juices inside spread as I bit in and kept it moist, so it went down smoothly without being dry.

The mildness of the shumai balanced out the spicy, salty beef noodles in between, so alternating the two kept me from getting tired of either, and we finished everything.

What does the kung pao chicken rice bowl taste like? Sweet and spicy stir-fried chicken

The kung pao chicken rice bowl (₩10,800) is seasoned chicken and vegetables served with rice on a wide plate, and a clear egg soup came with it as a set. The chicken was mostly lean meat, but it was tender rather than dry, so it was easy to mix with the rice. We also got crunchy vegetables here and there.

The sauce is sweet at its base with a little spiciness trailing behind, so I think it's the kind of sauce that suits most people without dividing opinions. I scooped a good amount of chicken and sauce onto the white rice and mixed it up, and it was an unbeatable rice topping (ღ˘⌣˘ღ) It was a hearty way to finish the meal.

Who is Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon near Jonggak Station good for?

Overall, the food isn't heavily seasoned or harsh, so even after finishing, my stomach felt fine and we left comfortably. With so many office workers in the neighborhood, it seemed like a fitting place for a lunch break, or for a light evening meal with a drink.

If you're looking near Jonggak Station for a Chinese restaurant that serves exotic noodle dishes alongside soft dumplings, Cheonghwa Uyuk Dosakmyeon is worth a visit at least once.