Haeundae Chinese: private room lunch set & chewy tangsuyuk, Bueokgan

Where is Bueokgan Chinese Marine City Branch, and how late is it open?

Bueokgan Chinese Marine City Branch (부엌간 차이니즈 마린시티점) is on the 2nd floor of the Suibyeon Choego Dwaeji Gukbap building in Haeundae's Marine City, open every day from 11:00 to 22:00. Today I'm reviewing this hidden Chinese gem in Marine City!

It was one of those days when I hadn't had Chinese food in a while and really wanted some,, so off I went!! I figured it'd be just a neighborhood Chinese place, but it was much bigger and had a much nicer atmosphere than I expected, haha.

Best of all, Bueokgan Chinese is open until 10 PM, so it seems great for a relaxed late meal or a company dinner! Surprisingly, not many restaurants in Marine City stay open late in the evening,,,,, T_T

Is there a wait? Do you need a reservation?

There are chairs at the entrance for waiting guests! I think weekends probably have quite a wait,,, If you're planning a visit, I recommend booking by phone or going a bit early~

We went at weekday lunchtime! Even on a weekday it was really, really crowded,,,, almost every table was full and guests kept coming in!

What's the interior of Bueokgan Chinese like?

The interior of the Marine City branch feels more like a hotel Chinese restaurant than a neighborhood Chinese joint: stylish and upscale. Just looking around was fun, haha. When you think of a Chinese restaurant in Korea, don't you usually picture something kind of local?? This place was more refined and chic,,

There are Chinese-style porcelain decorations and props here and there, keeping that Chinese restaurant feel, while European-style chairs, tables and lighting blend in too, so it looks very classy! It seems fine for entertaining clients, too! It feels less like an ordinary Chinese restaurant and more like a hotel one,,

Booking a private room by phone

We reserved a room by phone beforehand! When we arrived on time, the water and tableware were already neatly set, so we started the meal in a great mood :) And honestly, we'd have been in big trouble without a reservation, lol. It was so crowded that finding an empty seat didn't look easy. For an important gathering or a family meal, I think booking is pretty much a must!

Bueokgan Chinese menu and the weekday lunch set

Bueokgan Chinese Marine City Branch has a wide range of dishes, and at weekday lunch there's a weekday lunch set (₩35,000) that comes with jajangmyeon (noodles in black bean sauce), beef brisket jjamppong (spicy seafood-style noodle soup) and tangsuyuk (Korean sweet and sour pork). As you'd expect from a high-end Chinese restaurant, the variety was huge. There was so much I wanted to eat, like eggplant in yuxiang sauce, garlic bok choy, mala coriander jjamppong and dongpo-style dishes, that I agonized for ages T_T Next time I'll come with a group and order lots of dishes……..

Since this was a lunch visit, we ordered the great-value weekday lunch set (₩35,000). It comes with jajangmyeon, beef brisket jjamppong and tangsuyuk, so the lineup for the price feels really generous!

The downside: waiting for food at peak time

However, there were so many guests that day that the food took a while to come out T_T I was hungry, so the wait felt a bit long, but seeing customers keep streaming in, I could kind of understand. Next time I'll avoid the lunch peak so I can eat more leisurely!

How is the lunch set tangsuyuk?

The tangsuyuk in the lunch set is crispy outside and moist inside, with a slightly chewy, guobaorou-like (Chinese sweet and sour fried pork) texture and the familiar sweet-and-sour sauce on the side. The first dish to arrive was the tangsuyuk!!! It looked really appetizing, and after one bite I understood why it's popular, haha.

It was really crispy outside and moist and tender inside! It's not like ordinary tangsuyuk; there's a slightly chewy, guobaorou-like texture, but the sauce is the sweet-and-sour one we're all used to, so I think anyone could enjoy it without hits and misses :) It's exactly the style Koreans love,,? While eating I thought it'd be absolutely the best with a glass of baijiu,, but,,, it was broad daylight, so I held back on the alcohol. Hehe.

Is the beef brisket jjamppong good for a hangover?

The beef brisket jjamppong has a spicy, hearty broth with plenty of tender, rich beef brisket, and it worked great as hangover food. Personally, though, I wished it were a little spicier.

Next came the beef brisket jjamppong! For me, who'd had a few drinks the night before, it was the perfect dish, lol. The moment I sipped the broth, my stomach felt totally soothed! I did think it would've been even better a bit spicier, but the hearty broth was plenty satisfying.. Above all, the beef brisket inside was so tender and rich that I think I fished out more meat than noodles! The portion was also more generous than expected, so I was happy the whole way through,,

Is the jajangmyeon sweet?

The jajangmyeon is closer to authentic jajangmyeon in China than the sweet black bean paste of delivery Chinese places: neither sweet nor salty. The noodles were springy and chewy, and delicious even on their own.

The jajangmyeon came last! The noodles were amazing! Springy and chewy, kind of like jjolmyeon (chewy wheat noodles),,? They were delicious even on their own. And the sauce wasn't the sweet chunjang flavor we usually get from delivery Chinese places, but closer to the authentic jajangmyeon you'd eat in China. So I thought this part might split opinions a little, haha.

I actually love this style, so I was very satisfied :) It isn't overly sweet and the saltiness isn't strong, so the natural flavor of the ingredients really came through.. I think it would suit people who can't handle strongly seasoned food, or families visiting with kids! Thanks to the mild seasoning, I thought it's a jajangmyeon anyone can enjoy comfortably :)

Overall verdict

Overall, the lunch set at Bueokgan Chinese Marine City Branch was great, and the quality of each dish was better than I expected, so next time I definitely want to try a variety of the main dishes too! If you're looking for a Chinese restaurant with a nice atmosphere or a place for a group dinner in Marine City, I recommend giving it a visit! 🥢🥰