Cheonan Chinese restaurant with a wok fire show: Lala Dragon

I suddenly craved jjajangmyeon (noodles in black bean sauce) and Chinese-style fried rice, so I searched for a good place in Ssangyong-dong, Cheonan, and ended up at Lala Dragon (라라드래곤반점) Cheonan Ssangyong Branch.

It's close to Ssangyong Station and E-Mart, so it's easy to get to, and I was impressed that customers kept coming in even in the evening.

What did I order at Lala Dragon?

At Lala Dragon Cheonan Ssangyong Branch I ordered Dragon Set 3 (old-style jjajang + jjamppong + mini tangsuyuk) and crab fried rice. That was my pick: Dragon Set 3 and crab fried rice.

This is the seafood jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) that comes with the set.

This is the old-style jjajang that comes with the set.

This is the mini tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) that comes with the set.

And this is the crab fried rice, full of smoky wok flavor.

A wok fire show that starts the moment you order

At Lala Dragon Cheonan Ssangyong Branch, the kitchen stir-fries your food in the wok as soon as you order. While I waited, I could hear the wok spinning and see flames shoot up in the kitchen.

I took a photo of it too. It really felt like everything was fried to order, so I was excited before the food even arrived. Smoky wok flavor (bulhyang) matters most in Chinese food, and that first impression got my hopes up.

How was the old-style jjajang?

Lala Dragon's old-style jjajang tasted familiar, yet I kept going back for more. It was the first dish I tried: glossy black bean sauce coating the noodles, with plenty of onion and meat.

The first thing I noticed with one bite was how familiar it tasted! It isn't overly sweet and the deep flavor of the black bean paste comes through, so I could eat it all without getting tired of it, and the noodles were nicely chewy. Personally, it's the most classic-tasting jjajangmyeon I've had at a Chinese restaurant in Cheonan, the kind of familiar taste you keep reaching for.

Is the seafood jjamppong very spicy?

Lala Dragon's seafood jjamppong wasn't very spicy and tasted clean. The broth was rich but still clean-tasting.

It wasn't just spicy: you could taste the cool, savory depth of seafood, and it went well with the noodles. Mixing in the chives brought out the aroma even more, and I enjoyed the broth to the last drop.

The seafood inside was fresh and plentiful. The broth had that layered jjamppong flavor, a blend of many tastes.

It has a spicy kick as its base, with a savory, clean note on top, and the flavors of seafood, oil, meat and vegetables all come together.

Both the jjamppong and the jjajang at Lala Dragon were excellent, so I felt glad I ordered them together as a set.

Is the crab fried rice really full of smoky wok flavor?

The crab fried rice I added at Lala Dragon came out nicely stir-fried, with every grain of rice separate and fluffy.

I enjoyed the plain, nutty flavor of the fried rice first, then put a little of the jjajang sauce served on the side on top and mixed it in. The seasoning was just right.

If you like fried rice, ordering it alongside should be very satisfying. It's truly smoky, Chinese-restaurant-style fried rice.

The finishing touch of the Dragon Set: mini glutinous tangsuyuk

The mini tangsuyuk in Dragon Set 3 is "mini" but the portion was bigger than I expected.

The batter was crispy, and the onion on top made it less greasy. Personally, I think dipping the pieces in the sauce keeps them crispy longer than pouring lots of sauce over them, so I ate it jjikmuk (dipping) style.

Since it's glutinous tangsuyuk, it's chewy yet crispy, with thick pieces of meat.

Even though it's the mini tangsuyuk included in the set, the generous portion made me like it even more. Whenever a Chinese restaurant has a set menu, I always pick it, and I was very happy with Lala Dragon's sets.

What makes Lala Dragon Cheonan Ssangyong Branch stand out

What I remembered most at Lala Dragon Cheonan Ssangyong Branch was the smoky wok flavor. You can watch the food being stir-fried in the kitchen, and you can taste the difference in the actual dishes too.

The set menu lineup is good for sampling a bit of everything, and the value is great, so I recommend getting several dishes together as a set.

If you're looking for a good restaurant in Ssangyong-dong or near Ssangyong Station in Cheonan, it's worth a visit.

One-line verdict on the Dragon Set and crab fried rice

✔️ A place where the smoky jjajangmyeon left an impression

✔️ A set that lets you enjoy jjajang, jjamppong and tangsuyuk in one go, with good value too

✔️ An easygoing Chinese restaurant in Cheonan near Ssangyong Station

✔️ Generous enough that you can get free steamed rice if the portion isn't enough

Lala Dragon Cheonan Ssangyong Branch hours and parking

• Hours: 11:00 - 22:00
• Parking: There are parking spaces in front of the building
• Parking: There is a garage under the building (a parking ticket covers up to 2 hours)

Address: 155 Chungmuro, Unit 101, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam (Ssangyong-dong 494-17), Lala Dragon Cheonan Ssangyong Branch