Gangnam Chinese restaurant for crispy kkanpunggi: Junghwa Gaekjansu

A Chinese restaurant between Hakdong and Gangnam-gu Office stations, with parking

The restaurant is roughly between Hakdong Station and Gangnam-gu Office Station. There’s space for two or three cars right in front, so feel free to drive over 🚘

A calm interior with private rooms and solo-dining seats

How should I put it? It doesn’t feel like a traditional Chinese restaurant—almost a Japanese restaurant? It’s super neat and calm ✨ Along with the dining-room tables, there are dedicated seats for solo diners and plenty of separate private rooms.

It’s just right for a private family meal or company dinner! It doesn’t have the heavy atmosphere of an upscale hotel Chinese restaurant, but it feels far more polished and formal than an everyday Chinese restaurant.

A wide menu, from jajangmyeon to shareable dishes

Junghwa Gaekjansu has such a big menu. There’s an amazing range to choose from! Beyond staples like jajangmyeon (black bean noodles), jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup), and fried rice, there are loads of dishes too: tangsuyuk, kkanpunggi, yuringi, hyanggaraji, roll menbosha, palbochae, yusansul, jeongabok, and garlic-bean shrimp~

There are dishes you don’t often see at regular Chinese restaurants, so it seems great for a group to visit and share a few things.

Crispy, pleasantly spicy kkanpunggi

• Kkanpunggi (crispy spicy fried chicken)
• Chinese-style jajang & 2 fried eggs

The food came out really quickly after ordering! It arrived hot, as if it had just been fried, so I guess they’re either very quick or have a fast turnover ⚡

I’d seen lots of reviews recommending it, and it really was so crispy and delicious...🫶🏻 The coating wasn’t just thick; it was exactly right, and pleasantly spicy too!! Even the chives scattered over the top were sooo good. I think it would be perfect as something to have with drinks too 🍺 We ordered just one kkanpunggi, but it was incredibly filling! The portions of the dishes here seem generous overall.

It was seriously the best dish of the day.. If you order one shareable dish, I recommend the kkanpunggi 👍🏻 It’s so crispy, and the seasoning is spot-on.

Chinese-style jajangmyeon mixed with a runny egg yolk

Rather than the basic jajang, we ordered the version with fried eggs 🍳 It comes stir-fried in a style a little like ganjajang. Pour on the sauce, break the egg yolk, and mix it all together—it’s twice as nutty and rich.

The jajangmyeon was seriously delicious. The chunjang (black bean paste) flavor was great, and it had lots of big chunks of onion and meat 🧅 It wasn’t overly salty or sweet, but the seasoning was just right.

But how did they fry the eggs so soft and fluffy..? 😶🌫️

Can you see those big chunks of meat underneath? 🥩 I think there were more than 10 large pieces in there!

A place I want to return to for company dinners and gatherings

I went because Napoli Matfia had recommended it, partly just to have a meal, and Junghwa Gaekjansu Gangnam-gu Office Branch turned out to have such a clean, stylish atmosphere that didn’t feel like a typical Chinese restaurant. The portions were generous, and every dish was delicious 🥢 If you’re looking for a Chinese restaurant with private rooms near Gangnam-gu Office Station, or are deciding on a spot for a company dinner or gathering, it would be a great one to try. It also seems like a good venue for a pre-wedding gathering. My desire to revisit: 2000%!