“Chinese cuisine†is a foreign food that has been most familiar to us since childhood. It's fun to choose from a variety of varieties, such as “jajangmyeon,†which you have to eat on the day you move, “champon†on the day you think of a sharp soup, and “sweet and sour pork†on the day you want to enjoy it a little more. There are long-established Chinese restaurants around us that have been operating in one place for as long as we have spent time together in our daily lives. When you walk inside through a shabby exterior that evokes memories, the elderly owners greet the guests with care. Here are 5 of the best long-established Chinese restaurants that have maintained their unwavering taste and dedication.
1. Ready-to-order noodles and sauce, 'Sindogaku' in Yeonsinnae, Seoul
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“Shindogaku†is a dish made by picking noodles and stir-frying sauce at the same time as an order is placed. The signature menu, “Soy sauce,†is served with meat and onions stir-fried over high heat with chunjang sauce and plump noodles. The sauce penetrates deeply between the chewy noodles and adds umami. Overall, it has little sweetness, so it's easy to eat casually. There are many cases where it ends early, so it is recommended that you check before visiting.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 44 Yeokmal-ro 9-gil, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul
▲Business hours: 11:40 — 19:00 every day
â–²Price: Soy sauce 5,000 won, sweet and sour pork (small) 12,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigami 2-dimensional gag): It's run by an elderly couple, and it's one of the most popular Chinese restaurants in Yeonshin. If you wait with plenty of time, the food will come out neatly. Soy sauce has plump noodles that are chewy and have a lot of meat.
2. “Oguban Branch†in Euljiro, Seoul, the quintessential grilled gyoza on the outside
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“Oguban Branch†is a place where the family business has been inherited for the third generation, following a founder from China. The signature menu is “grilled gyoza,†which enhances the taste buds with its yellowish ripe visuals and savory flavor. The rich juice that comes out the moment you take a bite is excellent. The contrast between the crunchy grilled surface and the moist filling of the tender meat filling is impressive.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 60 Supyo-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 11:00 — 21:30 every day, B/T (weekdays) 15:00 — 17:00, closed on Sundays
â–²Price: Grilled dumplings 8,000 won, jajangmyeon 5,500 won
â–²Review (Shikigami Rubber Hero): A place that changed my mind when I thought that grilled gyoza was a service in a Chinese restaurant. There are no regrets, and every side is crispy, so it's a flavor that makes you want to keep getting your hands on. It goes very well with beer and high-volume liquor.
3. Fragrant fried rice, 'Geummunjang' in Sungin-dong, Seoul
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“Geummunjang†is famous as a staple restaurant for nearby residents due to its good value for money and hearty meals. The signature menu, “fried rice,†is a carrot, green onion, and egg mixed with rice and stir-fried until smooth. Fried rice, which stands out for its subtle aroma and scattered texture, is attractive for its aroma that spreads as you chew it. At first, you can enjoy the natural aroma and then add seasoning with jajang sauce.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 45, Jibong-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 11:00 — 15:00 every day, closed on Sundays
â–²Price: Fried rice 4,500 won, sweet and sour pork 12,000 won
â–²Review (Mari Shikigami): It was hard to find a Chinese restaurant that excels at fried rice, but I finally found one. They are well stir-fried as if they were coating each grain of rice without any clumps, and the seasoning is just right. There's no joke if you stir the egg yolk and eat it in one bite after rubbing it with jajangsu.
4. 'Andong Store' in Bomun-dong, Seoul, for chapchae rice with rich umami
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“Andong Dongdong Branch†is a Chinese restaurant that has been standing for a long time near Bomun Station Exit 3. The signature menu is “chapchae rice,†which is made by stir-frying ingredients such as cabbage, carrots, and leeks, mixed with vegetable fried rice. If you mix fried rice and chapchae evenly and enjoy a large spoonful of rice, your mouth will be filled with richness. The slightly spicy chapchae adds a subtle flavor to the light fried rice.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 35-1 Goryeo-daero 1-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 11:00 — 20:00 every day, closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
â–²Price: Chae Chae Rice 7,000 won, Champon 6,000 won
â–²Testimonial (shikigin hp_070): Basically, the amount is high, so I'm always hungry even if I don't eat a big portion. Salty chapchae and savory fried rice go well together, and it's a good match if you eat a spoonful of champon soup when you want to feel a little.
5. Chewy sweet rice sweet and sour pork, 'Myunghwa Wonder' in the Seoul Triangle
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“Famous Flower Garden†has competed on only five menus: jajangmyeon, champon, sweet and sour pork, water dumplings, and grilled gyoza. The signature menu is “sweet and sour pork,†which is thick enough to be considered one of the top three sweet and sour pork restaurants in Seoul. The sweet and sour pork, which is sprinkled with thick sauce, uses glutinous rice batter to make the most of its chewy yet crunchy texture. The trifecta of chewy batter, tender pork, and sour sauce is amazing.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 202 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
â–²Business hours: Weekdays 11:00-20:00, Saturday 11:00-17:00, B/T (weekdays) 15:00-17:00, closed on Sundays and Mondays
â–²Price: Sweet and sour pork 17,000 won, grilled dumplings 6,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigin Mochine Butcher): I usually eat sweet and sour pork as a dipping sauce, but you have to eat it as a butcher to enjoy the real flavor. The point is the chewy texture that comes alive while soaking in the sauce!
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