11.356

26 (Sat) December 2020

Haemul Wang Jjambbong

3.5

at Myeongga Gyodong Jjambbong

-Changgok, Sujeong, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea-

with the Family

A while back, a food writer in Korea toured the country in search of the best jjambbong and came up with a list of the 5 Great Jjambbongs in the Nation (Jeonguk 5 Dae Jjambbong) (전국 5대 짬뽕).  The featured restaurants began using the list as a marketing hook, now to the point that the distinction is prominently featured on their signage, as if an official designation.  

Myeongga Gyodong Jjambbong (명가 교동 짬뽕) is a Korean-Chinese restaurant chain.  Founded 1979 in Gyodong, a neighborhood in Gangneung, Gangwon.  Currently 58 locations across the countryu.  Specializes in jjambbong.   1 of the so-called 5 Great Jjambbongs in the Nation.

The jjambbong was good.  The broth was rich with seafood flavor, enhanced by hints of smoky char from the initial wok-searing.  The seafood (haemul) – shrimp, mussels, clams, squid, octopus, and sea snail – were fresh and plentiful.  The noodles were excellent, not handmade but still were nicely chewy – so good that we requested an additional order  of just noodles to mix in with the leftover broth, which was a lot, given the enormity of the dish (“wang = king”).  One of the better jjambongs that I’ve had in recent memory, but not so great that I’d add it to my all-time list (if I had an all-time list).

I look forward to repeat visits, also ordering delivery.

If I were to rank my favorite jjambbongs, I would start at the top with Jjambbong Janggun in Manila (see 10.271 Chadol Jjambbong).  I can’t think of a second.

(For more details re foods, see WHAT)

(For more details re venues, see WHERE IN KOREA)