Yi Pin Xiang Jajangmyeon 明洞一品香炸醬麵 @ Myeongdong, Seoul Korea

Visited Myeongdong for dinner after a long walk at Gyeongbokgung Palace, reaching an end to our day 4 day Seoul itinerary. This time trying out Summergirl favourite jajangmyeon at Yi Pin Xiang (明洞一品香中華料理) Myeongdong. It is located few doors away from 大使館換錢所, a money changer shop which said to offer one of the best money exchange rates in Myeongdong.

Where is Yi Pin Xiang?: From Myeongdong exit 5, turn right at the first junction. Walk straight and pass a cross junction. Continue to walk until you see Coffee 1896 on your left, 大使館換錢所 at the corner shop in front you. Turn into the alley and look for 一品香 signboard in yellow on your right. Yi Pin Xiang is on first floor, you need to walk into the building, take the lift/staircase to reach. There is another money exchange shop right below the restaurant too.

Yi Pin Xiang focuses on Chinese cuisine, serving noodles, fried rice and ala-carte dishes that most of them we are familiar with- Dumpling, seafood fried rice, sweet & sour pork, spicy chilli diced chicken, kung po chicken, etc.. Food menu is written in both Chinese, English and Korean, hence it didn’t give much problem while ordering.

We were here for Jajangmyeon, of course. Not too sure whether to categorize Korean Jajangmyeon under Chinese cuisine or Korean cuisine, as each calls for difference in taste, but at the same time shares some similarity. Maybe to say, Chinese jajangmyeon as the basic, blend in with Korean traditional ingredients for a twist of flavours. LOL. Read history from Wiki HERE

Our Jajangmyeon arrived in a huge portion enough to fit two. Noodles heaped with a bed of thick, gooey dark colour sauce made from chunjeong (black soy bean sauce) stir fried with lots of onion and diced meat, garnished with julienne cucumber. Tossed everything together and enjoy.

Chewy noodles, thickly coated with savoury-sweet sauce, helmed with sweetness from onions and meat. Considered a version that up to our liking, but due to the portion and richness (a bit oily too), Summergirl said she felt cloying after finishing two third.

Summerkid ordered a portion of Fried Rice with Shrimp. Rather plain in whole but staff served him a small bowl of jajang to pair with, immediately enhanced the overall flavour. Overall a satisfying dinner. We were told that there are many other jajangmyeon which are much better than Yi Pin Xiang. Not going to comment much until we try out more.

We walked around Myeongdong area before going back to Hongdae. Not a place we like. It was vibrant, busy and lively but too crowded, lined up with many cosmetic shops and stalls that cater tourists.

Summary of Our 6D5N Trip