Ilpumhyang
일품향
About
Historic Chinese restaurant near the Chinese Embassy in Myeongdong, famed for crisp sweet-and-spicy fried eggplant and classic dining rooms.
Tucked away on the second floor of a building near the Chinese Embassy in Myeongdong, Ilpumhyang is a classic Chinese dining hall operated by Chinese-Korean proprietors. While tourists crowd the surrounding shopping streets, this longstanding restaurant sits in a quieter enclave, adorned with Blue Ribbon stickers and auspicious upside-down *fu* characters. The sprawling layout spans both sides of the corridor, separating a bustling, table-filled open dining room from expansive private rooms built with large round banquet tables well suited for departmental dinners and family gatherings. The undisputed centerpiece of the menu is the *gaji twigim* (fried eggplant), a dish that emerges piping hot from the wok. Wrapped in a paper-thin, remarkably crisp shell that yields to soft, steaming eggplant within, the chunks come tossed in a glossy sauce that balances sweet, salty, and distinctly spicy flavors with subtle notes of numbing pepper. It is sharp and punchy enough to demand an immediate pour of cold beer. Larger parties tend to anchor their tables with classic banquet mains. The *tangsuyuk* (sweet and sour pork) leans traditional rather than chewy, maintaining its firm crunch even after being dressed with a sweet-tart glaze folded with onions, carrots, and wood ear mushrooms. Seafood offerings arrive on an expansive scale, ranging from jumbo *kkansyo* shrimp coated in chili sauce to steaming bowls of *nurungjitang*, loaded with scorched crispy rice and an array of seafood in a deep, warming broth. To finish, the kitchen offers unpretentious comforts. The classic fried rice is gently seasoned and dry-fried so each grain remains distinct, serving as a mild counterpoint to the intensely seasoned eggplant. Each rice dish comes paired with a bowl of fiery, throat-clearing jjamppong broth, while noodle orders often turn to the thick, rich *samseon jjajang*, tossed over high heat for a lingering touch of wok smoke.
Menu
- Fried Eggplant₩35,000
- Sweet and Sour Pork₩35,000
- Fried Rice
- Yuni Jjajangmyeon₩8,000
- Jjamppong₩9,000
- Japchae Rice₩10,000
- Japtang Rice₩18,000
- 유산슬밥₩18,000
- Gisumyeon (Shredded Chicken Noodles)₩12,000
- Seafood Jajangmyeon₩10,000
- Samseon Udon₩12,000
- Spicy Chili Seafood Jjamppong₩12,000
Local tips
- The fried eggplant is served piping hot with a spicy, sweet kick that pairs well with beer.
- Private dining rooms are available for group meals and corporate gatherings.
- Closed every Sunday, with an afternoon break time from 14:30 to 16:30.
Details
Opening hours
- Sunday
- —
- Monday
- 11:00–22:00
- Tuesday
- 11:00–22:00
- Wednesday
- 11:00–22:00
- Thursday
- 11:00–22:00
- Friday
- 11:00–22:00
- Saturday
- 11:00–22:00