Chaihong

About

Old-school Chinese restaurant in Yeouido Shopping Center serving classic deep-fried pork tangsuyuk and rich, retro jjamppong.

Tucked away on the second floor of the weathered Yeouido Shopping Center, steps from Yeouido Station’s Exit 5, Chaihong offers an unmistakable hit of old-school banquet hall nostalgia. With its vintage signage, cloth-wrapped flatware, and a cavernous layout partitioned into private dining rooms capable of hosting large office crowds, it serves as an enduring sanctuary for local office workers seeking classic Korean-Chinese fare. The kitchen’s standout craft centers on the deep-fry station. While they turn out conventional sweet-and-sour pork, the garlic tangsuyuk (*maneul tangsuyuk*) commands attention. Crisp-fried pork arrives cloaked in a pungent yet balanced sauce of finely ground raw garlic and lemon, cutting the richness without turning bitter. Even in the classic preparation, the frying technique shines: paper-thin, shatteringly crisp batter encasing tender, juice-laden pork that quickly disappears from the table. Noodle and rice staples follow comforting, time-honored recipes. The jjamppong delivers a deep, robust broth that summons childhood memories, while the black bean sauce accompanying the shrimp-and-vegetable fried rice strikes a deeply savory note, studded with thick cuts of meat. Weekday patrons often lean into rotating lunch courses featuring combinations like tangsuyuk, chili pepper pork stir-fry (*gochu japchae*), and a choice of noodles, alongside curiosities on the board like spicy pork jiajjang (*jeyuk jjajang*). The pace here can test diners on tight lunch breaks—courses can emerge from the kitchen with notable pauses between dishes. Yet the easy hospitality and deeply flavorful broth have a way of smoothing over the delays. Complete with complimentary parking in a notoriously congested financial district, Chaihong remains a reliable retro fixture for unpretentious, soul-warming feasts.