Junggukseong
중국성
About
A classic retro Chinese restaurant in Cheongnyangni's Miju Sangga known for nostalgic sweet-and-sour pork and rich ganjjajang.
Tucked away on the second floor of the weathered Miju Shopping Center near Cheongnyangni Station, Junggukseong feels entirely suspended in time. Walking down the aging hallway to its far end reveals a classic, unpretentious Chinese restaurant that immediately evokes the early 2000s. Sunlight streams through the front windows onto iconic retro blue chairs, illuminating a dining room kept remarkably clean by the welcoming owners. The atmosphere is quiet, local, and straightforward—a sanctuary where neighborhood elders drift in and out and solo diners settle into booths without having to battle long queues. The culinary draw here centers firmly on old-school technique, starting with the deeply nostalgic tangsuyuk. Rather than the chewy glutinous coatings or thick sweet syrups found in modern iterations, the kitchen fries its battered pork to order, keeping each piece light, crisp, and tender within. Ordered frequently as a compact "mini" portion that still feeds two generously, it comes paired with an authentic, translucent, ketchup-accented sweet-and-sour sauce. The bowls of noodles command equal respect. The gan-jjajang arrives as an uncompromised standard: a bowl of thin noodles topped with fresh julienned cucumber alongside a separate, freshly stir-fried black bean sauce. Packed with crisp, roughly cut onions, the sauce is thick and viscous rather than watery, clinging tightly to the noodles with the rich, deep savor of well-roasted chunjang. Those seeking heat can turn to the gochu-jjamppong, piled high with vegetables and toppings, or the standard jjamppong, which bypasses oily heaviness in favor of a clean, spicy broth with a lingering savory warmth. Serving up classic plates at prices that feel increasingly rare across Dongdaemun, Junggukseong remains an honest neighborhood fixture. It is the type of time-worn kitchen that bypasses trendiness entirely, satisfying cravings for the crisp, saucy Chinese-Korean comfort food of decades past.
Menu
- Fresh-stirred Black Bean Noodles₩9,000
- Mini Sweet and Sour Pork₩16,000
- Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup₩9,000
- Black Bean Noodles₩7,000
- Fried Rice₩8,500
- Sweet And Sour Pork₩25,000
- Udon₩8,000
- Ulmyeon₩9,600
- Omurice₩10,000
- Gisumyeon (Shredded Chicken Noodles)₩12,000
Local tips
- Order the mini sweet-and-sour pork for a classic crispy texture and vintage-style sauce.
- Paid parking is available behind Miju Sangga Building A (around 1,000 KRW per 30 minutes).
- Solo diners are welcome and the restaurant has no severe wait times.
Details
- Cheongnyangni Station
Opening hours
- Sunday
- 11:00–21:00
- Monday
- 11:00–21:00
- Tuesday
- 11:00–21:00
- Wednesday
- 11:00–21:00
- Thursday
- 11:00–21:00
- Friday
- 11:00–21:00
- Saturday
- 11:00–21:00