Dongdaemun District Restaurants: Daehwajeong Jjinhae Haejangguk Review
After a period of not being able to visit Dongdaemun District due to a sore throat, my husband suggested we go back after a long time. Coincidentally, Daehwajeong Jjinhae Haejangguk, which was featured on Jeon Hyun Moo’s Plan, was nearby, so we decided to have lunch here. This place, which has been selling only haejangguk since 1981, is loved by many for its long tradition and deep flavor.
On Friday, February 19, 2025, we visited Daehwajeong Jjinhae Haejangguk, a famous restaurant in Dongdaemun District.
A Deep Flavor Savored After Waiting
There is no separate waiting list in front of the restaurant; you have to line up and wait in the order you arrive. This place opens early in the morning, and due to its location in Dongdaemun District, many people visit from early on. As a restaurant that has received a Blue Ribbon, many teams were already waiting, and we had to wait about 20 minutes before we could enter. The dining area is rather small, and solo diners tend to share tables.
We lined up at the entrance of the restaurant and waited in order.
Operating hours for Daehwajeong Jjinhae Haejangguk, a popular restaurant in Dongdaemun District.
The Blue Ribbon certification mark stands out.
The interior of the cozy dining area.
Menu Selection and Special Taste
We ordered two bowls of ‘Jjinhae Haejangguk Special’ because we thought the meat attached to the beef bones would be tastier. We specifically asked for the blood sausage to be removed. The menu reflects the history of selling only haejangguk since 1981.
We ordered two bowls of ‘Jjinhae Haejangguk Special’.
A historic restaurant that has been selling only haejangguk since 1981.
The side dishes include napa cabbage kimchi, cubed radish kimchi, and a medium-sized radish kimchi. They are served in earthenware pots on each table, making it convenient to serve yourself. Additionally, ingredients like green onions and minced chili peppers are provided to be mixed into a special sauce. The accompanying ssamjang (spicy dipping paste) and onions have a subtly sweet and pungent taste.
Various seasoning ingredients are prepared.
Kimchi pots prepared on each table.
It’s fun to eat it with the special sauce.
Sweet onions and ssamjang.
Meeting My Life’s Best Haejangguk
Finally, the ‘Jjinhae Haejangguk Special’ we ordered arrived. The haejangguk, filled with dried radish greens, looked appetizing just by looking at it. When I tasted the broth, I was amazed at how refreshing and delicious it was, made with old-fashioned homemade soybean paste. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the clean, soybean paste broth without any heaviness.
‘Jjinhae Haejangguk Special’ filled with dried radish greens.
Generous amounts of dried radish greens and beef bones are included.
The deep and refreshing broth flavor naturally elicits admiration.
My husband mixed the meat with rice, and I dipped the meat separately into the sauce. Even without the spicy paste, the seasoning was perfect, and the meat was also very delicious. We finished the entire bowl cleanly, and my husband refilled his broth and drank it with gusto.
Dipping the meat in the sauce makes it even more delicious.
We finished one bowl quickly.
Broth refills are free.
A Must-Visit After Shopping in Dongdaemun District
My husband said this haejangguk is among his top 3 favorite haejangguk, and even though I only recently started eating haejangguk, I chose this place as my number one life haejangguk. If you want to taste a ‘real’ haejangguk with the atmosphere of an old establishment and a name to match, I highly recommend Daehwajeong Jjinhae Haejangguk here.
We recommend having a meal here after shopping at the Dongdaemun District General Market.
It is easy to find, located in the alley between E-mart24 and a tofu specialty restaurant. From now on, instead of Shake Shack, I’ll be eating here when I go shopping at the Dongdaemun District General Market. I hope all my neighbors stay healthy!
Daehwajeong Jjinhae Haejangguk
Seoul Special City Jung District 1F, 249-20 Jangchungdan-ro
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