Jamsil Lotte World Mall Restaurant Review: ‘Shinla Jemyun’
Last Saturday, I visited ‘Shinla Jemyun’, located on the 6th floor of Jamsil Lotte World Mall. This is a famous restaurant in Gyeongju’s Hwangridan-gil, known as the originator of ‘Kallakji’ (spicy octopus with knife-cut noodles). I had to turn back on a previous visit due to a long waiting line, but this time I was determined to try it and returned.
My waiting number, registered at the entrance, was 40. Even though seating started after the lunch break at 5 PM, the number of people waiting was considerable. The estimated waiting time was about 1 hour and 20 to 30 minutes.
While waiting, I looked around the interior and noticed a mini stone pagoda, giving the impression of being in a small Gyeongju within Seoul. Shinla Jemyun opens at 10:30 AM and has a break time.
It wasn’t until 6:25 PM that I received an entry notification via KakaoTalk. They use the Tableing system, and orders are taken in advance while waiting. The basic side dishes included a clear soup with fried tofu, pickled radish, white kimchi, and three types of sauces. However, since I didn’t order any separate dipping items besides the main dish, the sauces felt a bit wasted.
Main Dish: Kallakji
The dish I ordered was ‘Kallakji for two’ (28,000 won). It had a spicy appearance with a subtle smoky aroma, topped with seaweed. The combination of cabbage and sweet napa cabbage created an explosion of savory flavor. I particularly noticed a ‘masala’ flavor, a mixed spice blend commonly used in South Asian cuisine like Indian and Pakistani dishes, which was unique and appealing. I ordered the regular spicy level, and it was perfect for my husband and me. However, the octopus was a bit chewy, which was a slight disappointment.
Side Dishes: Bibimbap and Potato Pancake
Along with the Kallakji, I ordered ‘Bibimbap’ (3,000 won). It contained bean sprouts, lettuce, seaweed, and a fried egg, and when mixed with the Kallakji sauce, it formed an excellent harmony. Also popular was the ‘Potato Pancake’, ordered with Kallakji at almost every table. Unlike the typical potato pancakes we know, this one was thin and crispy, resembling potato chips. A trend among the MZ generation is to place Kallakji on top of the potato pancake.
My husband and I had canceled our potato pancake order, which we had placed while waiting, to avoid greasy food and changed it to bibimbap. Seeing how much my husband enjoyed the bibimbap, I felt it was a good decision.
It was a delightful experience to be able to taste the Kallakji from ‘Shinla Jemyun’, a famous restaurant in Gyeongju’s Hwangridan-gil, at Seoul Jamsil. I definitely want to try the potato pancake on my next visit.
Shinla Jemyun Jamsil Lotte Mall Branch
6th Floor, 300 Olympic-ro, Seoul Songpa District
https://naver.me/GYGGOPWo
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