Seoul Hongseongwon 서울홍성원

A grand dining room greets you at the door of this Taiwanese-leaning Chinese restaurant near Magok, and warm pu-erh tea is poured once you sit. Soft drinks from the dispenser and a wheat-bun dessert are free. Chadolbaki jjamppong pairs a smoky wok aroma with thin beef brisket, and samseon jjamppong comes topped with seafood including abalone. Gochu ganjjajang covers the black-bean noodle side, gwangdong-bap the rice side, and the tangsuyuk has thick pieces of pork for sharing. A short queue forms at lunch when office workers from Magok fill the room. Group dinners are booked in advance.