An excellent Chinese restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul.
A friend introduced me to this restaurant. I decided to splurge because I wanted my girlfriend to try the cooking of a chef from Culinary Class Wars. An unplanned tour of Seoul had left us exhausted, but the pleasure of the visit somehow brought our energy back.
Hongbogak at Novotel Ambassador Seoul Gangnam
Inside Novotel Ambassador Seoul Gangnam, Hongbogak is a fine dining restaurant led by Chinese cuisine master Yeo Kyung-rae, whose career spans 50 years. Its assured cooking brings together traditional dishes from across China. Unlike the heavily seasoned Chinese food one might expect, the dishes preserve each ingredient’s texture and use a gentle hand with seasoning. Even after a full course, the meal feels surprisingly light and easy on the stomach.
Stuffed prawns, buldojang and noodle dishes
The signature moja saeu features a large prawn stuffed generously with minced shrimp and deep-fried. Its crisp exterior and springy filling offer contrasting textures and the natural sweetness of shrimp. Another standout, buldojang, is a slowly simmered soup of prized ingredients such as abalone, pine mushrooms and silkie chicken. After savoring its deep, substantial aroma, a little doubanjiang adds a fresh turn of savory flavor.
The jajangmyeon and jjamppong make a strong finish too. The samseon jjamppong, packed with abalone and fresh seafood, is particularly impressive: despite its appearance, the broth is gently layered rather than aggressively spicy. It is one of the best à la carte choices here. Private rooms, comfortable spacing between tables and polished hotel service make the restaurant well suited to business meals and formal gatherings.
The hotel-level prices may make it less accessible. The signature sweet-and-sour pork also follows a classic style, with a sweet, sticky sauce coating the batter closely; diners who prefer a lighter texture with sauce on the side may be divided. Even so, Hongbogak remains a valuable place to experience a master’s classics and the enduring elegance of traditional Chinese cuisine.
Price impression: A splurge.
