Hapjeong Michelin Restaurant Jinjin, Went Again Because of Menbosha ㅠㅠ

The Place I Wanted to Visit Again After Watching Chef in Black and White

Recently, while watching Netflix's Chef in Black and White, every time Chef Hwang Jin-sun appeared, I kept thinking, "Ah, I want to go to Jinjin again," haha. Finally, I managed to visit with a friend! I actually went once last year and completely fell in love with the Menbosha... This time, I wanted to try more of the menu.

I walked from Hongdae Entrance Station, and it was closer than I thought. It's closer to Hapjeong Station Exit 2, but I started from the Hongdae side and walked for about 10 minutes? It's behind Casamia, so it wasn't hard to find. It's inside an alley, so at first, I was like, "Is this the right place?" but the sign made it clear.

There are Michelin Guide plates and various awards posted at the entrance, so I was sure it was the place. It definitely had the aura to match its reputation.

The Wait Was Better Than Expected

I went around 3 PM on a weekday, right after the break time ended. I heard the wait was really long, but at this time, we could enter right away. Timing seems to be important. It seems like you'd have to wait a long time during dinner hours or on weekends.

There are the main building and an annex, and we were guided to the main building. It was more spacious than I thought, and the table spacing was generous. The interior had a clean, modern Chinese restaurant feel, so it wasn't overwhelming.

Menbosha is Truly the Best...

First, you must order the Menbosha! It's not an exaggeration to say I came for this. It's 17,500 won, but the member price is 14,000 won. We're not members yet, so we ordered at the regular price.

Wow, really... The outside is crispy, and the shrimp inside is really plump. The size was bigger than I thought, perfect for two people. When I first tried it, I thought, "What's so special about this?" but as soon as I took a bite, the shrimp juice burst out, and... I understoodㅠㅠ

It is oily, but not greasy, and the shrimp aroma is really nice. I heard there's a frozen product from Peacock, but freshly fried is on another level. Even though the bread is thick, it doesn't get soggy, and the crispiness lasts till the end, which was amazing.

The Stir-fried King Crab Meat is Also Amazing

My friend really wanted to try the stir-fried king crab meat (24,500 won), so we ordered it together... It was really delicious! It looked like some kind of soup, but when I tasted it, there was a lot of king crab meat, and the bamboo shoots and enoki mushrooms added a fun texture.

The seasoning was just right, so it would have been perfect with rice, but we only ordered Menbosha, so it was a bit of a shame. Next time, I want to try it with fried rice. The king crab meat was really substantial, so it seemed like good value for money.

Refreshing with Clean Fish-Flavored Eggplant

We also ordered the fish-flavored eggplant (20,000 won). Eggplant dishes are usually delicious, but the fish-flavored eggplant here was really special. The eggplant was cooked softly, and the fish-flavored sauce was sweet and savory, making me keep reaching for it with my chopsticks.

It wasn't fried in oil, but seemed to be stir-fried, and there was none of the eggplant's usual mushiness. Instead, it was sweet and soft, making it a taste even people who dislike eggplant might enjoy. It was perfect for refreshing the palate after the greasy dishes.

XO Fried Rice is a Must for Next Time

Seeing other tables having XO fried rice, it looked really delicious. Each grain of rice seemed to be coated in oil, glistening. I read reviews saying the rice texture is really good. I'll definitely order it next time.

I was curious about the Qingjing Woorak too, but it seemed too much for just the two of us, so we skipped it. It's a dish where the whole rockfish is steamed and served with sauce, and I heard the visuals are impressive and the taste is good.

The Atmosphere is Nice and the Service is Friendly

The store is more spacious than expected. There are the main building and an annex, and we ate in the main building. The interior has a modern Chinese restaurant feel, so it wasn't overwhelming and was nice. The table spacing was generous, so we could eat comfortably without worrying about the next table.

The staff were really friendly. They recommended menus and explained the membership system in detail. They said you can become a lifetime member for 50,000 won, and you get a 20% discount, so it seems worth it after a few visits.

I also saw Chef Hwang Jin-sun briefly, but he seemed busy. I wanted to greet him, but he looked too busy, so I just watched from afar, haha.

How's the Value for Money?

Honestly, it's more expensive than a neighborhood Chinese restaurant. But considering the quality, it's reasonable for a Michelin restaurant. Especially at the member price, it's affordable. We spent 62,000 won for Menbosha + Stir-fried King Crab Meat + Fish-Flavored Eggplant, and we were full.

Other high-end Chinese restaurants usually start at 100,000 won, but this place is much more reasonable. Of course, the 50,000 won membership fee might seem burdensome, but you get your money's worth after a few visits. It seemed like most of the people at the next table were members.

The Menu Composition is Unique

Jinjin only has 10 menu items. Usually, Chinese restaurants have a lot of menu items, right? But here, they only have carefully selected menus, which was interesting. I heard Chef Wang Yuxing did this to maintain consistent taste and quality.

The menu shows both regular and member prices, which was confusing at first, but after the explanation, it made sense. The membership system is unique, but it seems like a great benefit for regulars.

What Was Disappointing

There wasn't anything particularly disappointing... If I had to say, maybe the wait time? We went during weekday brunch hours, so it was fine, but it seems like you'd have to wait a lot during dinner or on weekends.

Also, the limited menu means there's less choice. But this could be a strength too. It seems like an expression of their will to do each one properly. The quality of the dishes was really high.

It was a bit disappointing that there were no desserts. I wanted to finish with something sweet after the meal, but there was nothing like that. Well, maybe it's expected since it's a Chinese restaurant.

Places to Visit Nearby

Jinjin is located in the Hongdae area, so there are many places to visit after eating. There are many cafes nearby, and you can quickly walk to Hongdae Street. We had coffee at a nearby cafe after eating to help digest.

Casamia is right in front, so it's good for shopping, and Hongdae Park is close, making it great for a walk. It seems like a good date course too.

100% Will Visit Again

Next time, I'm definitely signing up for membership! I want to try the Sweet and Sour Shrimp, and the XO Fried Rice has great reviews. The Beef Lettuce Wrap was a hot topic on social media, so I'm curious. A friend who loves Chinese food also recommended the Mapo Tofu.

I definitely want to try the Qingjing Woorak too. It's a dish where the whole rockfish is steamed, and I heard the visuals are impressive and the taste is good. Next time, I want to go with more people and try various menus.

I'm worried that it will become more famous and the wait time will get longer thanks to Chef in Black and White... But it's rare to find a place where you can eat Chinese food of this quality at this price, so I think I'll keep going.

The Story of Chef Wang Yuxing and Chef Hwang Jin-sun

Before going, I found out that Jinjin was created by Chef Wang Yuxing, and Chef Hwang Jin-sun is currently running it. Chef Wang Yuxing is considered a master in the Chinese culinary world, and Chef Hwang Jin-sun became more famous as the Chef in Black and White.

Both are really amazing people, so you can feel the dedication in each dish. It's not just about being delicious; it made me think, "Ah, this is real Chinese food."

Jinjin, Jinhyang, and Other Branches

Next to Jinjin, there's a place called Jinhyang. It's run by the same chefs, but the menu is a bit different. Jinhyang has a more casual feel, and I heard the dumplings are famous. I should visit Jinhyang next time.

And I heard there's Jinjin Gayun and Yayeon in the Hapjeong area. Each has a slightly different concept, so it might be fun to do a Jinjin tour(?).

Store Information & Overall Review

Address

1st Floor, 60 World Cup Buk-ro 1-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Business Hours

Mon-Sat 11:30-21:00 (15:00-17:00 Break Time)
Sunday 12:00-21:30
Last Order 30 minutes before closing

Phone Number

0507-1447-8879

Parking

No store parking, use Seogyo-dong public parking

Payment

Card, Cash, Zero Pay available

Others

Corkage fee applies, reservations available, takeout available

Final Rating: Five Stars!

It's a Michelin restaurant, but with affordable prices and atmosphere, and really delicious food! It's a place you can go to without burden when craving Chinese food. The Menbosha is especially highly recommended! When you visit Hongdae and want to have proper Chinese food, I strongly recommend it.

The membership system might seem burdensome at first, but you get your money's worth after a few visits. If you want to enjoy really delicious Chinese food at a reasonable price, you must visit at least once!