Dream Hall

Hapjeong <Honghong>. Directly beside the station exit. Posters and photographs from Chungking Express and A Moment of Romance clutter the walls. I order the yuringi every time, while both the fried noodles and fried rice are cooked with exquisite control. The flavors are excellent even as a meal rather than drinking food. Open late into the night.

Hapjeong <Menya Su>. Special duck shoyu ramen. From the Menya Jun lineage, and easily national top-tier in soup depth and finish. The chashu and menma also reveal meticulous attention to detail. If forced to name a flaw, perhaps the ajitama is a little ordinary. That is how little there is to criticize. A superb bowl.

<Ego Soufflé> Hapjeong flagship. Crème brûlée soufflé. The soufflé itself is genuinely delicious, with a finely made texture extending all the way through. If anything, it was almost a shame that so much cream covered and slightly obscured the soufflé's inherent appeal. The sweetness was gentle, with a pleasantly long finish. Commemorating the first use of the homework cheki.

Hapjeong <Ramen at the End of the World>. Kai Ramen. It uses chicken and shellfish broths, with medium-width noodles cooked properly rather than too soft, so the noodles themselves taste good. I especially like how clearly the shellfish broth asserts its character. The seasoning is somewhat strong, but exactly as it should be. Pork belly had sold out, so the chashu was replaced with tender pork neck. A delicious bowl.

Hapjeong <Shinchan and Fukumaru>. Shinchan Ramen, an all-rounder famous in Incheon for consistently polished results while trying all kinds of experiments, opened its third branch today. The base soup is balanced and deeply savory, and this place handles aroma oil exceptionally well. Another heavyweight has entered the ramen battleground of Hapjeong. Very good.

This is a world champion's pizza. Hapjeong <Spacca Napoli>. Having spent a week at the Naples World Pizza Championship eating nothing but pizzas from past world champions in place of regular meals, I can say with confidence that the Margherita here is genuinely world-class.

Hapjeong <Salsarica>. Taco set and burrito. This may be the best Mexican food in Hapjeong. Cilantro is woven through at exactly the right aromatic level, and the cheese tastes rich and fragrant enough to seem house-made. The portions are larger than they look, and the many ingredients fill the mouth with abundant aroma while retaining every detail.

<Prism Lounge>. A kind of curry. The composition changes daily and quantities are limited. I have watched the owner’s various undertakings for years; true to someone wholly governed by the pride of preferring not to do something at all rather than do it half-heartedly, the curry is good too. The carefully prepared carrot and onion, cooked until very tender, are delicious. Even the price is good. Worth eating while you can.

Hapjeong <Kkinkkin>. I have a vague distrust of food near busy station districts, but exceptions always exist. The cooking respects fundamentals, making it comfortable to eat. The moment my companion's pad Thai arrived, the aroma said today's choice was a success. A place that handles fire well.