비빔국수 Bibimguksu
Thin wheat noodles served cold in a sweet and sour chili paste sauce, mixed before eating.
Spice: Medium
Myeon (noodles)
짬뽕 Jjamppong
A Korean-Chinese noodle soup with seafood, pork and vegetables in a red chili broth, eaten as a full meal.
- Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup
- Spice: Hot
- Contains seafood
- Contains pork
At a glance
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Thick wheat noodles, squid, mussels, pork, chili flakes |
| How it's served | A large bowl of steaming red broth over noodles, served with yellow pickled radish and raw onion |
| Spice level | Hot — Very spicy, even for many Koreans. |
| Diet | Contains seafood · Contains pork — Fish, shellfish, fish sauce, salted seafood (jeotgal) or anchovy stock is a standard ingredient. Pork is a standard ingredient. |
| Allergens | Wheat · Soy · Mollusc shellfish · Crustacean shellfish |
| Ask about | The broth may be pork, chicken or seafood stock, and toppings vary. |
| On the menu | 짬뽕 (Jjamppong) |
| Also called | jjambbong · jambbong · champon · spicy seafood noodles |
| Region | Nationwide |
Based on the usual recipe. Restaurants vary, so always tell the staff.
How to eat Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup
Start with the seafood
Pick out the squid and mussels with chopsticks first. Put the empty shells in a spare bowl.
Eat the noodles while hot
Lift the noodles from the broth before they go soft. Use the spoon for the broth.
Cool your mouth with the radish
Take a bite of yellow pickled radish between bites when the heat builds.
How to order it
Order it as 짬뽕. It comes as a single bowl that one person can order alone.
- On the menu: 짬뽕
- Usually sold: 1 serving
Where it comes from
In Korea, it is traced to Shandong Chinese living in Incheon in the late 19th century. They adapted their noodle dish chaomamian, making it sweeter and spicier for Korean tastes. The name comes from a Japanese word meaning to mix different things. Japan has its own account of a non-spicy version from Nagasaki.
Sources: Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (encykorea.aks.ac.kr)
Similar dishes
잔치국수 Janchiguksu
Thin wheat noodles in a light, hot anchovy broth, topped with vegetables and egg strips, eaten as a quick meal.
Spice: Not spicy
잡채 Japchae
Glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables, often with beef, in soy sauce and sesame oil.
Spice: Not spicy
Questions about Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup
Is jjamppong vegetarian?
No. The soup has seafood and pork, and the broth is usually made from meat or seafood.
How spicy is jjamppong?
Hot. It is very spicy, even for many Koreans, so keep water nearby.
What is the difference between jjamppong and jjajangmyeon?
Jjamppong is a spicy red noodle soup with seafood. Jjajangmyeon has no broth, only a thick black sauce with no chili heat.
- By Jason Kim (Bumsoo)
- Last reviewed October 25, 2026