Hong Kong Banjeom’s New Fried Rice & Meat Jjamppong: Honest Review and Korean Community Reactions

Introduction: Why Everyone’s Talking About Hong Kong Banjeom’s New Menu

Hey foodies, have you heard about the buzz around Hong Kong Banjeom’s new fried rice and meat jjamppong? With Baek Jong-won’s restaurant chain always making headlines, these new dishes have sparked tons of curiosity in Korea. We went all in—ordered with our own money, checked out the latest Korean blogs, news, and even dived into online community reactions. Let’s see if these dishes live up to the hype or if it’s just another fleeting trend.
Hong Kong Banjeom is famous for its affordable and tasty Chinese-Korean food. Whenever a new menu item drops, both loyal fans and critics rush to try it. This time, the spotlight is on their fried rice and the upgraded meat jjamppong. Let’s break down the experience, flavor, and what the Korean online world is saying.

Ordering Experience: Price, Delivery, and First Impressions

So here’s the deal—we ordered the fried rice for 10,000 KRW, meat jjamppong for 10,500 KRW, and a cola for 2,000 KRW. With a 2,000 KRW discount, the total came to 20,500 KRW. Delivery took about 40 minutes, which is pretty standard these days in Korea.
The packaging was neat: fried rice came with a side of jjajang sauce and a small portion of jjamppong broth. The meat jjamppong was separated into noodles and soup to keep things fresh. First impressions? The portions looked generous, and everything arrived hot and ready to eat.

Fried Rice: Familiar Flavors or Just Another Frozen Meal?

Visually, the fried rice looked a lot like the typical frozen crab fried rice you’d find in convenience stores. After digging through the rice, we found exactly four shrimp—so don’t expect a seafood feast here.
Taste-wise, it’s a mixed bag. On the plus side, it’s got that signature wok flavor Koreans call ‘bulmat’, which gives it an edge over basic frozen fried rice. But honestly, if you’ve had instant fried rice before, you’ll find this pretty familiar. The real issue? The jjajang sauce. It’s extremely salty and sweet—so much that even when mixed thoroughly with the rice, it overpowers everything. Without the jjamppong broth to balance it out, it’s almost too intense to enjoy. This is a common complaint in Korean blogs and food forums, with many saying the sauce is just too much.

Meat Jjamppong: Does It Live Up to the Hype?

After seeing rave reviews about the meat jjamppong, we had high hopes. The noodles, separated from the broth for delivery, did get a bit clumpy (a common issue with delivery noodles in Korea).
The broth, however, was rich and flavorful, packed with slices of pork and veggies. It had a nice spicy kick without being overwhelming. Most Korean bloggers agree that the meat jjamppong is the star of the new menu—savory, filling, and perfect for fans of spicy soup. Some even say it’s worth ordering just for the broth, which helps balance out the salty fried rice.

Latest News and Blog Highlights: What Are Koreans Saying?

We scoured the latest news articles and blog posts from Naver and Tistory. Here’s what stood out:
- Many reviewers praise the meat jjamppong for its deep flavor and generous meat portions.
- The fried rice gets mixed reviews: some like the familiar taste, others criticize the overpowering sauce.
- Delivery times are generally fast, but some complain about clumpy noodles.
- Several bloggers mention the price is a bit high for what you get, especially compared to other local Chinese restaurants.
- A few posts highlight that the fried rice is best enjoyed with the jjamppong broth to cut the saltiness.
- There’s ongoing debate about whether the new menu lives up to Baek Jong-won’s reputation for quality.

Online Community Reactions: The Good, The Bad, and The Spicy

We checked major Korean communities like TheQoo, Nate Pann, Instiz, Naver, Daum, DCInside, FM Korea, and PGR21. Here’s the vibe:
Positive reactions:
- People love the meat jjamppong’s rich broth and generous pork.
- Fans appreciate the convenience and consistency of Hong Kong Banjeom’s delivery.
Negative reactions:
- The fried rice’s sauce is too salty and sweet for many.
- Some say the shrimp count is disappointing.
- There’s a feeling that the price is creeping up without a big jump in quality.
Representative comments include: ‘The meat jjamppong is legit, but the fried rice is just okay’, ‘Why is the sauce so sweet?’, and ‘I wish there were more shrimp’.
Overall, the new menu is a hot topic, but not everyone is convinced it’s a must-try.

Cultural Insights: Why This Matters to Korean Food Fans

For international fans, here’s some context. Hong Kong Banjeom is a go-to for affordable, tasty Chinese-Korean food, and Baek Jong-won is a celebrity chef known for making everyday dishes accessible. When he launches a new menu, it’s a big deal in Korea—foodies, students, and office workers all want to try it.
The intense debate over something as simple as fried rice shows how passionate Koreans are about food quality, especially when a famous name is attached. The expectation is high, and any misstep (like an overly salty sauce) gets called out fast. If you want to experience what everyday Koreans eat and talk about, Hong Kong Banjeom’s new menu is a great place to start—just be ready for strong flavors and even stronger opinions!