Los Angeles' love affair with global cuisines takes a fiery turn with the opening of Jjamppong Zizon, a South Korean chain specializing in spicy noodle dishes, right in the heart of Koreatown. If you've been following the spicy noodle craze online—where concoctions such as Buldak and Shin Ramyun have gained notoriety—you'll understand the buzz around Jjamppong Zizon's specialty: fiery Korean Chinese classics. According to Eater LA, the restaurant's most heated offerings, the Hell Jjajangmyeon and Hell Jjamppong, hinge on a particular sun-dried chili powder that dials up the heat to impressive levels.
Patrons venturing into the polished space formerly occupied by Wok In Express will find a customizable spice experience. The Hell dishes start at level one, said to rival Nongshim's Shin Ramyun, while a second-tier heat approximates the sweat-inducing Samyang’s Buldak. "Level one is comparable to the spiciness of Nongshim’s popular Shin Ramyun, while level two feels like it’s on the level of Samyang’s Buldak," Eater LA reports. And while the daring can calibrate their dishes to be even hotter, milder palates aren't left out; Jjamppong Zizon also serves milder versions of their signature noodles for those less inclined toward culinary pyrotechnics.
On the menu, classic flavors are also celebrated. Diners can sample the staple jjajangmyeon with its savory black bean sauce or opt for the restaurant's namesake jjamppong—a spicy seafood noodle soup. And for those looking to split the difference, the jjamjjamyeon offers a split serving of both in the same bowl. The repertoire extends to other iterations, including a silken tofu jjamppong and an option featuring sujebi, hand-pulled dough pieces.
Jjamppong Zizon's offerings go beyond noodles. "Like most other Korean Chinese restaurants, Jjamppong Zizon also serves sweet and sour pork, fried to a crisp with a sweet rice batter coating," as reported by Eater LA. And if the Hell-level spice hasn't kicked up your endorphins enough, a Sichuan-style sweet and sour pork cranks up the heat even further.
The restaurant takes over a central location at 3446 Wilshire Boulevard, welcoming patrons from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Jjamppong Zizon sets itself apart with thoughtful touches distinctive of South Korean dining: cutlery drawers with wet wipes and jars of hair ties on the tables, aids for dealing with the spicy fare that are sure to come in handy. So whether you're a spice aficionado or just looking to dip your toes into the world of hot noodles, Jjamppong Zizon's Los Angeles debut is adding sizzle to the local food scene.
