Hit Up Jeongwon Korean Restaurant in Cubao for K-Eats

Jeongwon
Art In Island, 175 15th Ave, Cubao, Quezon City
Facebook: facebook.com/inthejeongwon
Open on Tuesdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

(SPOT.ph) We all have a soft spot for quiet garden restaurants and cozy cafes. But let's face it: these spots are often in small neighborhoods away from city centers and commuter hubs—because, of course, that's part of their charm. That also means getting to these restaurants can be a little harder. Well, on a recent visit to Cubao, a.k.a. the official "center" of Metro Manila, we spotted a quaint and hidden Korean restaurant. Introducing: Jeongwon. This hidden Korean garden restaurant serves up bangin' K-eats with a refreshing and quiet ambiance to boot! 

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Here's what you can get from this under-the-radar Korean restaurant in Cubao:

It's easy to miss Jeongwon when in Cubao; after all, it's not located within the Araneta City CBD, nor is it in the artsy Cubao Expo. Don't get us wrong, despite being away from the usual locations in Cubao, it's still a hop and skip away from these famous spots. 

Jeongwon is located inside the Art in Island compound, a multimedia indoor attraction featuring art sculptures, optical illusions, and interactive projections. It's the official restaurant-slash-café where visitors can rest and munch after exploring the massive complex. 

What most people gloss over is that you can dine at Jeongwon even if you don't tour Art in Island. Jeongwon has its own area outside the main halls of Art in Island. You can access it through the main Art in Island entrance or through a connecting passageway from Cubao Expo, near the famous Bellini's.

Unlike most establishments in Cubao that are closed off inside malls, Jeongwon is a garden restaurant. This means you can dine al fresco and enjoy the sunny outdoors and the lush greenery in the area. Fun fact: Jeongwon literally translates to garden in Korean, so yes, this resto really commits to that whole vibe. 

And since the sun is bearing down on us hard these days, Jeongwon also has an indoor space perfect for hot summer afternoons. Their indoor space is also rustic and garden-inspired. There are lots of indoor plants decorating the area, large umbrellas at tables, and an overarching quaint and quiet ambiance.

The best part about Jeongwon is that you can bask in the sunset glow if you head to the restaurant at the perfect time. Head there around 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and you'll be treated to the perfect golden hour vibes. Around this time, the al fresco area becomes draped in golden yellow hues.

Pro tip: bring out your cameras because the space gets extra Instagrammable around this time.

Can't make it late in the afternoon? No problem. When the sun sets, Jeongwon opens tons of strung-up yellow bulbs in the garden area. You'll get that cozy garden date vibe even at night.

What to order at Jeongwon Korean Restaurant

Sure, the ambiance is great and all, but what about the food? Is it any good? Short answer: YES. The recipes and food at Jeongwon come from its very hands-on Korean owner so you can rest assured you'll be getting a dose of authentic Korean flavors in every dish.

There's a little bit of everything for everyone at any time. Korean food tends to be very spicy, but Jeongwon's menu also includes variants of the same K-eat with slightly less heat. Yes, even those who don't like spicy food can get their fill here.

What's even better is that the food at Jeongwon isn't all full rice meals. They also have a variety of snacks and quick bites for those who just want a quick pick me up after touring Art in Island.

Here are some of our favorite dishes from Jeongwon:

BungeoPpang 

Price: P210/ 6 pieces, P390/ 12 pieces

BungeoPpang are small fish shaped bread-like cakes traditionally filled with red bean paste, kind of like manju. Jeongwon has three flavors of BungeoPpang: the traditional red bean-filled, custard-filled, and chocolate-filled. These are light snacks perfect for a quick bite before or after touring around Art in Island. Get them fresh off the pan at a small kiosk in front of Jeongwon.

TBH, even if you don't plan on getting them at first, you'll be tempted to once anyone orders a batch, as the smell of buttery bread instantly fills the entire room when they are cooking a bunch.

Rose Tteokbokki

Price: P310

If you've seen at least one K-drama then you know that Tteokbokki has South Korea in a chokehold. This saucy dish made from rice cakes, fish cakes and other toppings is a staple street food. Although the original Seoul Tteokbokki (P310) is true to its Korean origins —ergo, very spicy— this variant, the Rose Ttteokbokki, is slightly on the sweet and tangy side, with a very mild heat that won't blow your head off. If you love the texture of Tteokbokki but cannot handle the spice, this is for you.

Bibimbab

Price: P360

If rice is life then you can either get their Bibimbap or their Kimbap. Jeongwon's Bibimbap is a rice bowl generously topped with fresh vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, and carrots. It also has a bit of pickled radish for a bit of tang and tons of seasoned beef for protein and depth in flavor. Mix it with their home-made spicy and sweet gochujang sauce and you've got yourself a hearty, filling complete rice meal.

Bulgogi Kimbap

Price: P320

If you think you're getting a skinny kimbap roll that won't fill you up then, boy, are you wrong. Jeongwon's Kimbap is huge. You get eight very generous slices of rice, seaweed, vegetables, and marinated beef for every order.

Snow Honey Parmesan Chicken

Price: P490/ 500 grams, P910/ 1 kilo

What K-eat run would be complete without a basket or two of Korean fried chicken? At Jeongwon, they have a selection of Korean fried chicken baskets ranging from the standard Original Salted Chicken to the spicy Sweet Gochujang Chicken. If you're looking for something unique to pair with a bottle or two of soju (P220) or maekgeolli (P220), go for the Snow Honey Parmesan variant. Think crisp, golden honey-glazed chicken topped with a dusting of parmesan snow. This dish had us salivating the moment it was served. 

Mango Bing-Su

Price: P260

We wouldn't blame you if you go to Jeongwon just to get this shaved ice dessert. Jeongwon features a lot of Bing-su flavors like Strawberry, Chocolate, Green Tea, and even Injeolmi (mochi), but for us, one of the most refreshing variants is their Mango Bing-Su. It's a cold, creamy, and texture bomb of a snack. Their shaved ice is literally as fine as snow; add to that the creamy milky sauce and sweet fresh mangoes, then you've got a winning combination you'd crave for extra hot days.

Aside from these eats, Jeongwon also has a selection of dosirak or rice box meals that combine several menu items in bento box-style portion sizes. They also have Korean soups, and ramyeon to keep your tummy warm during cooler days.

Also read: 
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Photos by Leana Vibal

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