Korean Noodle Chain Hongkongbanjum Opens New Restaurant in Kearny Mesa | Eater San Diego

"I noticed Paik’s Noodle has moved from the Zion Market food court into a standalone storefront on Convoy Street. Previously known as Hongkongbanjum, the chain was founded almost 20 years ago in Seoul and now has more than 300 outlets worldwide, and it was renamed Paik’s Noodle after South Korean celebrity chef and television host Paik Jong-won. The local franchisees relocated San Diego’s only branch to a full-service restaurant space next to Hive, and they’re performing upgrades to the site that are expected to be completed by early 2025. The menu still revolves around jajangmyeon—chewy noodles topped with a thick black bean sauce—often paired with yellow pickled radish and a plate of tangsuyuk (crispy fried pork with a sweet-and-sour dipping sauce); other specialties include jjamppong, and newly added items like fried shrimp in a sweet-and-spicy chili sauce and a jajangmyeon with extra pork." - Candice Woo