WOOREE BAHNJEOM — Restaurant in Federal Way

Growing up with Korean-style Chinese food, I’ve always associated it with nostalgia. If there’s one dish that perfectly captures those childhood memories, it would be Jjajangmyeon. Traditional Jjajangmyeon features a slightly sweet, somewhat runny black bean sauce—a comforting and familiar taste.

On a friend’s recommendation, I visited Wooree BahnJeom, a Korean-Chinese restaurant in Federal Way. Even though it was still early for lunch, the place was already packed. Fortunately, I found a seat right away, but soon after, a line started forming. While my Jjajangmyeon arrived fairly quickly, I noticed that larger entrees took a bit longer to be served.

At the table next to me, a group ordered Tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork). The moment I saw its nearly white color, I could tell it was made with glutinous rice batter. The texture looked wonderfully chewy, which is a definite upgrade over the usual flour-based version.

Now, onto the Jjajangmyeon itself. While not the best I’ve ever had, I’d say it ranks among the top three in Washington State—at least by my own standards. The biggest letdown was the noodles, which lacked chewiness. Additionally, they weren’t drained properly, so excess water mixed into the black bean sauce, making it too runny and slightly diluting the flavor.

The service was excellent—one of the best I’ve encountered in a Korean-Chinese restaurant in the area. Despite the fast-paced environment, the servers were attentive, efficient, and even made time for small talk with customers. The restaurant was also impressively clean—there was no lingering greasy smell, and the tables were wiped down thoroughly, avoiding that sticky feel that some places have.

Pricing was reasonable, and while I didn’t check the restrooms, I assume they were available.

Would I return? Absolutely. While not perfect, the combination of solid flavors, great service, and a well-kept dining space makes it...

When we walked into the restaurant, there were three tables available, but none of them had been cleaned after the previous customers. It took a while for us to be seated, which was understandable given that they only had one waitress working. However, the overall experience made it clear that the restaurant wasn’t fully prepared to open.

The space felt hastily put together. Menus were printed on paper, visibly stained, and poorly formatted, as if they’d been made at the last minute. Even the food offerings were written on pieces of paper taped to the walls. The tables were small, cheaply made, and didn’t seem designed to comfortably accommodate diners.

The food took a long time to arrive, and the waitress even mentioned that the kitchen was slow. Her comment that it didn’t matter when she got to us because “the kitchen takes forever anyway” didn’t leave a good impression. When the food finally came out, it was just okay. Jjajangmyeon dish was bland, while the Jjambong was decen. The Tangsuyuk came in a very small portion.

As we were leaving, they turned a couple away saying they were out of ingredients. At 1:30pm?? Something was definitely was mismanaged or perhaps it was a one time thing.

Overall, this place has potential, but they need to seriously work on their staff management, kitchen timing, and overall atmosphere. It’s only been open for about a week, so I understand they’re still getting on their feet, but this experience dampened my first impression. I probably won’t return anytime soon. For a small place with only seven tables, there’s a lot of room for...

As a Korean native, I've had my fair share of Korean-Chinese style black bean noodles and jjampongs. My high standards for jjajang myun have made it challenging to find a place that truly "hits the spot" here in Washington state. However, I believe Wooree Banjeom has finally become my go-to place for satisfying those jjajang myun and jjambbong cravings. I ordered the seafood jjajang, and it was exceptional. The ingredients tasted fresh and clean, with a generous amount of seafood and meat. The squid, in particular, was cooked to perfection. The tangsooyuk (sweet and sour pork) was equally impressive, featuring a crispy batter on the outside and tender pork on the inside. One aspect I truly appreciated was that all dishes were served piping hot, straight from the kitchen. My wife tried the jjambbong and thoroughly enjoyed it as well. Wooree Banjeom has set a new standard for Korean-Chinese cuisine in the area. If you're looking for authentic flavors and expertly prepared dishes, I highly recommend giving this place a try. It's a solid 5-star experience that will transport you straight to the...