Wang Jja Jang — Restaurant in Rockville

The first thing I will say about this restaurant is that I had previously gone to the bakery next door and didn't even know there was something here. The other businesses in this mall have their signs in large font on the top of the building but this place only has a small sign above the door. I only found out about this place via a friend's recommendation.

As for the food, my favorite was the Ja Jang Myun. I have only had it a few times before but this place definitely was the best. I also liked the seafood pancake a lot. I would definitely order these again and recommend.

The Japchae noodles and Bibimbap were good but I think I have had better ones at other places. But these dishes at other places seemed to be noticeably sweeter so maybe here is healthier, who knows. I think the the prices were still reasonable with the portion for the japchae being especially large. Finally, I wasn't a big fan of the banchan appetizers. The kimchi was below average in my opinion and also not much variety. I did like the 2 radish appetizers though.

Although this place had some standout dishes, I think it was not my favorite Korean restaurant in terms of taste. But the prices for the portion seemed better than others in the area so I think we got good value...

3.5 stars overall for a pick up order experience. Friendly service. Very casual mom and pop kind of place.

I ordered jjajangbap which is black bean sauce with fried rice (instead of noodles). This was decent although the sauce was a tad saltier for my taste. The fried rice looked and tasted decent and clean. My order was part of a combo which included the sweet and sour pork. The fried pork was too fatty and also had too many fried coatings but perhaps the to-go container made it worse as it was soggy. Some other places for this particular dish cut holes on the top of the container for ventilation so that it doesn’t get too soggy. But I think even with this improvement I would likely not have been happy with the dish as the pork was too fatty. The sweet and sour sauce to pour over the pork was too watered down although the fresh pepper slices were a nice touch. The side soup that comes with the dish was not flavorful at all. The fried mandu or dumplings were actually decent tasting.

I hope this review is helpful as I feel like feedback is a gift especially if you want...

Parking Convenience ★★★★☆ Located in a strip center with available parking, though spaces are a bit tight.

Interior ★★☆☆☆ Very old and dated — a typical traditional Korean-Chinese diner.

Cleanliness ★★★½☆ The restaurant appears clean, but the aged atmosphere makes it feel a bit dull.

Staff Service ★★★½☆ The staff is kind and friendly, but service can be a bit slow since one person seems to be handling everything. Expect some waiting.

Food Quality ★★★★☆ Food tastes great. Not flashy or modern, but nothing is lacking — classic and satisfying.

Portion Size ★★★★☆ Portion sizes are just right — balanced and filling.

Value for Money ★★★★☆ Very good value. The food quality and portion size make the pricing feel fair.

Wang Ja Jang is a nostalgic Korean-Chinese restaurant located in a small strip center in Rockville. If you're looking for classic jjajangmyeon or tangsuyuk, this place won’t disappoint. It’s not fast-paced or modern, but it’s full of comfort and authenticity. A solid spot for traditional flavors at a reasonable price.

★ ★ ★...