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Haeinsa Temple Vegetarian Food: A Hilarious Taste Test of Monk Jjajangmyeon at 2 Jingak

Discovering Vegetarian Chinese Food Near Haeinsa Temple

Nestled near the historic Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon, a temple boasting a thousand years of history and housing the invaluable Tripitaka Koreana, lies a Chinese restaurant called 2 Jingak (이진각). Knowing that Buddhist monks abstain from meat due to the principle of not killing living beings, I was intrigued to discover how Chinese cuisine, known for dishes often featuring meat, could cater to this vegetarian diet. My quest led me to 2 Jingak, a restaurant claiming to offer special vegetarian options for monks, specifically “Monk Jjajangmyeon” and mushroom Tangsuyuk.

2 Jingak Restaurant: Location and Ambiance

Finding 2 Jingak was incredibly easy; it’s practically right outside the Haeinsa Temple tollgate. Interestingly, it’s more than just a Chinese restaurant; it seems to function as a rest stop and even a small supermarket. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming, much like any typical Korean countryside restaurant, with the added bonus of vegetarian options designed for the monastic community nearby.

The Vegetarian Challenge: Monk Jjajangmyeon and Mushroom Tangsuyuk

The highlight of 2 Jingak for vegetarians, and particularly monks, is their special menu featuring Monk Jjajangmyeon and mushroom Tangsuyuk. These dishes are crafted without meat and, more surprisingly, without the “Five Pungent Roots” (garlic, scallions, chives, leeks, and onions) that are also avoided by monks due to their strong flavors believed to hinder meditation. Curious about how these modified dishes would taste, I decided to try both, alongside a regular Jjajangmyeon for comparison.

Regular Jjajangmyeon: A Delicious Baseline

Before diving into the vegetarian options, I first sampled the regular Jjajangmyeon at 2 Jingak. And I must say, it was genuinely delicious! In a world where Jjajangmyeon can sometimes taste generic, 2 Jingak’s version stood out. It had that perfect balance of savory and slightly sweet black bean sauce, coating the noodles beautifully. It set a high bar for the rest of the meal.

Monk Jjajangmyeon: The Surprisingly Terrible Experience

Now, for the Monk Jjajangmyeon. I had expectations, perhaps imagining a slightly less flavorful but still decent vegetarian version. What I experienced was… unexpected. To put it bluntly, it was the worst Jjajangmyeon I have ever tasted in my life. An odd, almost medicinal aroma permeated the dish, which I eventually identified as likely coming from shiitake mushroom flavoring. While I generally enjoy shiitake mushrooms, in this Jjajangmyeon, it was overwhelmingly unpleasant.

The ingredients included shiitake and pine mushrooms, and chewy pieces of dried tofu skin in place of meat. Despite using what seemed like more expensive ingredients (and indeed, it was pricier than regular Jjajangmyeon), the overall taste was incredibly disappointing. To give you a perspective, I’d rate it far below instant Jjajangmyeon cup noodles, and a staggering 1000 times worse than the regular Jjajangmyeon from the same restaurant! The contrast between the two was stark, making the subsequent bites of regular Jjajangmyeon taste like absolute heaven.

Mushroom Tangsuyuk: A Decent Vegetarian Option

Moving on to the mushroom Tangsuyuk, my expectations were tempered after the Monk Jjajangmyeon fiasco. Fortunately, it was a much more palatable experience. The Tangsuyuk was made with a mix of shiitake and king oyster mushrooms, coated in a chewy, glutinous rice batter, and served with a standard sweet and sour sauce. It tasted pretty much as expected – a vegetarian twist on the classic dish. While not outstanding, it was a perfectly acceptable and even enjoyable vegetarian alternative. However, if given the choice, I’d still opt for the regular pork Tangsuyuk.

Conclusion: Regular Food Wins, Monk Jjajangmyeon for the Brave

My visit to 2 Jingak near Haeinsa Temple was a culinary rollercoaster. The regular Jjajangmyeon was a definite highlight, and even the complimentary Jjampong (spicy seafood noodle soup) broth hinted at other delicious dishes on their menu. The mushroom Tangsuyuk is a decent vegetarian option for those craving sweet and sour dishes.

However, the Monk Jjajangmyeon… well, it’s an experience. If you are feeling adventurous and want to taste what might be the best and worst Jjajangmyeon of your life in a single meal (by ordering both regular and Monk versions), then by all means, try it! But for a genuinely enjoyable meal at 2 Jingak, I wholeheartedly recommend sticking to their regular menu items. Just maybe skip the Monk Jjajangmyeon unless you’re a truly dedicated (or perhaps, unsuspecting) vegetarian diner.