South Korea: Incheon – Chinatown

Chinatown is the only official Chinatown the entire Korean Peninsula. It dates back to 1884, when the port opened to foreign trade and Chinese merchants settled there, shaping the neighborhood’s identity. Today, it has many historic streets with hybrid Chinese-Japanese colonial architecture, multiple museums, ornate Paeru (Chinese-style gate) near the entrance, Samgukji Mural Street, and more. The most famous thing about this area – it is the birthplace of Jajangmyeon (black bean noodles), a very famous dish in Korea and one must try it while here (preferably at the restaurant where it was born). The dish is thick wheat noodles topped with a glossy black sauce called, which is a fermented soybean paste that’s been caramelized with oil. The sauce is stir-fried with diced pork, seafood, onions, and zucchini. Frankly, I didn’t find either super delicious or visually appealing.