Indulge in Comfort: Exploring 88 Noodle House's Korean-Chinese Delights in Burnaby

After a disappointing delivery experience, we decided to give 88 Noodle House another shot—but this time, we went straight to the restaurant in Burnaby.

Specializing in Korean-style Chinese cuisine, 88 Noodle House (88반점) offers classic comfort dishes like jjampong, jajjangmyeon, and tangsuyuk. If you're craving hearty noodles and crispy sweet and sour pork, it's a spot worth checking out — just make sure you dine in!

THE BOAR-OMETER

THREE PIGGIES | Boar-der line.

It’s quick, casual, and comforting—a great spot when you want a hearty, satisfying meal without the frills.

Scoresheet

The Pig Pen: THREE PIGGIES – Fast-paced and casual — come in, eat, and head out.

Oink-credible Bites:  THREE PIGGIES – Best eaten fresh — loved the familiar flavors but wished the jjampong had a bit more smoky wok hei.

Piggy Bank Savings: FOUR PIGGIES –  Solid portions for a fair price — perfect for when you want a comforting meal without breaking the bank.

Wondering how we score and what the categories are? Read here for more information!

THE PIG PEN

When you walk into 88 Noodle House, it’s clear what the vibe is: quick, efficient, and casual. It’s not a place you linger over a long meal—it’s a "sit down, eat, and head out" kind of environment. The restaurant moves at a brisk pace, with polite but impersonal service focused on getting food to your table quickly.

It's clean and functional, with no-frills decor, and it’s obvious that the focus is on getting you a fresh, piping-hot meal rather than offering a long, cozy dining experience. One small but thoughtful touch? They have aprons available for those of us (🙋‍♀️) who might get a little messy tackling saucy noodles!

OINK-CREDIBLE BITES

We went for the Combo A, which includes three staples:

• 88 Jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup)

• Jajjangmyeon (black bean noodles)

• Tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork)

Fresh out of the kitchen, everything was definitely better than what we had through delivery.

The Jjamppong had the right flavor base—spicy, slightly smoky broth with lots of seafood and veggies—but I did find myself wishing for a bit more wok hei (that smoky, seared aroma you get from high-heat stir-frying). Still, it hit the spot on a chilly day. The Jajjangmyeon was solid. The noodles had a good chew, and the black bean sauce was savory, slightly sweet, and comforting. It's hard to beat the simple satisfaction of jajjangmyeon done well.

As for the Tangsuyuk, it was crispy when fresh and leaned more acidic than sweet. Personally, I prefer when this dish is a bit gloopier and on the sweeter side, but if you like a brighter, sharper sauce, you’ll probably enjoy this version. I always love that the sauce is served on the side to respect the 찍먹 (Jjingmeok - dipping) or 부먹 (Bumeok - pouring) debate. If you're curious on what this, here's a quick article for you to check out!

Overall, the flavors were familiar and satisfying, even if a few elements could’ve used a bit more finesse.

PIGGY BANK SAVINGS

Pricing at 88 Noodle House is very reasonable, especially for Korean-Chinese food in Metro Vancouver. A single bowl of jajjangmyeon runs about $12, and the Combo A we ordered was $50, which fed two very hungry people (with a bit of food to spare).

Given the portion sizes and the quality when eaten fresh, it’s a good value for the area—definitely the better option compared to paying the same (or more) for lukewarm delivery!

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you’re craving no-fuss, freshly cooked Korean-Chinese food, 88 Noodle House is a solid choice—especially if you go in person. Delivery just doesn’t do their food justice especially when there's delays. If you do want take away, I suggest ordering ahead for pick-up.

Come hungry, borrow an apron, and get ready to slurp some noodles and dig into crispy sweet and sour pork. It’s quick, casual, and comforting—a great spot when you want a hearty, satisfying meal without the frills.

Would I come back?Yes, if I'm in the area and looking for an easy, comforting meal.