As the year draws to a close, food lovers in South Korea have a new reason to celebrate: the launch of a limited-edition menu item at Hongkong Banjum 0410, the Chinese cuisine chain operated by The Born Korea. On December 22, 2025, the brand announced the arrival of its latest culinary creation, the 'Shrimp Toowoomba Jjamppong,' a dish that’s already creating a buzz among diners across the nation.
According to multiple Korean news outlets, including Herald Corp, Mega Economy, and NEWSIS, the new menu item is being offered as a seasonal treat and is available for a short time at nearly all Hongkong Banjum locations nationwide, with just a few exceptions. However, there’s a catch for those hoping to enjoy it at home—delivery orders aren’t being accepted for this special dish, so customers will need to dine in to get a taste.
The 'Shrimp Toowoomba Jjamppong' is a creative fusion that brings together the bold flavors of Chinese-style jjamppong—a spicy noodle soup beloved in Korea—with the creamy, rich Toowoomba sauce, a signature of Hongkong Banjum. The sauce itself is a point of pride for the brand, described by the company as "rich and thick," with a balance of creaminess and a spicy kick that keeps the dish from feeling overly heavy. But that’s not all: the dish is topped with two fried shrimp, adding both visual flair and a satisfying crunch.
As Herald Corp reported, the Hongkong Banjum team aimed to create a new taste sensation that would stand out from their existing jjamppong offerings. "We’ve introduced the unique and differentiated new menu item ‘Shrimp Toowoomba Jjamppong’ to deliver a novel culinary delight to our customers as the year ends," a company representative said through Herald Corp. The spokesperson added, "We hope our customers enjoy a warm and hearty end of the year with this new menu, completed with our spicy and thick Toowoomba sauce."
What exactly makes this dish special? The Toowoomba sauce, already a favorite among fans of the brand, is described as creamy yet dense, with enough spiciness to cut through the richness. The addition of fried shrimp—two per bowl—elevates the dish, both in terms of flavor and presentation. As Mega Economy notes, the combination of the soft, creamy sauce with the crispy shrimp garnishes delivers a “complete visual and taste experience.”
To mark the launch, Hongkong Banjum is running a special promotion. For just two days, December 23 and 24, 2025, customers who dine in at participating locations can enjoy the 'Shrimp Toowoomba Jjamppong' at a discounted price of 9,900 Korean won, down from the regular price of 12,000 won. This offer is available at most branches nationwide, though a few outlets are excluded from the promotion.
Across the various reports, the company’s intentions come through clearly: to offer something new and exciting for the holiday season, and to entice both loyal customers and curious newcomers to visit their restaurants. As NEWSIS put it, Hongkong Banjum representatives said the dish was developed “to provide customers with a unique taste experience using fresh ingredients and the brand’s signature sauce.”
For those unfamiliar with the chain, Hongkong Banjum 0410 is a well-known player in Korea’s casual dining scene, specializing in Chinese-inspired cuisine with a Korean twist. The restaurant is part of The Born Korea, a company recognized for its innovative approach to comfort food and its knack for launching viral menu items that often become national trends.
The timing of the release is no accident. The end-of-year season is a period when families and friends often gather for meals out, and restaurants compete fiercely to draw in crowds with special menus and promotions. By introducing the 'Shrimp Toowoomba Jjamppong' as a limited-time offering, Hongkong Banjum is tapping into the festive spirit and the desire for something a little indulgent and out of the ordinary.
What’s more, the decision to make the dish dine-in only adds a sense of exclusivity and occasion. Customers can’t simply order it for delivery at home—they have to make the trip to a Hongkong Banjum location, perhaps making it a centerpiece of a holiday get-together or a treat for a chilly winter’s day.
While the dish is new, the approach isn’t entirely unprecedented for Hongkong Banjum. The brand has a history of experimenting with sauces and toppings to keep its menu fresh and appealing. The Toowoomba sauce, in particular, has been a recurring favorite, and its pairing with shrimp in this dish seems to be a calculated move to combine two crowd-pleasers into one.
It’s also worth noting, as Pinpoint News and Youth Daily emphasized, that the dish’s appeal lies not just in its flavor but in its presentation. The plump, golden-fried shrimp perched atop the creamy noodles make for an Instagram-worthy bowl that’s likely to attract social media attention—a key factor in the success of any new menu item these days.
For now, the 'Shrimp Toowoomba Jjamppong' looks set to be a seasonal hit. Whether it will become a permanent fixture on the menu remains to be seen, but the early response—judging by the flurry of media coverage and the company’s own optimism—suggests that Hongkong Banjum has another winner on its hands.
As the holiday season heats up and diners seek out new flavors to mark the end of the year, Hongkong Banjum’s latest offering stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of creative comfort food and the joy of sharing something special with friends and family. For those eager to try it, there’s no time to waste—the clock is ticking on this limited-time culinary adventure.
