As we entered May, the weather was such that I could feel the heat in the middle of the day. As the sun ripens, cold noodles and noodle shops that can be eaten lightly to quench thirst due to sweat begin to get busy. Among them, Pyongyang cold noodles in particular have a simple composition of meat broth and soba noodles, but they have a wide variety of flavors depending on the person who makes them, the ingredients, and the process. There are even enthusiasts who go on Pyongyang cold noodle restaurant tours all over the country to feel the meticulous difference in taste.
The unrivaled popularity of Pyongyang cold noodles slowly began in early 2010. Strong traditional people, such as Woo Rae Ok and Pil-dong Myeon-ok, were made up of older customers in the summer, and there weren't many opportunities for them to be known to young people. They were introduced one by one, mainly by bloggers, and a boom began when famous broadcasters such as Jonbak became “cold noodle enthusiasts.†The summit was held last year at the North and South Korea summit. After the Okryu-gwan dinner scene, which was broadcast live on TV, the number of search terms increased two to three times more than usual, and it became popular beyond enthusiasts. Due to this popularity, many restaurants specializing in Pyongyang cold noodles have sprung up.
Famous restaurants in Pyongyang Naengmyeon in Seoul include Chungmuro Pildong-myeon-ok, Mapo Eulmildae Pyongyang Naengmyeon, Moosam-ok, Seishun Gokbu, Eulji-ro Eulji-myeon-ok, Woollae-ok, Pyeongrae-ok, Pyeongnyang-myeon-ok in Jangchung-dong, Pyongyang-myeon-ok in Nonhyeon-dong, Navi Pyeongyang Naengmyeon, Jinmi Pyongyang Naengmyeon, Songpa Bongpiyang, Yeoksam Neung-do, Pyongyang-ok, Nampo-ok Daemun Buwon Myeon-ok, Yeouido Jeongin-myeon-ok, Daedongmun, Jongno Eujin Restaurant, Bundang Gyo-won, Pangyo Neung-do, Ilsan Daedonggwan, Yoon Seon-hee's Pyongyang Naengmyeon Yanggak, Guui-dong Seobuk-myeon-ok, Cheongdam-dong Piyangok, Gangnam District Office Bongmil Street, Eunpyeong Manpo Myeon-ok, Goyang Manpo-myeon-ok, Hongdae Dongmyeon-ok, Yeonnam-dong Gwanghwamun Gukbap, Gwanghwamun Gwanghwamun Gugbap, Bangi Famous places such as Wangpyeong Yangmyeon-ok and Mokdong Pyeongmyeon-ok, Mokdong Pyeongnyeong-myeon Restaurant, Yangpyeong Okcheon Naengmyeon, Okcheon Goeup Naengmyeon, Hwanghae Restaurant, Anseong Friendship Restaurant, Cheonan Pyongyang Naengmyeon, Yangju Pyongyang-myeon-ok, Daejeon Sumgolwon Naengmyeon, Sura-myeon-ok, Hanmin Naengmyeon, Sariwon, Daegu Daedongmyeonok, Yongin-sui Gyeong-myeonok, Dongducheon Pyeongnam-ok, Dongin Myeonok, Jeju Daekwang Restaurant, Gunsan Apgang-ok, Pyeongtaek Gobok-rye Naengmyeon, Busan Wonsan Myeonok, Baekryeongdo Famous places include Sagot Naengmyeon, Bucheon Samdo ribs, and Incheon Airport Pyeonghwaok. Among them, I would like to introduce 5 of the best emerging restaurants for cold noodles in Pyongyang that have received good reviews recently. This summer, I recommend making your own list of “Pyongyang Naengmyeon†restaurants that serve a bowl of refreshing cold noodles that suit your taste.
1. Enjoy 'Gyeongpyeong-myeonok' in Samseong-dong step by step
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Image source: lee.kwanho's Instagram
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Chef Kim Tae-kwon, who worked at 'Pyongyang Myeonok' in Nonhyeon-dong for 17 years, opened a new 'Kyungpyeong Myeonok'. It's a place where nearby office workers never stop walking every time it's mealtime. When you sit down, you'll be provided with plenty of water to soothe your empty stomach. The signature menu, “Pyongyang Naengmyeon,†is served with pork, beef, and eggs on tightly rolled noodles. At first, if you pour in the broth without adding anything, the salty flavor spreads throughout your mouth along with the subtle aroma of meat. Then, according to your preferences, I recommend sprinkling vinegar on the noodles, adding mustard, and enjoying it with various garnishes, and eating the pork with the remaining broth at the end.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 12 Samseong-ro 104-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
▲Business hours: 11:00 — 21:30 every day
â–²Price: Pyongyang cold noodles 11,000 won, pork 13,000 won
â–²Review (Shikigami Narcisist): A new cold noodle shop that just opened near COEX. As soon as it was born, it attracted the attention of peace enthusiasts and many people were visiting. Overall, I think it's a house that has kept the basic principle of calm and quiet. The soup has a sweet flavor that is slightly different from other places, but the overall balance is not bad. Childcare and parenting are also faithful to the principles. It's a flavor that calls for shochu.
2. Gyodae “Seogwan-myeonok†with a rich broth
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Image source: hello.claire__ on Instagram
Image source: hello.claire__ on Instagram
As the representative food of “Seonju Fu-myeon,†it is a place loved by fans for serving “flavored cold noodles,†a cold snack made with plenty of meat in Pyongyang cold noodles. Pyongyang cold noodles are characterized by mixing broth made with broth made from domestic Korean beef brisket, black pork from Jirisan, and local chicken from Jeju on a base boiled to produce a rich meat broth. The noodles are homemade from domestic soba directly at the store. “Antique cold noodles,†where soba noodles are coated with perilla oil, are also a delicacy. The savory flavor that explodes in the mouth while mixing ingredients such as mushrooms and radish sprouts mixed with perilla powder is excellent.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 11, Seocho-daero 56-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
▲Opening hours: 11:30 — 21:40, B/T 15:30 — 17:30
â–²Price: Pyongyang cold noodles 13,000 won, antique cold noodles 13,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigin Totorulu): I tried Pyongyang Naengmyeon here for the first time, and it was so delicious. I ate lunch and it was fine, so I visited for dinner the next day. There are not only cold noodles, but also beef, bedbug mochi, etc., so it's great to go with a cup of sake!
3. Yeoksam's 'Pyongyangok', where the commitment to 100% pure soba is alive
Image source: ttechh9ine's Instagram
Image source: ttechh9ine's Instagram
CEO Kim Young-gyu, who learned about cold noodles at Wurae-ok, one of the best Pyongyang cold noodle restaurants in Korea, opened a place in Yeoksam-dong through continuous research on noodles and broth. Although it hasn't been in business for a long time, it has become a popular restaurant due to its taste and value for money. This place offers 100% pure buckwheat Pyongyang cold noodles without mixing wheat with flour, and they chose a very fine grinding method by making a large basalt millstone to compensate for the stickiness of the noodles. Cold noodles are served to the guests by elegantly placing pickled radish, sliced pear, and half of the meat and egg on top of a finely ground sari. It's a place that has advantages over noodles, so I recommend you enjoy the deep flavor of soba.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 18 Nonhyeon-ro 71-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
▲Business hours: 11:00 — 21:00 every day
â–²Price: Pyongyang Naengmyeon 10,000 won, fishcake tray (medium) 55,000 won
â–²Testimonial (I want to eat Mapo noodles): I'm just grateful that there is a restaurant in Gangnam that has this kind of taste at such a price. Noodles that have both aroma and texture, and cold noodles with a broth that is in harmony with the flavor of meat. These dumplings were a bit plain. Also, kimchi, which was a big hit. In fact, it's also a restaurant I have to go back to because of kimchi.
4. Daechi-dong's “Pandong-myeonok†with a rich menu that satisfies even couples
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A cold noodle shop with a simple exterior located on a quiet Daechi-dong street. They sell menus from typical Pyongyang cold noodle restaurants, such as Pyongyang cold noodles, plate dumplings, mung bean jam, and pork. The advantage of this house is that it has a “half plate.†They sell not only gyoza and meat, but also mung bean paste in half the size, and cold noodles are also “small†in size, making it a great menu structure for customers who want to eat a variety of things. This house grinds soba directly from the mill at the entrance to make noodles with a sticky texture that looks like they are mixed with wheat flour. The broth is salty and rich, making it great to enjoy with a side menu.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 5 Yeoksam-ro 77-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
▲Business hours: 11:00 — 22:00 every day
â–²Price: Pyongyang cold noodles 11,000 won, pork 10,000 won
â–²Testimonial (The Old Sorcerer): I like Pyongyang cold noodles that aren't excessive, but this is my favorite style. I visited with my parents, who love Pyongyang cold noodles, and they were both satisfied. From now on, I'm going to eat out here~~
5. Seolleung “Woomil Myeonokâ€, an North Korean restaurant recommended for business meetings
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A North Korean food restaurant newly opened in Andong Guksi by Umill, famous for its Andong Gukshi specialty store. Since Umilga Andongguk City is a brand that is stable and well-managed for the taste, quality, and service of food, Pyongyang Naengmyeon is also worth recommending. For the broth, add chives to the clear broth, and add cucumber, pickled radish, pear, meat, and half of an egg as a garnish. The sticky noodles made from buckwheat and wheat, and the broth, which has a strong flavor, is a popular flavor that satisfies all members. You can enjoy the soft and warm “Andong Gukshi†in one place, so there are plenty of options even if you go with someone who doesn't like Pyongyang cold noodles.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 508 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
▲Business hours: 11:00 — 22:00 every day
â–²Price: Pyongyang Naengmyeon 12,000 won, fishcake tray (small) 70,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Lucky Seon-ah Shikigami): I really liked the refreshing soup. Originally, I don't drink all the soup, but it was completely cold here. There are plenty of foods that are easy to eat, such as cold noodles, so I'd like to try them all next time.