“Hundred Year Shop†is a policy of the Ministry of Small and Medium Venture Enterprises to help small merchants who have been managing a well for more than 30 years or places that continue to operate a family business to survive and grow for over 100 years. The Ministry of Finance evaluated various aspects such as products, management, marketing, and innovation, and selected a total of 208 food, retail, and retail businesses over the fourth round of this year, following 81 last year. The Mid-Term Donation Department plans to provide consulting, promotion, and education support to the final selected locations, and will gradually add companies that meet the requirements in the future. We will introduce the best 3 Hundred Year restaurants that are taking strong steps for 100 years.
1. 'Milo Bakery' in Sangnam-dong, Changwon, healthy bread made from local specialties
“Milo Bakery†is the No. 1 bakery in Changwon opened by founder Noh Young-taek, who learned bakery techniques at a famous bakery. Every menu made at the store, such as cookies, cakes, and homemade chocolate, including over 150 types of bread, aims to capture healthy flavors without chemical additives. It has captivated the tastes of various generations by showcasing everything from duck bread jointly developed with the Changwon City Confectionery Association to bread using local specialties, and old-fashioned bread with a nostalgic sense of nostalgia.
The signature menu is “potato ciabatta†made from potatoes from the Changwon region. Cut the potatoes into large pieces, bake them once, then put them in the batter with cheese and bacon and bake. Ciabatta, which has a chewy texture, combines the lightness of potatoes, the aroma of cheese, and the saltiness of bacon to create a perfect harmony. “Daio Castella,†where you can enjoy castella with a subtle sweetness in a large size, is also a popular menu. It is characterized by separating the yolk and white of an egg to make a paste that captures the fishy smell of the egg and maximizes its soft texture. As a general rule, all bread is produced on the same day and sold on the same day.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 11, Madimi-ro 21beon-gil, Seongsan-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
▲Opening hours: 07:00 — 23:00 every day
â–²Price: Potato ciabatta 4,000 won, King castella 6,000 won
â–²Testimonial (I need to take a break from work): There's so much bread, so it's a very happy place for Pan Soon-i. I didn't feel bloated even after eating the bread, so my parents really liked the bread here. Personally, if I go here, I definitely buy Daewang castella, but it's delicious even if you put fresh cream on it, and it melts completely when eaten with milk!
2. Unique watercress noodles served with soy sauce broth, 'Guongjin Restaurant' in Eumnae-dong, Seosan
Image source: sirius__chef's Instagram
Image source: ssssssofresh on Instagram
Grandpa Yoon Bong-hyeon, who took refuge in Hwanghae-do during the Korean War, started “Guongjin Restaurant†to earn a living. You can find Ongjin-style soy sauce cold noodles based on the experience of running a cold noodle business in your hometown. Following the first boss, son Yoon Hae-joon, and grandson Yoon Jung-ho, the family business has been passed down for the third generation, and customers have been visiting for generations over a long period of 44 years.
The signature menu, “Naengmyeon,†is an impressive, blackish soup made from soy sauce, which is different from regular cold noodles. I put pork loin and minced garlic in the soy sauce at home, put pork bones and beef bones in the broth that was boiled, thoroughly cleaned for 3 days, then added herbal ingredients such as licorice and schisandra and simmered for another half day to complete the rich flavor. Homemade noodles made from wheat flour and cornstarch blend harmoniously with the rich and rich texture of the soup. Another popular menu is “Bibim-Naengmyeon,†a gochujang base where noodles are rubbed in a sauce made by mixing ingredients such as minced garlic, plum juice, and chongyang chili pepper powder. The sweet and spicy flavor of the sauce that permeates between the chewy noodles is strangely addictive.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 8-2, Beonhwa 2-ro, Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do
▲Business hours: Weekdays 10:30 — 16:00, weekends 10:30 — 17:00
â–²Price: Cold noodles (soy sauce) 7,000 won, bibimbap cold noodles 7,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Lunassian, the god of food): I was so surprised that cold noodles are based on soy sauce. They say they made it themselves at a shaving shop, and it's nice that it's not tough. At first, I thought the soy sauce might be too salty, but without anything like that, it's a very rich flavor. There's also mustard and vinegar, but the soup itself was so delicious that I didn't add anything and let it cool. hehe
3. “Goryeo Bunsik†in Sangju Nam-dong, a dumpling made on the spot
Image source: miyaa_1223 on Instagram
Image source: gukbap_lover's Instagram
“Goryeo Bunsik†is a small food stall that has maintained its place in the central market alley since 1981. When you walk into the building where you can feel the passage of 39 years, you will be greeted warmly by the owner, who is busy making dumplings. It was recently introduced in the Master of Life program and has been loved by many people, including the footsteps of nearby residents as well as tourists from other regions.
The signature menu is “handmade grilled gyoza,†where the store makes everything from gyoza skin to beef. Dumpling wrappers made from a thin layer of dough made by mixing flour with ginger juice and warm milk have a chewy texture unique to wheat flour. The dumpling skin is filled with plenty of beef made from various ingredients such as pork, dried persimmons, and lotus roots, and grilled as if they were deep-fried. The moment you take a bite of the gyoza, the contrast between the crunchy surface and the moist, juicy inside is impressive. Along with gyoza, I also like “chewy noodles,†which are chewy noodles mixed with a sour sauce, and have crunchy cucumbers and bean sprouts that add to the fun of chewing. The combination of dipping grilled dumplings in chewy noodle sauce and then wrapping them in the chewy noodles and eating them as a side dish is also popular.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 29 Jungang Market Road, Sangju, Gyeongbuk
▲Opening hours: 11:30 — 20:00 every day, closed on Mondays
â–²Price: Handmade grilled dumplings 5,000 won, chewy noodles 5,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigin Young Man and Tukkak): It was amazing to be able to eat the gyoza I made earlier right away. My friend and I went and ordered several things such as gyoza, chewy noodles, gimbap, etc., and they ate everything. In particular, the grilled dumplings were really savory and delicious. They often close early, so I recommend visiting early!