The arrival of the warm spring sun also indicates that the weather is getting hot for a while and the season for cold noodles has returned. Cold noodles, which Koreans love, are the best among noodle dishes. There are various types of cold noodles, such as Pyongyang, Hamheung, Hwanghae, and Jinju, depending on where they come from. When Pyongyang Naengmyeon is the representative noodle dish of North Korea, we regard “Jinju Naengmyeon†as the best noodle dish. Jinju, the town of righteous rice fields, is a city with historical significance, such as General Kang Min-cheom, who fought against Qiran during the Goryeo period, Jinju Guanmin and medicine who fought against the enemy during the Imjin War, and the equity movement that occurred during the period of Japanese domination.
Jinju Naengmyeon is said to have been a special meal of the four godfathers in the Joseon Dynasty and a favorite late-night meal of Gibang. Unlike Pyongyang Naengmyeon and Hamheung Naengmyeon, which are characterized by a boring broth and simple garnish, Jinju Naengmyeon has a gorgeous flavor and appearance. It is a broth made by adding seafood such as anchovies, mussels, octopus, and pollack to the beef broth, which is characterized by its refreshing umami. On top of the noodles, add a variety of garnishes such as finely chopped kimchi, yukjeon, zidan, cucumber, and eggs to complete the gorgeous visuals. Let's go into a new world of flavors that you've never experienced before, combining rich soup, soba noodles, and rich garnishes. A nostalgic fragrance from my hometown that was loved by aspiring scholars who thought about the country and who resisted injustice! Here are the 5 best places to eat Jinju Naengmyeon with the strong and stylish taste of pearls.
1. The living history of Jinju Naengmyeon, Jinju 'Ha Yeon-ok'
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Image source: bon.naengmyeon's Instagram
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“Ha Yeon-ok†is known as the originator and living history of Jinju Naengmyeon. Since 1945, it has maintained the traditional method for the second generation and has been serving customers with consistent flavors. If you order a meal, a fresh salad and a hot soup will be served to soothe your empty stomach. The signature menu, “Jinju Watercress Noodle,†enhances the taste buds with colorful garnishes that are richly topped with cucumber, egg, red pepper, etc. The broth made by simmering seafood such as mussels, anchovies, bandang, and kelp, and beef bones together has an extraordinary depth. In the process of cooking the broth, cast iron heated to 400 degrees or higher is added to capture the fishy flavor unique to seafood, and you can experience the refreshing umami. We also recommend the “Pearl Bibimbap Naengmyeon,†which is flavored with soy sauce for fish meat eaten in court.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 1317-20, Jinju-daero, Jinju, Gyeongnam
▲Opening hours: 10:00 — 20:30 every day, 7 days a week
â–²Price: Jinju watercress noodles 9,000 won, Jinju bim cold noodles 9,500 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigami WARNING223): It's always crowded even when it's not mealtime. The pork belly is cut to make it easy to eat, but it's great when eaten with noodles! Yukjeon also blended well without getting greasy, so it went well with the cool broth. Also, the toppings were very tasty, and the soup was so delicious that it was completely cold that day.
2. Jinju's 'Park Gunja Pearl Cold Noodles', a secret recipe that has been kept for a long time
Image source: _hungi's Instagram
Image source: han.chelin's Instagram
“Park Gun-ja Jinju Naengmyeon†is a place run by the first son of Ha Geong and Hwang Deok, who have been selling Jinju Naengmyeon at Jinju Central Market. By adhering to traditional recipes handed down from generation to generation, they perfectly recreate the taste of parents. The signature menu is the “Pearl Watercress Noodle,†which is a thick layer of pork and thinly sliced egg zidan piled on top of the noodles. After aging the broth made by boiling beef bones, sardines, and brisket for over 12 hours for about four days, seafood such as dried squid, hwangtae, and bandang were added to complete the interesting flavor of the soup once more. After stirring the simmering broth with a stick for 3 to 4 hours, I put an iron rod that was heated to the fire to remove the debris and make the most of the refreshing flavor. Relocation construction is underway, and it will arrive in a new form in May.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 10, Jinju-daero 920beon-gil, Jinju, Gyeongnam
▲Opening hours: 09:00 — 22:00 every day
â–²Price: Jinju watercress noodles 9,000 won, Jinju cool cold noodles 9,500 won
â–²Testimonial (Honeyscreen for the first time): I tried Jinju Naengmyeon here for the first time, and it showed a different appeal from the cold noodles I've eaten until now. When you drink the soup all the time without adding anything at the beginning, you can feel how carefully it was made. The flavor of the soup is not artificial, so you feel comfortable even after eating it.
3. Generously topped pork steak, Sichuan “Reconstruction Cold Noodle Restaurantâ€
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Image source: omnaay_86's Instagram
Image source: ninaa_cuisine's Instagram
“Reconstruction Naengmyeon Restaurant†is known as the largest cold noodle shop in Korea. Traces of time are scattered all over the store, such as walls with graffiti written by customers and quaint chairs and tables. The signature menu, “Watercress noodles,†is served by putting cucumber, pear, and yukjeon on top of tightly rolled noodles and pouring broth full of ice. The broth, which has a transparent light, is strangely addictive, with a subtle flavor of meat and pepper. Using pork instead of beef, the combination of yukjeon, which stands out for its light flavor, and noodles, which have a mild flavor of buckwheat, is excellent. Another popular menu item is “Bibim-Naengmyeon,†which has a bright red sauce and a combination of pork and cucumber, which draws the flavor. The combination of chewy noodles and crunchy cucumber provides a rich texture.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 28, Dongseong-gil, Sacheon-eup, Sacheon, Gyeongnam
▲Opening hours: 11:00 — 19:30 every day, closed on the second and fourth Mondays
â–²Price: Watercress noodles 9,000 won, bibim-naengmyeon 10,000 won
â–²Testimonial (authentic Shikigami snapback): Watercress noodles, which are very different from traditional cold noodles in appearance and taste, may be unfamiliar at first, but once you miss them, it's hard to break away. I tried cold noodles with pork belly for the first time, and they were so delicious that I added a single portion of pork belly.
4. “Hwangpo Naengmyeon†in Jinju, where even the locals give a thumbs up
Image source: lululala.x_x's Instagram
Image source: pia_present's Instagram
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 10, Hotan-gil 34beon-gil, Jinju, Gyeongnam
▲Opening hours: Every day 10:30 — 20:00, B/T (weekdays) 14:30 — 17:00, B/T (weekends) 15:30 — 17:00
â–²Price: Special cold noodles 10,000 won, watercress noodles 9,000 won
â–²Testimonial (wild male tiger eating): The kimchi on the table was also good to eat halfway with cold noodles. I ate it with a special cold noodle recommended by a friend. The noodles themselves are large enough, but they are full of garnishes, so the more you eat them, the more filling you feel. I also recommend the refreshing spicy Bibim Naengmyeon made with sun-cho and honey!
5. Sichuan “Ha Joo Okâ€, showcasing a variety of local flavors of pearls
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Image source: __jeo___n's Instagram
Image source: mukstayam's Instagram
“Ha Joo Ok†is a place where you can enjoy a variety of local Jinju foods such as yukjeon, yakiniku, cold noodles, and bibimbap. Starting with salad, the rich side dish composition, such as gyoza, chapchae, pickles, fruit blossoms, and sunjitsuku, stands out. The signature menu is “Pearl Naengmyeon,†which is beef coated with egg batter, sliced to make it easy to eat, and served with cold noodles. Starting with watercress noodles with an attractive light broth, there are many types of noodles, from bibim-naengmyeon, mul-bibim-naengmyeon, and hoebim naengmyeon, so it's fun to choose and eat according to your taste. The noodles are plucked from black buckwheat, and the savory scent of buckwheat that spreads as you chew them enhances the overall flavor. After a meal, it's a great place to enjoy dessert at the cafe next to the store.
[Shikigami Tip]
â–²Location: 8-11 Hadong-gil, Sanam-myeon, Sacheon, Gyeongnam
▲Opening hours: 10:30 — 21:30 every day
â–²Price: Mulbibim cold noodles 9,500 won, pearl watercress noodles 9,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Excited): It was a place I visited on the first day of my trip, and I was very satisfied! The basic menu was so good that it could be eaten as a side dish, and they also offered a variety of baby meals for the price. Hehe, I ordered mulbim cold noodles, but it's a style that's halfway between watercress noodles and bibim-naengmyeon, but it was so delicious that I went for one bowl. Please note that if you bring a receipt from the store, you can also get a discount at the cafe.
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