Weekday lunch shared round table at Song Giwon Jinju Naengmyeon

My husband is a naengmyeon lover, all four seasons of the year. He's always asking for it, so I think we've been to just about every famous naengmyeon place nearby — and out of all of them, this is the one that matched my taste best. Here's my honest review.

Location, parking, and hours at Song Giwon Jinju Naengmyeon Main Branch

• 📍Address: 1-2 Modeok-ro 47beon-gil, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
• ⏰Hours: Daily 10:30–20:00 / Break time 16:00–17:00 / Last order 15:40, 19:40
• 🅿️Parking: 1. In front of the restaurant 2. Yeonam Library public parking lot 3. Donggwang Church parking lot (not available Sundays)
• ✅Featured on Jeon Hyun-moo's Plan episode 41 and Live Today episode 2144

We visited on a weekday at 12:30, and there was exactly one parking spot open in front — lucky! If there's no spot out front, you can park at Yeonam Library or Donggwang Church instead.

A classy exterior

Song Giwon of 21st Century Joseon — designated a Hundred-Year Store, walking toward its own century. The exterior alone gives off such an elegant vibe that I thought I'd love to bring my parents here next time.

Selected for the Blue Ribbon Survey in 2024, 2025, and 2026. Sacheon and Jinju are already famous for naengmyeon with plenty of strong competitors, but this is my personal number one. Waits are common, so keep in mind there's a table-ordering app you can use in front of the restaurant.

Interior and menu

I was thrown off — it was fully booked! The round table in the middle is where strangers sit together, and since it was just my husband and me, we were seated there.

The table color is a subtle standout. The lighting and props all feel stylish, giving off a real atmosphere. It might actually make a nice date-course spot in Jinju — go smash some cool naengmyeon together :)

There were framed autographs on the wall, so it seems plenty of famous people have passed through. That says something about how well-known this naengmyeon place is.

The menu looks intimidating but it's simple. Sunjo 1800 mul-naengmyeon ₩13,000, Nongae 1593 bibim-naengmyeon ₩13,000, Song Giwon 1997 mixed naengmyeon ₩14,000, yukjeon ₩25,000, galbitang ₩16,000 (March–September only). They also have rice, alcohol, and drinks — and I noticed Jinju jangsaeng doraji (bellflower root) sold by the bottle, which made me curious enough to promise myself I'd try it next time :)

What makes Song Giwon Jinju Naengmyeon special

The spoons and chopsticks set on the table looked so clean! Since this is a repeat visit for me and I already know how good it is, I waited with high expectations.

Song Giwon is the very first Hundred-Year Store for Jinju naengmyeon, and apparently home to the oldest living first-generation successor still carrying on the tradition.

Self-serve warm broth — always refill it

You can help yourself to warm broth, made by simmering domestic Korean beef bones into a rich meat stock, together with carefully selected seafood from the clean waters of Namhae and medicinal herbs, brewed for over 24 hours. The umami is... incredible!!

Honestly, you could think of it as medicine for your body and drink it just for that, but it tastes so good that I always go back for a refill.

Since it's made with in-season Jeju winter radish, the fresh radish salad and well-seasoned kimchi felt like they added their own special touch to this Jinju naengmyeon standout.

The special extra: yukjeon

Actually, Jinju naengmyeon usually comes topped with a decent amount of yukjeon (pan-fried egg-battered beef) already. You can taste it without ordering extra, but I love taking a bite of hot fresh yukjeon right before slurping the noodles — so I ordered a separate plate for that combo.

You can pack up leftovers too, so there's really no reason not to order it. They cut it into bite-size pieces with scissors.

Dip it in soy sauce and take a bite — the savoriness of the egg and the deep flavor of the beef warm you up from the inside, and it just makes you happy :)

I like ordering a bit of everything like this :) Eating yukjeon, then mul-naengmyeon, then swapping bites with my husband — that's the move.

Nongae 1593 (bibim-naengmyeon)

The Nongae 1593 at Song Giwon Jinju Naengmyeon Main Branch is their bibim-naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles).

Only top-quality Jeju buckwheat is used, aged and hand-kneaded into house-made noodles with a wonderful chewiness, then topped with Jeju winter radish salad, savory yukjeon, egg, and a sweet-spicy sauce.

My husband always cuts his noodles up with scissors and dumps in a generous amount of mustard sauce — I didn't get it at first, but now I'm hooked on eating it the exact same way, haha.

This also makes a fantastic drinking snack... ah, the moderate spiciness and sweetness is so addictive, you just keep wanting more.

Sunjo 1800 (mul-naengmyeon)

Sunjo 1800 is the mul-naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth). The chilled broth is clean, and the generous toppings add extra savoriness.

If you're picturing a sharp, sour mul-naengmyeon, think again. You won't find this kind of depth of flavor anywhere else among Jinju's naengmyeon spots.

It's just a bowl of naengmyeon, but it feels full of care. It tastes purely natural yet richly savory, easy on the stomach, and the noodles are wonderfully chewy — and honestly... this one makes a great drinking snack too :)

Honestly, I never used to eat mul-naengmyeon as a kid — I really disliked anything sour, and most broths back then were seasoned heavily with MSG, which left that particular greasy aftertaste I hated. But after discovering Song Giwon Jinju Naengmyeon Main Branch, I became a total mul-naengmyeon convert ^^ Now I even pick up the bowl and drink the broth directly!!

Final thoughts

This is a Jinju naengmyeon restaurant made by a Korean Culinary Master and a World Master Chef recognized in Europe. It doesn't feel like just a bowl of noodles — it feels like a bowl of care, built on years of research and a real philosophy of flavor.

House-made noodles from carefully roasted Jeju buckwheat, broth simmered fresh for 24 hours every day, and a lavish spread of colorful toppings — a truly luxurious naengmyeon experience. If you want to taste this kind of care in a single bowl, I'd definitely recommend giving Song Giwon Jinju Naengmyeon Main Branch a try.