Mapo Korean restaurant lunch with pumpkin noodles: Sangam Hoegwan

A relaxed lunch in Sangam

I visited Sangam Hoegwan while looking for somewhere to have lunch in Sangam, Mapo. With a wide range of dishes from noodles to dumplings and pancakes, it was a great place to stop by for lunch. Above all, the restaurant was more spacious than I expected, so it felt relaxed as soon as I walked in. I thought it would be a good option for anyone looking for a neat lunch spot in Sangam. As expected, it was an excellent choice.

Sangam Hoegwan's spacious, cool interior

I also loved how clean and well maintained the interior was. The tables and surrounding spaces were tidy, and the overall atmosphere did not feel cramped. Best of all, it was cool inside, making it just right for lunch on a hot day. It was a comfortable place to sit down and eat, which made me even more satisfied.

Noodles, pancake, and dumplings together

That day, I ordered pumpkin soy milk noodles, perilla oil milmyeon, and crispy kimchi pancake. I also got four king dumplings, so I was able to try a nice variety of things. With so many choices, it seemed like a great place to pick a few dishes and share them. If you are visiting with several people, I would recommend ordering this way.

What do the pumpkin soy milk noodles taste like?

I started with the pumpkin soy milk noodles, and they were seriously delicious. The rich, nutty flavor characteristic of kongguksu (noodles in soy milk broth) was joined by a gentle sweetness from the pumpkin. The broth was incredibly smooth and nutty without being overwhelmingly sweet. Personally, this was the dish I remembered most from that day.

The noodles and rich soy milk broth went together so well that the nutty flavor came through with every bite. It tasted even better served cold, and the broth was the kind I kept spooning up. I think anyone who normally enjoys kongguksu would be very satisfied. Thanks to the pumpkin, it had a charm that set it apart from regular kongguksu.

Perilla oil milmyeon and kimchi

The perilla oil milmyeon was delicious in a completely different way. The nutty aroma of perilla oil really came through, and the noodles were pleasantly chewy. Alternating it with the pumpkin soy milk noodles meant I did not get tired of either, since each had its own appeal. I think those who love nutty flavors would enjoy this one too.

And the kimchi here was really delicious. The flavor of the kimchi is quietly important when you are eating noodles, and this place really got it right. A bite of nutty soy milk noodles followed by kimchi was such a good combination. It was so tasty that I kept reaching for the kimchi throughout the meal.

King dumplings and crispy kimchi pancake too

I ordered four king dumplings as well, and they were generously filled, so they were very satisfying. Having a dumpling alongside the noodles made it feel like a proper lunch. The variety of dishes would be especially nice when visiting with a group. With both pancake and dumplings on the table, the meal felt much more abundant.

I also ordered the crispy kimchi pancake, and its exterior was nicely crisp and delicious. Since the kimchi itself was so good, the kimchi pancake naturally tasted great too. Eating a piece of kimchi pancake between bites of noodles was just perfect. Personally, if you order noodles, I would recommend getting the kimchi pancake as well.

A Sangam lunch spot I want to revisit

The food was delicious overall, but I also really liked that the restaurant was spacious and clean. In particular, the cool indoor space made it a good place to visit at lunchtime and eat comfortably. I liked having options beyond noodles, including pancakes and dumplings. It is the kind of place that will come to mind when I am deciding what to have for lunch in Sangam.

If you are looking for a clean, cool place to have lunch in Sangam, Mapo, I recommend Sangam Hoegwan. The pumpkin soy milk noodles were especially delicious—nutty with a gentle sweetness—and the perilla oil milmyeon was good too. With the truly tasty kimchi and crispy kimchi pancake, it was such a great combination. Even on my next visit, I think I would order the pumpkin soy milk noodles and kimchi pancake again.