Dongtan restaurant for a post-walk naengmyeon lunch: Naengmyeon Gajun

Naengmyeon Gajun Dongtan Main Branch

Why we wanted naengmyeon after walking Dongtan Lake Park

The weather was so nice I went for a walk at Dongtan Lake Park, but as it got hotter I started craving cool naengmyeon (cold noodles). While looking for a good naengmyeon spot I could walk to, I found Naengmyeon Gajun near the lake park and decided to check it out. Cooling off with chilled noodles after a lake walk sounded perfect!!

Naengmyeon Gajun Dongtan Main Branch: location and parking

Naengmyeon Gajun has parking inside the building, so it was easy to visit by car. Naengmyeon Gajun Dongtan Main Branch gives 1 hour of free parking, which made it easy to pop in and out without any hassle. It's a great place to grab a meal right after visiting Dongtan Lake Park.

Naengmyeon Gajun Dongtan Main Branch is on the 2nd floor, Room 208 of Luna Gallery, right near Dongtan Lake Park. It's a convenient spot to stop for cool noodles right after finishing a walk around the lake.

Window seats with a view over Dongtan Lake Park

Walking in, the space felt clean and pleasant. What I loved most was that Dongtan Lake Park was visible from the window seats. Being able to look out at the lake view while eating made the whole meal feel relaxed instead of stuffy. On a nice day, it's a great place to stop for a good mood meal after a walk.

The Naengmyeon Gajun menu and what we ordered that day

Naengmyeon Gajun's menu ranges from mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles) to braised galbi (short ribs) and mandu (dumplings). They were running a naengmyeon discount event at the time, so I could enjoy the noodles at a slightly better price. There are also set menus that are nice to order when you're craving something cool on a hot day. That day I ordered bibim naengmyeon, seolleongtang (ox bone soup), and octopus mandu.

Rather than just noodles, I wanted a warm soup dish and mandu alongside, so I picked a little of everything.

How does the bibim naengmyeon taste?

First, the bibim naengmyeon looked appetizing just to look at. The savory sauce was well mixed into the noodles, and the red seasoning on top promised a spicy kick. Eating cool noodles on a hot day felt so refreshing.

The noodles had a chewy texture, and the sauce soaked into them nicely, making every bite delicious. The tangy, spicy sauce kept my appetite going, and my chopsticks kept going back for more.

Galbitang on the side

The galbitang (short rib soup) I ordered alongside the bibim naengmyeon was perfect when I wanted something warm to sip on!! The galbitang had a milky broth packed generously with short ribs, and it looked hearty just from the sight of it.

The broth was clean and mild, which paired really well with the spicy kick of the bibim naengmyeon.

The short rib meat was tender too, making it a satisfying full meal with rice.

Nakji mandu (octopus dumplings): the side dish to add

The octopus mandu (dumplings) had a charm all its own compared to regular mandu. The wrapper was chewy, and the filling was packed generously, which suited my taste perfectly.

Eating it alongside the noodles worked well — the spicy sauce of the bibim naengmyeon paired nicely with the mild, chewy mandu. It was a great side dish when noodles alone felt like it wasn't quite enough.

Is Naengmyeon Gajun worth a lunch stop?

Visiting Naengmyeon Gajun Dongtan Main Branch to cool off after a walk at Dongtan Lake Park was great — I got to enjoy everything from naengmyeon to galbitang to octopus mandu in one meal. If you're craving cool noodles after a stroll around Dongtan Lake Park, this place is well worth a visit.