30-minute weekend wait at a Seongbok Station noodle spot: tempura udon

Why we came back to Chilseong Jemyeonso near Seongbok Station

Whenever we have a reason to be in Seongbok, this place comes to mind: Chilseong Jemyeonso (칠성제면소), near Seongbok Station. We visited once before and remembered how rich the broth was, and this time it tasted just the same. My noodle-loving family was happy again, so here's this popular spot with a wait.

Location, parking and waiting at Chilseong Jemyeonso

Chilseong Jemyeonso is in the Seohui Starhills building, about 5 minutes by car from Seongbok Station, with free parking on B1. There's no break time, so eating at an in-between hour isn't a problem. It's inside a building, so it was easy to find and easy to reach by car.

We went at weekend lunch and there was a wait. We got in after about 30 minutes. If you reserve ahead on Catch Table, I think you could eat quickly without waiting.

Atmosphere and self-serve bar

The restaurant was clean and spacious overall. There were solo diners, families and office workers. Beyond noodles, there are also bibimbap, tonkatsu (pork cutlet) and mandu (dumplings), so everyone from kids to grandparents can order what they like, which I loved. At the self-serve bar you can grab bowls, kids' tableware and more.

If you write a Naver review, they give you a free tteok-kkochi (rice cake skewer), so give it a try. I had it last visit and remember it being tasty.

What's on the menu at Chilseong Jemyeonso?

The menu has seasonal kongguksu (cold soy milk noodles) and cold noodles, plus kimchi bibim noodles, fresh noodles, tteokbokki, soba, maze udon, jjolmyeon, udon, tonkatsu and more. There's a nice range from single dishes to sets, so you can order to your taste.

Vegetable tempura udon: how's the cauldron broth?

The vegetable tempura udon was my kid's pick. We love udon, so whenever we come to Chilseong Jemyeonso we seem to always order it.

One spoonful of the broth and I understood why Chilseong Jemyeonso's broth is famous. Maybe because it's simmered for a long time in a cauldron, it was rich yet clean, and not harsh, so I could finish it comfortably. The udon noodles were springy and chewy and went really well with the broth.

The crispy vegetable tempura was good dipped lightly in the broth and just as satisfying eaten crunchy as is. It felt like a dish you'd crave on a rainy or cold day. It even has fish cake in it, so it's really generous.

Chilseong bibim jjolmyeon set: spice level and what's included

The dish I looked forward to most this visit was the Chilseong bibim jjolmyeon set. I wanted something sour and spicy, and it was just right.

The chewy noodles blended well with the sweet-and-sour sauce, and plenty of fresh vegetables made the texture really good. Ordered as a set, it was a generous meal in itself. The sauce was more savory-rich than hot, so my chopsticks kept going back.

The Chilseong bibim jjolmyeon set also comes with a tonkatsu cutlet. It was fried crisp and tasted great too. The portion was big and I got full.

Who is the fresh noodle set for?

The fresh noodle set at Chilseong Jemyeonso suits people who prefer clean, mild noodles over punchy flavors.

The fresh noodles were better than I expected. They had a soft, smooth texture that went well with the broth, and thanks to the rich broth it tasted light yet deep.

Verdict on our return to Chilseong Jemyeonso

What impressed me most at Chilseong Jemyeonso was the deep flavor of the broth simmered in-house in a cauldron. The noodles are chewy and the menu is varied, so I think whoever you bring will be happy.