Sindang noodle shop after work, just before sell-out: Guksue Chwihaman

Lately I've been watching "Matttara Gilttara Daemyeongittara" (맛따라 길따라 대명이따라), and the bibim guksu (spicy mixed noodles) on it looks SO good. I kept craving a spicy bowl of noodles, so after work I went to get some with a friend. We met at Sindang, where Lines 2 and 6 cross! It's easy for both of us to get to and has lots of good places to eat, so it's a great neighborhood for a dinner date. This time we went to Guksue Chwihaman Sindang Main Branch (국수에 취하맨 신당본점), where you can try Jeju-style gogi-guksu (pork noodle soup). From the bibim guksu I'd been dreaming about to the gogi-guksu that suited the chilly weather, here's how our hearty dinner went :)

Location and hours of Guksue Chwihaman Sindang Main Branch

Guksue Chwihaman Sindang Main Branch is at 89 Dasan-ro 44-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (ground floor), 169 m from Exit 3 of Sindang Station. It's open Mon–Sat 12:00–20:00, with a break from 15:00 to 17:30 and last order at 19:45.

• Closes early when ingredients run out
• Announced temporary closure: Nov 20–21
• Parking: use the Seongdong High School public parking lot in front of the shop
• 4 tables for two and about 4 bar seats
• Solo dining is fine
• Zero Pay accepted
• Shared restroom in the building, outside the shop

Can ingredients sell out by 6 pm near Sindang Station?

Guksue Chwihaman Sindang Main Branch can close early once ingredients run out, even if there are still evening hours left. When we arrived around 6:10 pm, we were told the pork prepared for the day was almost gone and they could make only about two bowls of noodles.

The shop is close to Exit 3 of Sindang Station, so it was easy to find. The green awning, wooden sign and warm light glowing through the window suit the small shop really well. If you're going in the evening, I'd call ahead to check.

Inside Guksue Chwihaman Sindang Main Branch: seating and solo dining

The interior of Guksue Chwihaman Sindang Main Branch has bright wood tones with green chairs, so it felt small but warm.

There are photos of the Jeju sea and tangerine orchards on the walls and cute little props on the shelves. It's fun to look at them one by one while you wait for your food.

Seating is four tables for two plus a bar that fits about four people. It was fine for the two of us, and with seats facing the wall, it should also suit anyone looking for a solo meal near Sindang Station.

There's no restroom inside the shop; you use the shared restroom in the building.

You take as many aprons as you need yourself. Spoons and chopsticks are in the drawer under the table, so just take what you need.

There's also a Naver review event going on. Write a photo review and you can get extra-large noodles or a drink :)

Menu and prices at Guksue Chwihaman Sindang Main Branch

The menu at Guksue Chwihaman Sindang Main Branch is gogi-guksu, bibim guksu, gogi-gukbap (pork rice soup) and dombe-gogi (sliced boiled pork) to go with them. We ordered one gogi-guksu at ₩10,000 and one bibim guksu at ₩10,000, ₩20,000 in total.

We had planned to add a plate of dombe-gogi too, but we were told the leftover meat wasn't enough for a proper single serving, so we ordered just the two bowls of noodles.

But a little later the owner said it was less than one serving and too little to sell, and brought us the dombe-gogi as a free extra. We hadn't expected a plate at all, so my friend and I started eating feeling really grateful :)

How spicy is the bibim guksu?

The bibim guksu at Guksue Chwihaman Sindang Main Branch wasn't just plain hot; it was pleasantly spicy. This was the one I wanted most that day! Over the noodles coated in sauce there were plenty of julienned cucumber, sesame seeds and big slices of pork. The spice level was just right for me, and after one bite my chopsticks kept going back for more.

Putting a piece of pork on the noodles made it much more filling than noodles alone. I especially liked that the meat wasn't just a few decorative slices; there was enough to really enjoy with the noodles.

I'd come craving spicy bibim guksu, so it felt like I got exactly what I wanted :)

How was the Jeju-style gogi-guksu broth?

The gogi-guksu at Guksue Chwihaman Sindang Main Branch came with pork and chopped scallions on top of a milky broth. One sip of the warm broth and it felt like my stomach was settling. The rich pork broth left an impression and was especially good for chilly weather like we've been having.

I thought this is exactly the kind of broth you'd crave the morning after drinking. The gogi-guksu also had plenty of pork, so it was nice picking up noodles and meat together.

Going back and forth between the spicy bibim guksu and the warm gogi-guksu, the two had clearly different charms, and I was glad we came as two and ordered one bowl each.

How big was the free dombe-gogi?

The dombe-gogi we got for free at Guksue Chwihaman Sindang Main Branch was more generous than I expected, even though it was said to be less than one serving. Last up, the dombe-gogi! When they said they'd give us a little as a freebie, I first imagined just a piece or two.

But when the meat came out on a wooden cutting board, my friend and I were both stunned. I wondered, "If this is less than one serving, how much do you get when you order it properly?" It was way more generous than expected.

Best of all, the meat was cut thick, so every piece was satisfying to chew. The pork on the noodles was already plenty, and adding dombe-gogi made the meal even more filling. Please note the dombe-gogi in the photos is not a regular single order but the leftover amount we received for free that day, so keep that in mind when judging menu portions :)

The kicker of the day: the complimentary kimchi

The kimchi served by default at Guksue Chwihaman Sindang Main Branch was the kicker of the day. Honestly, I usually don't eat kimchi when I'm out. But the kimchi here was good! It was great on the noodles and great on the meat, so I scraped up every last bit before leaving :)

Overall verdict on Guksue Chwihaman Sindang Main Branch

I went to Guksue Chwihaman Sindang Main Branch craving spicy bibim guksu. What stayed with me was the easy-going spiciness of the bibim guksu and the warm, rich broth of the gogi-guksu. ₩10,000 a bowl was a fair price, and both dishes come with plenty of pork, so even a single bowl of noodles makes a filling meal.

One catch: since the meat was almost gone even at 6:10 pm, I recommend checking before you go if you have a particular dish in mind. Next time I'd like to try the gogi-gukbap for a different meal :)

Recommended for

• People looking for a meal under ₩15,000 near Sindang Station
• Fans of Jeju-style gogi-guksu and spicy bibim guksu
• People looking for a Sindang Station solo-dining spot with bar seats
• Anyone who wants an easy after-work dinner with a friend

Spicy bibim guksu, rich gogi-guksu and generous pork made for a filling meal near Sindang Station