Pyeongtaek kalguksu with gamtae-wrapped noodles: Goryeo Mulchong

My daughter said she wanted warm seafood kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), and I'd heard about a new place loaded with dongjuk (clams) and mussels, so we went to check it out! This is Goryeo Mulchong Kalguksu, which is quickly becoming known as a must-try kalguksu spot in Pyeongtaek~^^

Where is Goryeo Mulchong Kalguksu, and is there parking?

Goryeo Mulchong Kalguksu is on the 1st floor of 730 Pyeongnam-ro, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do. It's in a new building, so both the exterior and interior are really clean. There's also a spacious parking lot at the store building, so we could walk in without any parking worries~

Inside Goryeo Mulchong Kalguksu: dining room and service

The dining room is quite spacious with plenty of room between tables, so it looked great for group gatherings or family meals. Above all, the owner and staff were really kind! Every time they brought out a dish, they explained exactly how to enjoy it, and carefully warned us that the pots and bowls were hot so we wouldn't get hurt.

Goryeo Mulchong Kalguksu menu and prices

• Goryeo Mulchong Kalguksu (₩12,000): the signature dish — a deep, refreshing broth simmered from Gochang dongjuk clams and Tongyeong mussels, paired with chewy handmade noodles kneaded fresh every day
• Goldongmyeon: bibim (₩12,000): a delicious mixed noodle dish tossed in whole perilla seed, whole buckwheat and gungche-namul seasoning sauce, eaten wrapped in fragrant gamtae seaweed
• Pear-leaf medicinal bossam (₩19,000): domestic grade-1 pork belly boiled twice daily with Pyeongtaek pear tree leaves for a smell-free, soft and tender texture~
• Snow-flurry black soybean kalguksu (₩13,000): a summer specialty with the nutty flavor of 100% domestic black soybeans and the chewy texture of mini injeolmi (rice cake)
• Four-season fried rice (free): made with Pyeongtaek Super Onying Koshihikari rice — a fluffy, must-try finish enjoyed at no extra cost

What comes in the 49,000 won 3-person set

We ordered the Goryeo Mulchong Kalguksu 3-person set (₩49,000)~ Ordering the set was great because we got to try kalguksu, bossam, napa cabbage dumplings and fried rice all in one meal~

First out: bossam boiled pork and three dipping sauces

Bossam (boiled pork wrap) came out first~ The owner told us in advance that the bossam bowl stays warm, so it could be hot.

The bossam was made with tender pork belly, soft and light. It came with three different sauces, so we could dip it according to taste and get a different flavor each time even with the same bossam~

We ordered beer and soju to drink something cool, and they thoughtfully brought us ice ahead of time, so the drinks stayed even more refreshing~

How to cook the mulchong kalguksu with the 5-minute hourglass

Finally, the main kalguksu came out! First came the refreshing broth packed with clams and mussels, and the noodles were served separately.

They said the noodles are kneaded and worked by hand at the store every day, giving them a chewy texture~ With plenty of clams and mussels in it, the broth itself was already rich and refreshing~

Once the broth started boiling, we first picked out and ate the generous clams and mussels~ After eating a good amount of the shellfish, we added the handmade noodles and flipped the 5-minute hourglass on the table to boil them for exactly 5 more minutes~

Maybe because the noodles are handmade, they didn't get soggy even after boiling — soft on the outside and chewy and springy inside, it was really delicious!!

Self-serve bar: kimchi, cheongyang chili and broth refills

The self-serve bar had two kinds of kimchi, aged and fresh, and we chose the aged kimchi to go with the kalguksu~

Also, wanting the kalguksu broth a bit spicier, we grabbed some cheongyang chili from the self-serve bar and added it in — it made the broth spicier while still keeping that refreshing, deep flavor! The soup was so good we kept spooning it up, and by the time we saw the bottom, the broth had run low~ Luckily there was a broth container at the self-serve bar, so we could add more without hesitation and keep it hot until the very end~

Why you should wrap the bibim goldongmyeon in gamtae seaweed

The bibim goldongmyeon included in the set was also a treat. They snipped the noodles twice with scissors, then mixed them with the perilla oil, seasoning sauce and a splash of broth that came with it~

Following the owner's tip, I wrapped a bite in gamtae seaweed, and it had way more savory depth than eating it plain~ Definitely a combination I'd highly recommend!

Napa cabbage dumplings and fried rice with Pyeongtaek Onying rice

The dumplings, wrapped in round napa cabbage leaves, were kimchi-dumpling style~ Again, they kindly told us to cut them in half with scissors and let them cool since biting straight in could burn our mouths. Thanks to that advice, we could enjoy them without getting burned~^^ Overall the seasoning wasn't too strong — light but with that kimchi dumpling flavor that kept us reaching for more without feeling heavy~

We finished, as always, with fried rice~ The owner made sure to empty out the existing pot and use a clean one to stir-fry the fried rice, so we wouldn't get hurt on any leftover shell fragments — thanks to that care, we enjoyed the fried rice to the very last bite~

And it turns out they only use Pyeongtaek rice, including Pyeongtaek Onying rice in the fried rice. Maybe that's why the rice grains were so sticky and full-bodied — it gave me confidence seeing how much care goes into every single ingredient~~ They said they'd refill the fried rice if we ran out, but the portions overall were so generous we were too full to even need a refill!

Photo review perk: dansul, Gyeongsang-style sikhye

Writing a photo review gets you a serving of 'dansul'~

They explained that dansul is a Gyeongsang-style sikhye (sweet rice drink), and the ginger aroma balanced with just the right sweetness made it the perfect palate cleanser after the meal!

Is Goryeo Mulchong Kalguksu worth a visit in Pyeongtaek?

Kindness was a given, but what stood out was the quality of every single dish and the thoughtful attention to detail. This is a kalguksu restaurant in Pyeongtaek I'd definitely recommend whenever you're craving a hearty, refreshing seafood broth~^^