Chuncheon buckwheat restaurant for soy sauce noodles: Hyeondae Memil

Every time I passed through the neighborhood, this place was always packed with customers, so I kept wondering, “What kind of place is it that has so many people?”

It was Hyeondae Memil (현대메밀), located near Namchuncheon Station! I finally visited with my expectations running high, and to give you the conclusion first: I had a meal that was even more satisfying than I expected. Above all, the overall food prices were very affordable and reasonable, so it was easy to visit without feeling any burden.

A meal and drinks in an old-house atmosphere?

Thanks to the warm, atmospheric feel unique to a quiet old house, it was a great place to come for a casual meal, but also perfect in the evening for drinks or a light tipple with delicious anju (food served with alcohol). And the signature buckwheat noodles were seriously chewy, so I thought anyone who loves buckwheat dishes would have no choice but to fall for them~

Restaurant information and visitor guide

• Address: 1F, 29-1 Namchun-ro 5beon-gil, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00–20:30 (break time 15:00–17:00 / last order 20:00)
• Closed: Regularly closed every Monday
• Highlights: Charming old-house interior, a neat and warm atmosphere, and kind, speedy service

Recommended dishes I tried myself

Soy sauce buckwheat noodles

The first dish I tried was the soy sauce buckwheat noodles. It was like a special soy sauce noodle dish, very clean overall but full of tangy, nutty flavors. It has the kind of addictive taste I think I’ll keep craving once the weather gets hot or summer arrives.

More than the characteristic snap of buckwheat noodles, these had a lovely chewiness that made every bite fun. The slightly pungent, fresh sprouts paired wonderfully with the noodles, and the fresh geotjeori kimchi (lightly seasoned fresh kimchi) served as a side was crisp and lifted the noodle flavors even further. If you are looking for a distinctive yet neatly prepared bowl of makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) in Chuncheon, I really recommend trying it.

Mala cream sujebi

Buckwheat sujebi (hand-torn dough soup) was unfamiliar to me, so I ordered it out of curiosity. Even people who usually dislike the aroma of mala or do not enjoy mala dishes could not help but like this one—it is that appealing.

The smooth, deep flavor of the cream sauce gently wrapped around mala’s strong aroma, creating a perfect harmony. The chewiness of the buckwheat sujebi, which I was trying for the first time, was truly one of a kind. I added ongsimi, and instead of ordinary potato dumplings, they came as potato ongsimi dumplings with a hearty filling, which felt so different and inventive. There was also plenty of thinly sliced beef brisket in the sujebi; scooping up the rich meat and chewy buckwheat dough together made the savory flavor explode in my mouth... wow~ I want it again already.

Cheese truffle potato pancake, a strongly recommended anju

This dish is the real deal! It costs around ₩12,000, but visually and in sheer quality, it felt like something you would have to pay at least ₩30,000 for at a typical bar these days. The shredded potato pancake, evenly cut into six pieces, was incredibly crisp outside and moist inside—the textbook definition of that perfect contrast.

The crisp shredded potato pancake was generously topped with Grana Padano cheese and salty bacon chips, so the flavor was simply incredible. As soon as it arrived at the table, the deep truffle aroma hit my nose, and I could not think of a better snack for beer. It was easily the best among the potato pancakes and cheese pancakes I have tried so far, and if you normally love deeply flavored, pungent cheeses for drinking snacks, this is an essential order—no question.

My overall take on Hyeondae Memil

The serene, atmospheric old-house-style interior made me feel comfortable throughout the meal. The owner and staff were so kind, and the dishes I ordered came out quickly, which made the visit even more satisfying.

With delicious buckwheat dishes, appealing anju options, and friendly prices all in place, I think I will become a regular and visit often. If you want proper buckwheat dishes along with an atmospheric setting near Namchuncheon Station, I wholeheartedly recommend Hyeondae Memil, a makguksu and buckwheat specialist near Namchuncheon Station!