Buckwheat noodles and pancake as a couple in Bongpyeong: Migayeon

On our way back from a Pyeongchang trip, I agonized over what to eat for lunch and ended up driving all the way to Bongpyeong. Bongpyeong means buckwheat, right? This is the setting of writer Lee Hyo-seok's "When the Buckwheat Flowers Bloom." Coming all the way to buckwheat country and not eating buckwheat would be a shame. I'm a buckwheat lover. So I visited Bongpyeong Memil Migayeon, the pride of Bongpyeong, run by a certified Korean food master.

Bongpyeong Memil Migayeon, a Pyeongchang restaurant in Gangwon 🌾

Location, closing time, and parking at Bongpyeong Memil Migayeon

⚠️ Closing time is early at 5 PM, so don't plan on dinner here! Also, if they run out of the day's prepared ingredients, they may close early — I'd recommend going with some buffer time. Especially on Bongpyeong's five-day market days (the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd, 27th) or weekends and holidays, there can be a wait, so keep that in mind if you're heading over then! There's plenty of parking, so no need to worry about that 🚗 In Pyeongchang you travel mostly by car, so easy parking really matters.

Interior and family-friendly amenities

Walking in, it was bigger than I expected. The tables were spaced generously, so I didn't feel bothered by the next table over. I heard a lot of families with babies come here, and they have high chairs and a non-slip floor, so it seems fine to bring kids too. The bathroom was clean too 👍

I heard this place has long been loved by Pyeongchang locals, and once I visited I understood why. The crowd was a mix of elderly folks, couples, and groups of friends. Basically a spot with universal appeal — great food regardless of age.

Menu and prices at Bongpyeong Memil Migayeon

The menu here is genuinely diverse.

• 80% buckwheat noodle soup (migamyeon) ₩12,000
• 80% buckwheat bibim noodles ₩12,000
• Signature raw beef bibim noodles (80% buckwheat) ₩17,000
• Buckwheat sprout raw beef ₩25,000
• Buckwheat (sprout) boiled pork ₩30,000
• 80% buckwheat bulgogi noodles ₩20,000
• Buckwheat sprout bulgogi bibimbap ₩15,000
• Buckwheat sprout raw beef bibimbap ₩13,000
• Buckwheat sprout mukmuchim (seasoned jelly salad) ₩12,000
• Handmade buckwheat pancake ₩9,000
• Handmade buckwheat crepe ₩9,000
• Buckwheat juice ₩2,000

After some deliberation we ordered: signature raw beef bibim noodles → 80% buckwheat migamyeon → handmade buckwheat pancake → handmade buckwheat crepe. You can also get large portions >.<

Handmade buckwheat pancake, fried the moment you order — ₩9,000

They said they only start frying this once the order comes in. So it arrived piping hot 🔥 On the first bite, the edges were crispy and the inside was moist.

Le·gend·ary buckwheat pancake; it's genuinely delicious. Unlike wheat-flour pancakes, buckwheat pancake has a clean aftertaste that keeps you reaching for more. If you order it while waiting for the noodles, it's perfect for snacking on. Writing about it makes me want to eat it again, ugh.

80% buckwheat raw beef bibim noodles — ₩17,000

"80%" means the noodles are 80% buckwheat and 20% other flour. Store-bought buckwheat noodles can have a low buckwheat content, but these are the real deal.

A generous mound of raw beef sits on top of the buckwheat noodles, and the colors are genuinely pretty. There's a reason this is the signature dish. Because the noodles are 80% buckwheat, the distinct nutty buckwheat flavor really comes through, completely different from plain wheat noodles. We mixed it up and took a bite, and both my husband and I started raving.

The sauce doesn't hit hard — it's not overpowering, so the natural flavor of the raw beef and the buckwheat aroma both come through. If you're looking for a great makguksu (buckwheat noodle) spot in Pyeongchang, this is a must-try.

80% buckwheat migamyeon noodle soup — ₩12,000

If you have mixed noodles, you need soup noodles too 🍜 Migamyeon is buckwheat noodles served in broth, and it turned out to be the real deal. The broth is clean, not overpowering — not sharp or sweet, just the kind of flavor you keep drinking.

Taking a bite of this after the bibim noodles felt like a palate reset, so I was glad we ordered both. The buckwheat noodles themselves are so good that even eating them plain, you can taste the nuttiness.

It's a flavor everyone can enjoy without worry, so it'd be a good dish to bring your parents for too.

Handmade buckwheat crepe — ₩9,000

If you're in Bongpyeong, you have to try the crepe too. It's thin buckwheat batter fried and rolled up with filling inside, with a slight spicy kick, so it's a nice treat when things feel a bit plain. I really want it again.

We ordered both the pancake and the crepe, and the styles are completely different, so there's no overlap at all. If you made me pick just one, I couldn't. Order both.

Delicious thing next to delicious thing next to delicious thing — flavor flavor flavor.

The side dishes here are clean and tasty too. They said the seasoned kelp adds a savory umami boost when eaten with the Migayeon dishes.

So happy right now.

A glass of buckwheat makgeolli too

I couldn't resist, so I ordered the buckwheat makgeolli too. Apparently it won a Korea Alcoholic Beverage Award. But the buckwheat makguksu was also so good, ugh. Everyone should pair the specialty dishes with a nutty makgeolli at least once.

What makes Migayeon special

I heard the owner runs the Bongpyeong Buckwheat Food Culture Research Institute and holds three patents related to buckwheat. He carries titles like Korea's Master Craftsman, Korean Food Master, and World Master — a globally recognized buckwheat cuisine master. It's also apparently become more well-known since chef Edward Lee featured it on tvN. After eating here, I get why he's a master. Not many places explore buckwheat in this many different ways.

And on top of that, the master himself was so, so kind... People in Gangwon-do are all so kind... I've always loved Gangwon-do ~ 🥰

Recommended combo for two

• ✔️ The nutty flavor of 80% buckwheat noodles
• ✔️ Broth that's clean, not overpowering
• ✔️ The signature raw beef bibim noodles — both looks and taste
• ✔️ Warm buckwheat pancake fried right when you order
• ✔️ Plenty of parking + spacious seating
• ✔️ Family-friendly amenities on top of it all

If you're going solo, migamyeon plus one pancake or crepe is enough; for two or more, I recommend the raw beef bibim noodles + migamyeon + pancake combo!

Bongpyeong has plenty of nearby spots — Lee Hyo-seok Culture Village, Heungjeong Valley, Herbnara Farm, Mui Art Museum, Yukbaekmajigi, Odaesan, Balwangsan cable car, Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm — so it's a perfect lunch stop when planning a Pyeongchang trip. It's also close to Phoenix Park Pyeongchang! If you're wondering where to eat in Gangwon-do's Pyeongchang, or looking for a great makguksu restaurant in Pyeongchang, check out Migayeon. Even a Gangneung taxi driver told me I chose well when I mentioned I'd been to Migayeon lol.