Busan noodle shop, ₩1,000 double bibim, thin mandu: Seomyeon Milmyeon

Seomyeon Milmyeon: the basics

Seomyeon Milmyeon (서면밀면) is a milmyeon (Busan-style wheat noodles) restaurant a 5-minute walk from Exit 8 of Seomyeon Station in Busan. It is open daily from 10:30 to 21:30, last order is at 21:00, and reservations are not accepted.

I'd see this sign every time I crossed the old NC Department Store intersection!! I'd always wanted to try it, and with the hot weather making me crave milmyeon, I finally went. It has been in the same spot for a long time, so it has tons of reviews and has been on TV a lot. Let me show you right now whether it lives up to the fame!

Where do you park at Seomyeon Milmyeon?

The dedicated lot is "EOS Parking" (이오스주차장), around to the right of the EOS Plaza building entrance, and it offers 30 minutes of parking support! Check the fee table for going over the time too :)

Weekday evening wait and kiosk ordering

You order in advance at the kiosk on the right as you walk in, then sit down. I went on a weekday evening and there was no wait, so I got straight in. The menu is [mul milmyeon (noodles in cold broth) / bibim milmyeon (spicy mixed noodles) / mandu (dumplings) / extra noodles], a neat, simple lineup of just the basics.

Warm broth and the self-service bar

As soon as you sit down, Seomyeon Milmyeon brings you rich warm broth. It's famous for fast turnover, and maybe that's why the tables were already set the moment I walked in! Then the warm broth came right away, and the deep flavor was totally top-notch 👍🏻👍🏻 Lots of milmyeon places these days don't serve warm broth, which always disappointed me, so I could already feel the fundamentals here haha.

Water is from the purifier right by the entrance! Extra side dishes and plates are free to use at the self-service bar. Everything was kept clean, so I used it without any worries.

Like any famous place, the walls are covered with records of media appearances and celebrity autographs, which was fun to see haha. Looking around only made me more excited for the food!! Eek, I can't wait, I was so hungry...

How was the mul milmyeon at Seomyeon Milmyeon?

The mul milmyeon came out really fast, no waiting at all, with slushy ice floating on top, and the rich, deep savory flavor of the broth was impressive. Just look at that sparkling slushy ice.. it makes your mouth water the second you see it 🤤

Both the mul and bibim milmyeon here are great, so pick whichever you like! Personally, the mul milmyeon was so good that I kept sneaking bites from my boyfriend's bowl..haha The broth's signature deep, savory flavor is no joke. The noodles slurp down along with the broth they soak up, and it was pure bliss.

How much is the double portion at Seomyeon Milmyeon?

The double portion (gopbaegi) at Seomyeon Milmyeon is ₩1,000 extra. It's definitely generous, right? In Seoul I always held back because the double portion price felt steep, so being able to enjoy one for just ₩1,000 here... it feels like a privilege you only get in Busan haha. Big eaters, I'd say go double without question!

Is the mandu at Seomyeon Milmyeon a must-order?

The mandu at Seomyeon Milmyeon has skins so thin you can see through them, yet still chewy, so I recommend ordering it with your milmyeon. Here comes the mandu~~~~🥟 Do they make the wrappers by hand? They're thin enough to see through, but the texture is so chewy... I marveled at the first bite and wolfed them down praising them non-stop ㅠㅠ

If you skip the mandu you will 100% regret it... It's not optional, it's essential! Please, please order it together!!! 🥟🥟🥟♥️♥️♥️

Look at how beautiful these dumplings are.. See the cross-section? The skin is really thin, right? Chewy and delicious, mandu is the best~~

Even my milmyeon-killer boyfriend approved

Seomyeon Milmyeon passed the test of my boyfriend, who eats milmyeon once a week every summer. He turns into a "milmyeon killer" every summer and has to have it at least once a week, you know? If a milmyeon killer approves, that says it all.. 😤

I went to this famous place myself, and the taste and service live up to the reputation. Turnover is quick so the food comes fast, the staff are kind, and above all it's delicious! When the weather heats up and you crave cool milmyeon with slushy ice, run to Seomyeon Milmyeon 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️=333