Gangnam Chinese restaurant for weekend solo lunch: iced black tea

I was walking around Gangnam Station looking for somewhere to eat lunch alone when this storefront caught my eye — Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon. I'd been curious about beef knife-cut noodles for ages, so I decided to try it for a solo Gangnam lunch. Here's my review of the beef noodles and shaomai.

Where is Namsogwan and what are its hours?

Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon is a Chinese restaurant at 19 Teheran-ro 1-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It's open daily from 11:00 to 22:20 with last order at 22:00, offers takeout and group dining, but there's no parking.

It's a 3-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 11. I came out of the station and headed up the alley toward Jangin Dakgalbi, and it was right there on my right. Since it's in the Gangnam Station restaurant alley, if you're driving you'll need to use a nearby paid parking lot.

Inside Namsogwan: is it comfortable for solo diners?

Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon spans two floors and the interior is spacious. You can even watch dim sum being made right at the entrance. Very tidy and clean.. ✨

Apparently I was the only one who didn't already know about this beef knife-cut noodle spot in Gangnam. When I visited during weekend lunch hours the place was packed.

Even if there's a wait, the turnover is quick for this kind of menu so a seat opened up fast.

The vibe isn't intimidating for solo dining at Gangnam Station either, and in fact there were a lot of people eating alone. I also saw tables clearly here for a Gangnam lunch date, and groups of friends — all kinds of visitors.

What's on the Namsogwan menu?

Namsogwan U Yuk Dosakmyeon's menu has a range of knife-cut noodle types, like Sichuan-style and beef stir-fry. If noodles don't appeal, there's also fried rice and rice bowls to choose from depending on your taste.

There are side dishes to share too, like guobaorou (sweet and sour pork), yurinchi (fried chicken with sauce), and fried eggplant, and if you're here for a solo Chinese lunch at Gangnam Station like I was, there's shaomai and dim sum you can order lightly.

Drinks are varied too — glasses of liquor, soju, beer, and non-alcoholic options like soda, coconut milk, and iced black tea (bing hong cha).

Complimentary side dishes at Namsogwan

Roasted peanuts and zha cai (pickled mustard root) come out together.

Beef knife-cut noodles, 11,000 won: how were they?

At Namsogwan, this Chinese restaurant near Gangnam Station, I ordered beef knife-cut noodles and shaomai for a solo lunch. The owner and staff were all super friendly, so even eating alone I had a genuinely pleasant meal!

I was a bit worried about the beef knife-cut noodles (₩11,000) but there was no off-putting smell — it arrived looking rich and glossy with visible oil.

The noodles are thick and firm, incredibly chewy. The portion was quite generous too. If you're still hungry, there's an option to add a bowl of rice.

The broth has a slightly mild jjajang-like aroma, isn't greasy, and tastes great. The beef is tender and reminds me of braised beef (jangjorim) — this would pair really well with drinks too, so it'd be great for dinner as well.

Is the 9,800-won shaomai worth ordering?

Someone in a review said you have to order the shaomai (₩9,800), so I listened, and.. seriously, order it without question. It's chewy with plump shrimp inside that bites through perfectly — a total win. It's hot, so let it cool a bit before eating.

It pairs so well with the knife-cut noodle broth too, and even eating solo you won't get sick of the richness.. I really wanted a beer but held off since it was daytime.. there's also liquor by the glass on the menu, so if you come for a solo Gangnam Station dinner, it'd be nice for a light drink.

Iced black tea (₩3,000) — it tastes like the familiar iced tea flavor, sweet with a refreshing edge, which was perfect for washing down all that richness with something cool.

Namsogwan solo lunch: the verdict

With its spacious interior, friendly staff, and delicious food, this was a great Chinese restaurant in Gangnam for solo dining. Skip the jjajangmyeon and jjamppong and stop by when you're craving something a bit more special, like dim sum or beef noodles.