Namchuncheon noodle spot, 6 groups ahead on a weekend: Hyeondae Memil

If you want to enjoy Chuncheon makguksu in a different way, try Hyeondae Memil.

A Chuncheon regular takes her partner to Hyeondae Memil

I live in Chuncheon and have already been to Hyeondae Memil several times. It's so famous that I go often, but this time my partner asked, "Is it really that good?" so I took them along 🤣 I ordered nothing but my absolute favorites.

Hyeondae Memil location, hours and parking

• Address: 29-1 Namchun-ro 5beon-gil, 1st floor, Chuncheon, Gangwon, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00–20:30 (break 15:00–17:00 / last order 20:00)
• Parking: in front of the restaurant and in nearby alleys

Hyeondae Memil is in an alley near Namchuncheon Station. The hanok-style (traditional Korean house) exterior and green sign stand out, so it's not hard to find! I took a photo of the outside on my way out after eating, and at night the lighting makes it feel extra atmospheric ✨

How long is the weekend dinner wait at Hyeondae Memil?

When I got to Hyeondae Memil around 7 pm on a weekend, there were 6 teams ahead of us, and I actually waited about 25–30 minutes. Honestly, days with no wait seem rarer than days with one.

You register your number at the waiting machine in front of the entrance and get a KakaoTalk notification, so waiting is comfortable. The estimated wait showed 18 minutes, but in reality it was about 25–30 minutes.

Still, the outdoor terrace is nicely done, so it was less boring than I expected. Plenty of people were waiting, and people-watching made the 30 minutes fly by! Yes, a true Chuncheon landmark restaurant... 👍🏻 There's usually a wait on weekend evenings and at lunch peak, so I'd recommend allowing some extra time 😊

The hanok interior of Hyeondae Memil

Step inside Hyeondae Memil and you feel the warm atmosphere of an old hanok left as it was.

The wooden pillars, warm lighting and little props here and there make the mood really lovely. Lots of couples come for dates and plenty of families too, and the space is big enough that you can eat without feeling cramped. The restrooms are clean and separated by gender, and there are high chairs too!

The regular's fixed order: soy sauce makguksu, truffle potato pancake, mala cream sujebi

• Soy sauce makguksu ₩8,600
• Truffle potato pancake ₩16,600
• Buckwheat mala cream sujebi ₩13,600

This is almost always my order when I come to Hyeondae Memil 😆 (plus beer this time)

Soy sauce makguksu (₩8,600)

The soy sauce makguksu is a must-eat whenever you come to Hyeondae Memil! I fell completely in love after one bite.

The special soy sauce is sweet and tangy yet deeply savory, so your chopsticks keep going back for more. Eaten with the generous pile of sprouts on top, the crunch makes it even better.

It has a charm totally different from regular makguksu, so I'd really recommend it to anyone visiting Chuncheon. My partner took one bite and said, "Why did you only bring me here now?" 🤣 (Sorry..)

Truffle potato pancake (₩16,600)

The truffle potato pancake is a dish I enjoy even though I find truffle flavor overwhelming!

Every time I eat it, I think: so a potato pancake can be this sophisticated.

Cheese is piled generously on the crispy pancake and the truffle aroma spreads subtly, and the combination is honestly crazy good. Crispy outside, moist inside. Every piece you pick up bursts with nutty flavor.

It's great as a drinking snack, and paired with the makguksu it's the best! Honestly, I bet a lot of people come to Hyeondae Memil just for the truffle potato pancake 🤍 (me included.. haha)

Buckwheat mala cream sujebi (₩13,600)

The buckwheat mala cream sujebi (hand-torn dough soup) is the dish I'm obsessed with lately! A thick cream sauce with a subtle mala (numbing-spicy) flavor, and the mala is less intense than you'd expect, so anyone can enjoy it.

The chewy sujebi goes really well with the rich sauce, and it's loaded with mushrooms, so the flavor is fantastic. Mala lovers will enjoy it, and even people who normally can't handle mala can eat it without trouble. It's the kind of dish where you end up scraping up every last bit of sauce 🤣

Gargle after the meal and potato bread malangi

Hyeondae Memil has gargle ready for after your meal, and they even sell cute potato bread malangi (squishy toys). I don't think they had malangi until recently, so is the owner jumping on the malangi trend...??

Is Hyeondae Memil worth the weekend wait?

Hyeondae Memil is famous as a Chuncheon favorite for good reason. The modern takes on makguksu are really appealing, and the soy sauce makguksu and truffle potato pancake never fail me, whenever I eat them 😊 There's usually a wait on weekends, but it was a Namchuncheon Station restaurant where the time spent waiting didn't feel wasted! If you want to enjoy Chuncheon makguksu in a different way, I recommend Hyeondae Memil :)