Wonju family restaurant by Munmak IC with baby chairs: Singi jjukkumi

Our family's travel cooldown was up, so off we went again! We'd just been to Pyeongchang not long ago but we were headed back haha. On the way, passing through Wonju, I was wondering if there was a good place to eat, and I found a restaurant that was perfect for a stop on the road.

Where is Singi Arrowroot Naengmyeon & Jjukkumi, and what are its hours?

Singi Arrowroot Naengmyeon & Jjukkumi (신기칡냉면&쭈꾸미) is a jjukkumi and arrowroot naengmyeon (chilled buckwheat-arrowroot noodles) restaurant on Yeowon-ro in Munmak-eup, Wonju, and it's visible right as you exit Munmak IC. Hours are as follows.

• Mon–Fri 11:00–21:00 / break time 15:00–17:00 / last order 20:30
• Sat–Sun 11:00–21:00 / last order 20:30

The location, right as you exit Munmak IC, makes it really convenient to stop by on the way to a trip. And it's just as great for heading back out to another area after eating! There's also plenty to see nearby, like Ganhyeon Resort, Oak Valley, and the Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge, so it was an ideal spot for travelers.

Parking, group tables and baby chairs at Singi

Parking is fairly generous, though when I visited for weekend lunch it was completely full. That's the mark of a popular restaurant, haha!

Even though we went for a late lunch, the place was packed! There were so many people I couldn't get a photo, but on the other side there were several group tables that could seat around 8 people, good for group gatherings. This place is famous both as a Munmak IC restaurant and as a group dining spot in Wonju — I think the easy access and the spacious tables inside play a big part in that!

There were also several baby chairs available, so it's good for visiting as a family.

Kiosk ordering: jjukkumi spice levels and the no-cucumber option

At Singi Arrowroot Naengmyeon & Jjukkumi you order at a kiosk, and I liked that you could choose a spice level for the jjukkumi and there were various options for the naengmyeon too. Adjustable spice is a real blessing for someone with low spice tolerance like me, haha! I especially loved that you could ask for no cucumber in the naengmyeon (I'm a cucumber-hater) — that kind of attention to detail is wonderful.

Each table had a tip sheet on how to eat the jjukkumi deliciously, so we didn't have to think about how to combine the side dishes ourselves haha. We just got to enjoy the combination the eating experts had already figured out for us!

The self-serve extra side dish station was set up so cleanly and neatly that it was reassuring.

Flying fish roe rice ball, side dishes and the free mukbap

We ordered the flying fish roe rice ball (4,000 won) to share with the baby — the sweet-and-salty combo we all know was so well balanced, and the baby loved it and ate it right up.

Then came the side dishes! Perilla leaves, bean sprouts, seaweed, mayonnaise, pickled radish, radish wraps, shredded radish, and more — but the mayonnaise wasn't just plain mayo, it was garlic mayo!! It was seriously delicious. Even the pickled radish was loaded with flying fish roe, and you could really feel that they didn't skimp on ingredients.

The basic mukbap (acorn jelly soup) that comes included! Refreshing and a really generous portion. It was packed with kimchi too, crisp and tangy — honestly it could've been sold as its own menu item. Big portion, but the flavor was the real star!

Bibim naengmyeon for 10,000 won: how chewy are the arrowroot noodles?

Bibim naengmyeon (10,000 won)

It had been a really long time since I'd had arrowroot naengmyeon, and this was the real deal — properly chewy noodles. The broth that came with it was also delicious, and the naengmyeon's savory depth was amazing. The noodle texture was the best!

Jjuk-sam-sae for two at 36,000 won: portion and shrimp size

Next came the 2-person jjuk-sam-sae (36,000 won) — jjuk-sam-sae is a combination of jjukkumi + pork belly + shrimp. They give you 2 bowls of rice!

Wow, the portion was seriously, seriously huge.

The shrimp in particular were really big and delicious!!! Following the eating method written on the table — layering perilla leaves and radish wrap with mayo and pickled radish — made it truly, truly delicious.

Drizzling sesame oil over the rice and mixing in the mayo made it amazing too, haha. The jjukkumi quality was great and the shrimp were super satisfying! Both the jjukkumi and shrimp were chewy and plump, with really lively texture.

Is Singi worth a family stop on a road trip through Munmak IC?

True to its reputation as a Munmak IC restaurant, it was really great to stop by on the way to a trip destination. Recommended if you're looking for a restaurant near Oak Valley! With convenient parking and a spacious dining room, this also seems like a good choice if you're looking for a group dining spot in Wonju.