Pyeongtaek naengmyeon restaurant with a CatchTable wait: Seoul Myeonok

Honestly, when I said I was going to eat pyongyang naengmyeon, I felt worried before anything else. I'd heard so many jokes from people around me about how beginners can't even tell what they're tasting with pyongyang naengmyeon. So feeling a little tense, I thought about where to go and ended up at Seoul Myeonok in Pyeongtaek, a place that's apparently been running for three generations.

Seoul Myeonok at a glance: hours, address and quick verdict

• Name: Seoul Myeonok
• Address: 55-24 Pyeongtaek-dong, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (17918)
• Hours: Daily 11:30–20:00 / Break time 15:00–16:00 / Last order 19:30
• Parking: 2–3 spots in front of the store, paid public parking in Pyeongtaek-dong

• 1️⃣ Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) that even beginners can fully adapt to 🍜
• 2️⃣ Rich, deep-broth galbitang with three ribs 🍲
• 3️⃣ Melt-in-your-mouth suyuk, a personal favorite 🥩

The old-school storefront by Pyeongtaek Station and where to park

Seoul Myeonok sits right in front of Pyeongtaek Station, which makes it really convenient for visitors too. The exterior gave off that feeling of an old-school Pyeongtaek restaurant that's held its ground unchanged for years. Parking felt a bit tight, with room for only about 2–3 cars in front. If you can't park there, there's a public parking lot in Pyeongtaek-dong about a 5-minute walk away. (No sponsorship for parking.)

How long is the wait at Seoul Myeonok on a weekday at 1pm?

I visited around 1pm on a weekday and there were so many customers that I had to wait. Being a famous naengmyeon spot, it was packed even on a weekday. But since it's noodles, turnover was quick, so I only waited about 10 minutes.

I registered on CatchTable and there was also seating available for waiting, so I sat and waited there. On such a hot day, it was great that the waiting area was indoors, so I could wait somewhere cool.

Seoul Myeonok menu and what to order near Pyeongtaek Station

Since this was my first attempt at pyongyang naengmyeon, jumping straight into the plain water-broth version felt too risky. So I played it safe and ordered pyongyang bibim naengmyeon, galbitang, and domestic suyuk.

The side dishes came out simply — diced radish kimchi (kkakdugi), napa cabbage kimchi, radish wraps (musaem), dried radish strips, and spicy pollack salad.

Pyongyang bibim naengmyeon: the sauce that makes the bowl

When you order pyongyang bibim naengmyeon at Seoul Myeonok, it comes with a broth full of shaved ice on the side. There was a generous amount of meat too, and honestly, the seasoning sauce was insane.

There was such a deep savory flavor spreading through my mouth that even though I'm not great at slurping noodles properly, I ended up scraping every bit of the sauce with a spoon.

Usually I eat a ton of carbs but get tired of noodle dishes quickly, so I rarely finish them. But that day, I completely emptied the bowl at this naengmyeon spot near Pyeongtaek Station. It had a charm that could pull in even a first-timer without any resistance.

Galbitang with three short ribs

Since eating just naengmyeon felt like it might leave me wanting something warm, I also ordered galbitang. The earthenware bowl had about three solid ribs in it.

Taking a spoonful, the broth had a clearly rich, deeply simmered flavor. Naengmyeon was actually the menu I was most looking forward to that day, but the galbitang turned out more satisfying than expected.

I especially thought this would be a great place for families to visit — rather than everyone just having their own naengmyeon, ordering galbitang or other dishes to share would work really well.

Half plate of domestic suyuk, the best dish of the day

Out of everything I ate that day — and the bibim naengmyeon was really delicious too — my personal favorite was the suyuk. The moment I took a bite, my friend and I looked at each other with wide eyes at the same time.

It was so tender that 'melts in your mouth' didn't feel like an exaggeration, and instead of any gaminess, it was full of nutty, savory flavor. I kept wondering which part they used and how long they simmered it to get something this soft and delicious. I came for naengmyeon near Pyeongtaek Station and left completely won over by the suyuk.

Usually, when you think of a naengmyeon specialty restaurant, naengmyeon is the first thing that comes to mind. But for me, Seoul Myeonok was a place where the naengmyeon was great, but the suyuk was equally, if not more, memorable.

Final verdict on Seoul Myeonok

After eating at Seoul Myeonok, I understood why it's been around for so long. Walking out after the meal, I genuinely thought — why didn't I know about this place sooner? If you're like me, still new to pyongyang naengmyeon, or looking for a genuine local favorite in Pyeongtaek, I'd recommend giving Seoul Myeonok a visit.