Jongno noodle house: pine nut tofu vs perilla oil makguksu, Goshine
In short
Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch is a makguksu (buckwheat noodle) restaurant on Insadong 12-gil in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and a branch of the original shop in Gangneung. After a craving for kongguksu (cold soy milk noodles) led to a search, the writer found the pine nut soft tofu makguksu and ordered it with perilla oil makguksu (served with a separate broth), spicy pork buckwheat gimbap and a half-and-half buckwheat pancake platter. The rich, gently pine-nutty tofu broth was good, but the bolder perilla oil makguksu was the favourite.
Good to know
- What we ordered
- Perilla oil makguksu, pine nut soft tofu makguksu, spicy pork buckwheat gimbap, half-and-half buckwheat pancakes
- How perilla oil makguksu is served
- Broth comes separately in a kettle; pour it in to eat it like cold noodle soup
- Sides
- Buckwheat gimbap and buckwheat pancakes; buckwheat gimbap available for takeout
- Side dishes
- Free refills on the basic side dishes; the onion in soy sauce is recommended
- Location
- 1F, 3 Insadong 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
as written by the visitor on Aug 7, 2026
Pine nut noodles — my first time trying this??
Why I went to Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch near Anguk Station
I was craving kongguksu (cold soybean noodle soup) and while searching for it online I discovered they had a pine nut soft tofu makguksu, so I headed to Goshine Donghae Makguksu Jongno branch, a well-known spot near Anguk Station. This place has its original branch in Gangneung, Gangwon-do, and it recreates that deep local flavor right in the middle of Seoul, which is why people keep coming back. Apparently it's already famous in Gangneung. It kind of soothed my longing for a Gangneung trip haha.
Insa-dong location vibe and seating
The Insa-dong branch of Goshine Donghae Makguksu has a distinctly Korean look from the outside, which made it popular with foreign tourists too. Inside there were tons of tables, and while many of the staff were foreign, there was zero communication issue and they were all kind. The seats were comfortable and it wasn't too noisy, so I could eat in peace.
Menu lineup and the basic side dishes
This Anguk Station restaurant really had a diverse menu — besides makguksu there were sides like buckwheat gimbap and buckwheat pancake to pair with it, so you could enjoy a variety of flavors. The basic banchan (side dishes) were genuinely delicious too, I kept refilling them. The onion soy sauce especially was insane.
What I ordered was perilla oil makguksu, pine nut soft tofu makguksu, spicy pork buckwheat gimbap and half-and-half buckwheat pancake. A seriously hearty spread haha. After eating all that I was completely full...
How does the pine nut soft tofu makguksu taste? Looks like kongguksu, smells of pine nuts
Pine nut soft tofu makguksu
First, the pine nut soft tofu makguksu looks exactly like kongguksu, but the broth was incredibly rich with a subtle pine nut fragrance, making it even nuttier and more flavorful — genuinely delicious. This was my first time trying pine nut noodles, and the nuttiness is oddly addictive — it's a flavor you keep thinking about. I could taste its deep richness even without adding any seasoning. If you're looking for something unusual, this stood out clearly among Insa-dong's makguksu options.
The broth is so rich and thick!! It pairs really well with the buckwheat noodles too.
Perilla oil makguksu, enjoyed two ways by pouring in the broth
Perilla oil makguksu, which also comes with broth served separately
A menu you can enjoy in two different ways!!
In contrast, the perilla oil makguksu was a bolder, punchier kind of delicious — the sweet-salty flavor, the nuttiness of the perilla oil, and the savoriness of the seasoned laver all came together in perfect harmony, making it very addictive. The noodles were chewy too, and at the end I poured in the broth to enjoy it like a cold noodle soup — a refreshing broth with a hint of katsuobushi (bonito flakes) that turned it into something like a flavorful naengmyeon-style cold buckwheat noodle. It was delicious plain, and just as delicious with the broth poured in. The broth had incredible umami and matched so well, it surprised me. The pine nut soft tofu makguksu was plenty delicious, but the perilla oil makguksu was punchier, so next time I visit this Anguk Station spot I think I'll go for the perilla oil makguksu. I really enjoyed it. I ended up stealing all of my boyfriend's portion too haha.
They serve it separately in a little kettle like this — at first I thought it might be barley tea haha. A gentle whiff of katsuobushi, similar vibe to cold soba broth.
The broth has such deep umami that I kept spooning it up... slurp.
Sides: spicy pork buckwheat gimbap and half-and-half buckwheat pancake
Spicy pork buckwheat gimbap
For a side I ordered the spicy pork buckwheat gimbap, which came generously topped and had a slight charred flavor to the pork. It had a nice kick of spice that went well alongside the makguksu, and apparently it's available for takeout too.
The half-and-half buckwheat pancake came sliced into bite-sized pieces, with a chewy wrapper, and switching between the two halves kept it from getting boring — it was delicious. It seemed like a menu that would pair well with dongdongju (milky rice wine) too, and it really made me feel the charm of an Insa-dong makguksu specialty restaurant. Overall, this meal at an Anguk Station restaurant, with its unusual makguksu and varied sides, was very satisfying.
Overall thoughts
Naengmyeon and cold soba are common enough dishes, but a lot of the menu items here at Goshine Donghae Makguksu were ones you don't often come across!!! It seems like a lot of foreign tourists come here, but it's a fascinating spot for Koreans too haha. Thanks to the varied menu and excellent flavors, this meal at an Anguk Station restaurant was overall very satisfying!! If you want to enjoy some cool makguksu during the hot summer, why not stop by? ><
Where it is
1F, 3 Insadong 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 종로구 인사동12길 3 1층
