Third-generation naengmyeon since 1973 in Pyeongtaek: Seoul Myeonok

I suddenly wanted naengmyeon on a weekend morning, so I headed to Seoul Myeonok near Pyeongtaek Station. Being right next to the station made it super convenient location-wise. I'd seen this place come up a few times while looking for naengmyeon spots around Pyeongtaek, and since it's supposed to be an old, established shop, I was curious.

What kind of restaurant is Seoul Myeonok?

Seoul Myeonok opened in 1973 and is apparently being run by the third generation now. There are plenty of newly opened trendy restaurants these days, but hearing that a place has been operating in the same spot for this long made me even more curious.

Can you get a table at Seoul Myeonok on a weekend morning?

We got there a bit early in the morning. But there were way more people than I expected. I figured it would be quiet in the morning, but there were already plenty of people eating, and more kept coming in. Luckily we got seated right away. Looking around the restaurant, there were a lot of families — from elderly folks to families with young kids.

Seeing that they had a Catch Table kiosk set up made me think this must be a busy place on a regular basis too.

The order: pyongyang naengmyeon, bibim naengmyeon and pork belly suyuk

After thinking about what to eat, we ended up ordering pyongyang naengmyeon, bibim naengmyeon, and domestic pork belly suyuk (boiled pork) that day.

How the bibim naengmyeon tastes

The bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles) sauce wasn't overly spicy or harsh — just moderately spicy with a nutty flavor. The seasoning sauce itself was really good. Once I mixed it evenly through the noodles, my chopsticks kept going back for more, more than I expected. Personally I thought the pyongyang naengmyeon was good too, but the bibim naengmyeon was pretty delicious as well this time.

Seoul Myeonok's pyongyang naengmyeon broth and noodles

They say the pyongyang naengmyeon broth is made with beef and dongchimi (watery radish kimchi), and the noodles are made in-house. I tried the broth first, and it was cleaner and more refreshing than I expected. It had that mild, subtle flavor characteristic of pyongyang naengmyeon, so it's not a noodle dish with a strong taste right from the start. Personally I prefer this kind of clean broth over more intense-flavored naengmyeon, so I liked it. The noodles are also made in-house, and they had just the right chewiness, pairing well with the broth.

Domestic pork belly suyuk at Seoul Myeonok

Eating naengmyeon alone felt a bit lacking, so we ordered suyuk too, and it went really well together. Being domestic pork belly, the meat was fairly tender and light. A bite of suyuk followed by a sip of naengmyeon broth made a great combo. If we'd only had naengmyeon, it would've felt a little bit short — glad we ordered this too.

What to order at Seoul Myeonok next time

While eating, I glanced around at other tables and noticed a surprising number of people ordering wang mandu (large dumplings) and bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes). We only ordered naengmyeon and suyuk this time, but watching the table next to us eat wang mandu made me want to try it too, haha. Next time I come back, I'll have to order wang mandu or bindaetteok as well.

Is Seoul Myeonok worth a trip to Pyeongtaek Station?

Overall the restaurant is fairly spacious and clean, so it seemed like a good spot to bring the family. And being right next to Pyeongtaek Station made it easy to eat and head off afterward. Maybe because it's such an old place, it didn't feel like a flashily decorated hotspot but more like a place that has simply been making naengmyeon for a long time. Learning afterward that it's been running since 1973 and is now on its third generation made the meal feel a bit different in hindsight. Seeing so many people come in on a weekend morning, I could somewhat understand why it's been loved for so long.

If you're near Pyeongtaek Station searching for a naengmyeon restaurant, Seoul Myeonok seems worth a visit. We only tried the pyongyang naengmyeon, bibim naengmyeon, and suyuk this time, but next time we're adding wang mandu and bindaetteok to the list! Starting a weekend morning with a bowl of naengmyeon ended up being more filling than I expected — a solid way to kick off the day.

• Seoul Myeonok / 12 Pyeongtaek-ro 57beon-gil, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours 11:30 – 20:30
• Break time 16:00 – 17:00
• Use Pyeongtaek-dong public parking lot, 90 minutes free