Gangnam makguksu restaurant, 3mm noodles two ways: Sammiri Makguksu

It's getting chilly morning and night, but at midday I still find myself craving a cool bowl of makguksu (buckwheat noodles in chilled broth). This time I found a spot near Sinsa Station said to serve proper buckwheat makguksu, so I went to check it out — Sammiri Makguksu (삼미리막국수), located in Jamwon-dong.

Where is Sammiri Makguksu? Walking there from Sinsa Station

Sammiri Makguksu is within walking distance of Sinsa Station, which makes it a convenient lunch spot for office workers in the area. If you're looking for a Sinsa Station lunch place and just want a clean, satisfying bowl of noodles, this is a good place to visit.

Sammiri Makguksu is a makguksu specialist that makes its own noodles in-house.

Inside Sammiri Makguksu: interior and solo-diner seats

The restaurant had a clean, tidy atmosphere overall, which I liked.

There were also seats that looked comfortable for eating alone, so it seemed like a good option for anyone looking for a solo dining menu. It seems like a nice place to stop by for makguksu alone during lunch hour too.

What we ordered that day was perilla oil makguksu and spicy mul-makguksu!

Perilla oil makguksu: nutty without feeling heavy

We started with the perilla oil makguksu, the one I'd been most looking forward to.

The first thing I noticed with the very first bite was that nutty perilla oil aroma. The perilla oil scent came through fairly strongly, but it wasn't oily or heavy at all. If anything, it blended well with the clean-tasting buckwheat noodles, and the nutty flavor kept building the more I ate.

What the 3mm house-made buckwheat noodles feel like

What I especially liked was the texture of the noodles themselves! Since they use buckwheat noodles cut at 3mm thickness, the texture was a bit different from typical makguksu noodles right from the start. Maybe because they're house-made, the noodles had just the right springiness while still carrying that distinct buckwheat flavor. It wasn't a style where the seasoning drowns out the noodles — instead you get to enjoy the nuttiness of the perilla oil together with the taste of the buckwheat noodles, so anyone who prefers a milder, less intense makguksu will probably love this one.

And as you keep eating, every now and then you get a little pop of crunch — it's a subtle but delightful surprise. That crisp buckwheat texture stood out, and having it mixed in among the soft, chewy noodles made eating it more fun.

How does the spicy mul-makguksu taste?

If the perilla oil makguksu is on the nutty, mild side, the spicy mul-makguksu had a completely different charm.

True to its name, the broth is sharp and spicy from the first sip, but it's not just aggressively hot — it's more like a refreshing broth with spiciness layered on top. Slurping the buckwheat noodles down with the cold broth left my mouth feeling clean and refreshed!

What to order when two people visit

The spicy broth and the springy buckwheat noodles turned out to be a really good match. Eating the perilla oil makguksu and then taking a sip of the spicy mul-makguksu broth in between, the nuttiness and the spiciness alternated back and forth — I was glad we'd ordered both. If two of you are visiting, I'd personally recommend ordering one perilla oil makguksu and one spicy mul-makguksu to share. One is mild and nutty, the other is cold and sharp, so the flavor directions are clearly different. Even though they're both makguksu, the completely different appeal meant we never got tired of it and could eat through to the end.

Overall, Sammiri Makguksu left a strong impression as a place that really brings out the flavor and texture of the buckwheat noodles themselves, the nutty richness of the perilla oil, and the taste of the broth, rather than relying on strong seasoning. If you're someone who loves makguksu and goes out of your way to try different spots, this is a Gangnam makguksu restaurant worth visiting at least once. Especially recommended if you like perilla oil makguksu! It's nutty without being overly heavy, and the occasional crunchy bite of buckwheat kept the bowl from feeling monotonous.

If you're trying to decide on lunch near Sinsa Station or looking for a makguksu restaurant in Sinsa-dong, Sammiri Makguksu is worth remembering. It's not intimidating to eat alone, and the clean menu made it a good fit for a Sinsa Station lunch spot.

Sammiri Makguksu / 48-39 Gangnam-daero 95-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul (1st floor)

If you're craving something nutty, go for the perilla oil makguksu; if you want something sharp and cooling, go for the spicy mul-makguksu! If you're curious about both, like I was, I'd recommend ordering one each with a companion and trying them together. If you're searching for a Gangnam makguksu restaurant and want a day where you really taste the buckwheat, give Sammiri Makguksu a visit :)