Chuncheon restaurant for mala cream dough soup: Hyeondae Memil

Hyeondae Memil near Namchuncheon Station: location and parking

Hyeondae Memil (현대메밀) is about 400 m from Exit 2 of Namchuncheon Station, so it is easy to visit on foot. Hours are 11:00–20:30, with a break from 15:00–17:00. You can park in front of the restaurant or use the walking-access parking area beside the commercial building.

Hyeondae Memil is honestly a place I always want to take friends to for one meal when they come from out of town! Haha. It is not simply somewhere you pop in for one bowl of makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles). Its exterior reinterprets an old Korean house in a modern way, and its fusion buckwheat dishes earn rave reviews from everyone I bring along, haha.

The little white dog welcomes you, haha.

The warm charm of an old house with a hip interior

Inside, too, there are wood-toned tables and the distinctive feel of an old house. Rather than overly glossy or artificially styled, it feels cozy and familiar. Yet the little objects give it a hip vibe!! And the staff are incredibly kind. Feeling goooood!!! >_<♥

The retro, warm, and hip atmosphere somehow gets you excited for the food ;D

Hyeondae Memil menu and what we ordered

There are so many dishes using buckwheat. Distinctive from the very start, right??

• Bibim makguksu ₩8,600
• Soy sauce makguksu ₩8,600
• Salted octopus roe makguksu ₩9,600
• Buckwheat mala cream sujebi ₩13,600
• Truffle potato pancake ₩16,600
• Buckwheat jumbo dumplings ₩8,600
• Buckwheat jeonbyeong ₩8,600
• Sous-vide beef tenderloin boiled pork ₩20,600
• Sous-vide whole pork belly ₩21,600

I wanted to eat everything ㅠㅠ But we ordered bibim makguksu, mala cream buckwheat sujebi, truffle potato pancake, and ongsimi! ><♥ They even provide plenty of small sharing plates and hair ties!! Owner... the attention to detail....!!!!!

Sweet-and-tangy bibim makguksu

Bibim makguksu ₩8,600

The bibim makguksu came out first! It was seriously sweet and tangy!! The seasoning was not heavy or merely aggressively spicy; its bright sourness really woke up my appetite. Don’t think of jjolmyeon. It is on a completely different level from jjolmyeon seasoning. For anyone who tried Chuncheon makguksu and thought, “Huh? It’s mild,” haha—this is it, right here!! Makguksu with a flavor that is different again from Seoul’s!!

The noodles were wonderfully springy too, so slurping them up gave my appetite a proper buff upgrade!! Haha. They are especially generous with the vegetables, so it never feels as though you are only eating noodles; eating them with the crisp vegetables gives a great texture and keeps it from becoming tiring to the last bite. One reason I love Hyeondae Memil is that it uses vegetables so generously throughout the food. Even with one bowl, it feels like you are eating a variety of things together, making the flavors much more varied.

The must-order mala cream buckwheat sujebi

Buckwheat mala cream sujebi ₩13,600

This dish.... you absolutely have to order it ㅠㅠ It was my number-one pick of this visit!! I want it again even now!!!!!

The soft, thick cream sauce has mala’s tingly spice, but it is not the kind that is so intense it numbs your tongue. The cream gently balances everything out, making you keep reaching for another spoonful.

And another very Hyeondae Memil touch: it is buckwheat sujebi, not ordinary wheat-flour dough soup! My husband tried it, let out an enormous sound of delight, and practically buried his nose in the bowl. If I had to recommend just one thing to a first-time visitor to Hyeondae Memil, I think I would truly choose this. Big chunks of vegetables, plop! Texture: nice~~~~♥

Crispy truffle potato pancake and ongsimi

Truffle potato pancake ₩16,600

This is a little different from the thick, chewy potato pancake we usually imagine. Thinly spread shredded potato is cooked until crisp, then topped with cheese and truffle flavor, so it looks quite unusual from the outset. Do you like the edges of potato pancakes?? >< I totally recommend it to anyone who loves a crispy texture!

It is fun to pull off and eat the crisp edges, and eating it with the toppings dotted throughout makes it feel much more unique than a typical potato pancake. Personally, if you feel it needs a little more seasoning, you can ask the staff for soy sauce to have alongside it.

Ongsimi ₩2,000

Hehe, it comes with three meat ones and three kimchi ones—aren’t they so cute? Hahaha. The price is easy on the wallet too, making it perfect to add as a side. It is good on its own, but try dropping it into the mala cream buckwheat sujebi sauce. They go so well together, haha. Everyone, don’t just leave that mala cream sauce behind because some is left... the ongsimi are waiting for it 🤣

On your way out, there is even Febreze, mouthwash, and mint candies..?? The owner’s thoughtfulness makes you feel good right up to the moment you leave Hyeondae Memil.

The restroom is also inside the restaurant, very clean, and separated for men and women. Another plus!!

Why I recommend everything from makguksu to fusion buckwheat dishes

Hyeondae Memil has many buckwheat-based dishes and uses a considerable amount of vegetables, so I felt comfortably light even after the meal. That is why I do not recommend Hyeondae Memil simply as a “great Chuncheon makguksu spot.”

It is great for bringing parents who love makguksu, coming with friends who like unusual things such as mala cream and truffle, or visiting as a Chuncheon restaurant date course with your partner. It really suits a wide range of ages. Especially if you bring your mom and spread out one bibim makguksu, one mala cream buckwheat sujebi, and one truffle potato pancake... praise, praise~~~ haha.

As someone who lives in Chuncheon, if somebody asks, “Where should I eat when I go to Chuncheon?” I want to recommend somewhere that presents Chuncheon-style buckwheat in a slightly different way rather than a place with only the usual dishes. I was satisfied when I came with friends and paid my own way before, and it was just as delicious when I returned this time. If you are planning a Chuncheon trip this fall, do not leave after eating only makguksu—please try the mala cream buckwheat sujebi and truffle potato pancake at Hyeondae Memil too. 🤍