Namyangju seafood noodle restaurant for two: Gojip Tongmuneo

The weather has suddenly become quite cool. At times like this, even when I am deciding what to have for lunch, I find myself leaning toward something with a hot broth.

A hot lunch that came to mind in Byeollae, Namyangju

While my wife and I were talking about what to eat, a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) place we had enjoyed before came to mind. Maybe because I had been there once, I immediately thought of the pot topped with a huge octopus. We did not have to go far for lunch: Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu Byeollae Byeolgaram Station Branch (고집통문어칼국수 별내별가람역점).

One reason I remember this place as a great restaurant in Byeollae, Namyangju is the order in which you eat it. You enjoy the octopus and clams first, then add the noodles at the end. One pot feels like it fills the whole table, so it was also nice for the two of us to sit down and take our time over the meal.

There is parking available, which made it convenient to drive there too.

There was a wait even at weekday lunch

This time, though, there were more diners. There was a wait even though it was weekday lunchtime. Perhaps it was the kind of weather that makes you crave broth; I imagine quite a few people came with the same thought as us. If you visit for lunch, it is best to keep in mind that you may have to wait.

Ordering the small whole-octopus kalguksu and fried cuttlefish

That day, we ordered the small whole-octopus kalguksu and fried cuttlefish. Since there were two of us, kalguksu alone would have been enough, but we simply could not resist wanting fried food too.

The geotjeori (freshly seasoned kimchi) we tried while waiting also went very well with the kalguksu. It was crisp and spicy, and it slowly got our appetites going. According to the restaurant, it is made in-house every day. Those who make sure to have kimchi first with kalguksu will be happy about that too.

A pot where you pick out the octopus and clams first

Then the pot arrived, and of course the whole octopus in the center caught my eye. Even the small size was quite generous with ingredients.

There were plenty of clams and seafood beneath the octopus, making for a filling spread just to look at. It was the kind of presentation that makes you want to take a photo. Personally, the amount of ingredients is exactly why I felt it was good value.

With large pieces of octopus as well as clams, I felt it was plentiful as I picked them out one by one. I was also happy that kalguksu would follow afterward.

We cut the octopus into bite-size pieces and tried it. Having it served whole looks great, but what really matters is the texture when you chew it, right? It was not overly tough and had just the right chew, so every piece was delicious.

The reason I had been pleased on my previous visit came right back to me this time. The restaurant says it uses fresh, never-frozen shellfish. As I picked out the seafood one piece at a time, it felt as though I was eating a full seafood dish before the kalguksu noodles even went in.

Seafood broth that comes together as it boils

As the broth boiled, the seafood flavors came together even more. The hot broth had a clean, refreshing taste, and I thought we had chosen well for the day’s meal.

I liked alternating between the seafood and spoonfuls of broth. A hot pot that might have made me hesitate during warmer weather now feels especially welcome in this season.

With crispy fried cuttlefish on the side

We cannot leave out the fried cuttlefish we ordered alongside it. It was crispy outside and springy inside, making it a nice bite between the kalguksu. The house special sauce served with it was especially good. Its flavor added another layer of fun to the nutty richness of the fried coating.

Kalguksu noodles added after the seafood

I was glad my wife and I had come together. I think we would have felt a little disappointed if we had chosen just one item. Once we had eaten a fair amount of the seafood, we added the noodles we had been waiting for.

The restaurant says it makes its noodles with frozen-aged dough. Cooked in the broth steeped with seafood flavor, the chewy noodles were another pleasure.

Add a piece of geotjeori on top, and I hardly thought about any other side dishes. After octopus, clams, fried food, and kalguksu, we had a very filling lunch.

If you are craving something hot in cool weather, seafood kalguksu like this could be a good choice. It works well for lunch for two like us, or for a family to gather around one pot and enjoy a leisurely meal. Still, since it draws plenty of diners even on weekdays, allow a little extra time for your meal.