Gangneung Namhangjin lunch: pollack sashimi makguksu with baby seating

🌸Gangneung dongchimi makguksu spot🌸 Samgyori Dongchimi Makguksu Namhangjin branch

On the morning of the last day of our Sokcho + Gangneung trip, we left our lodging for a late lunch. My partner had gotten a recommendation for a makguksu place that happened to be close by! Lucky — Samgyori Dongchimi Makguksu Namhangjin branch.

A café-like exterior with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the sea

Is this a café or a makguksu restaurant?! It's such a pretty place for noodles, haha. Seeing the brick building on the ground floor near the sea, with huge glass windows, I figured we'd get to eat refreshing makguksu while looking out at the sea and sky.

The exterior looks like a beachside café, and the inside opens up nicely to the outdoors. There's also a big parking area in front, so no hassle with parking — good, good.

Baby chairs made it easy with our little one

The inside was as clean as the exterior, with paintings on the walls — more like a pretty, tidy café than a noodle shop, and it gave a good vibe even before we sat down. Baby chairs were ready, so our little dumpling sat quietly — looking around carefully, like she was deciding between dongchimi makguksu and pollack sashimi makguksu? When will my baby grow up so we can eat together, haha.

The menu and how to eat makguksu the tasty way

Samgyori Dongchimi Makguksu's base menu is dongchimi makguksu, with pollack sashimi or seasoned sauce added for pollack sashimi makguksu and bibim makguksu. I read the instructions on how to enjoy makguksu carefully — even for the sashimi version, you pour in dongchimi first, then add sauce and perilla oil, mix it up, and dig in (homework done!).

Dongchimi broth comes standard with the makguksu dishes — of course, since it's a dongchimi makguksu place! On my partner's recommendation that the pollack sashimi version was the best, we both ordered pollack sashimi makguksu, plus one order of buckwheat dumplings. Even if you think you'll be full, you can't skip the dumplings. House-made noodles for the dongchimi makguksu! Coming to Gangwon, you've got to eat makguksu.

Pollack sashimi makguksu, poured with icy dongchimi

Our order arrived, hearts pounding. Seeing all that ice floating in the dongchimi made me swallow in anticipation. The noodles looked so clean and neat. The pollack sashimi topping was tidy too, so it already looked delicious before I even took a bite, hehe. Pouring the icy dongchimi over the noodles, I felt not just refreshed but almost cold, haha.

With a ladle of dongchimi poured over the pollack sashimi makguksu, I took a bite before adding sauce — the dongchimi broth wasn't very salty, so it felt mild and clean. Add a plump piece of pollack sashimi and this place is heaven. I usually eat makguksu or naengmyeon (cold noodles) drenched in sauce, haha, but I liked this flavor as it was, so I didn't add much sauce.

How were the buckwheat dumplings?

The buckwheat dumplings had a really clean taste too. Cutting one in half with a spoon before eating, the filling looked green and healthy, haha. A little soy sauce on top made them a nice treat too. Dumplings are a must when eating makguksu!!! A bite of noodles, a bite of dumpling — no time to rest, hahaha.

Why I'd recommend this for lunch on a Gangneung trip

We polished off the noodles and dumplings in no time, finishing lunch happy and full! Found a great lunch spot in Gangneung.

• ✅️The restaurant is clean and the staff are friendly, so I'd recommend it for visiting Gangneung with a child!
• ✅️It's also very close to Shilla Monogram Gangneung and St. John's Hotel, so it's worth a visit during your trip!