Sinsa-dong makguksu restaurant with house-made noodles: Sammiri

Why lunch near Hakyeoul Station ended up in Sinsa-dong

I had an errand near Gireum Station on a weekend morning, and after that my next plan was to meet a friend at SETEC near Hakyoyul Station for a car expo.

Transferring at Chungmuro and heading down toward SETEC, I tried to find somewhere to eat, but no matter how much I searched, nothing decent turned up...

It was my first time there, so I didn't realize it, but I learned that there just aren't any good restaurants near Hakyoyul Station and SETEC. Actually, there are barely any restaurants at all. Why is it such a desert island...?

I understood later — that area is Daechi-dong, full of hagwons (private academies), right next to Eunma Apartment. Ahhh, that explains it. Anyway, there was nowhere to eat, so while waiting for my friend I went looking.

Trying to figure out where to go along Line 3, the nearby neighborhoods — Daechi-dong, Dogok-dong — are famous for expensive apartments(?), so I figured Sinsa-dong, which people actually visit often, would have more good restaurants.

Searching for restaurants in Sinsa-dong, I came across a makguksu place tucked into one corner of the neighborhood! Since it had apparently just opened, I got curious and looked it up.

I'm currently watching the drama <<Until the T-shirt Dries>>, and a character happened to be eating buckwheat soba, and I was like, wow... I really want that. So I decided on buckwheat noodles on the spot and went, go go.

Where Sammiri Makguksu is, and the window seat for one

Sammiri Makguksu address in Sinsa-dong

48-39 Gangnam-daero 95-gil, 1F, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It's about an 8-minute walk from Sinsa Station, but it doesn't feel super far.

Sammiri Makguksu apparently hasn't been open long, but since makguksu itself is such an easy, delicious dish to slurp down, there were more people than I expected. Plenty of people waiting, and some ordering takeout too.

There were both regular tables and window seats, and since a solo spot opened up, I was guided to a window seat.

Choosing the spicy mul-makguksu from the menu

Sammiri Makguksu menu

This was such a huge decision. I normally love perilla oil makguksu, so I debated between that, or a soba-style mul-makguksu (cold noodles in broth), or the slightly spicy version. In the end, I went with the spicy mul-makguksu.

Later I noticed the perilla oil makguksu also comes with broth, so watching the next table eat it, I thought — should I have switched?! But in the end I was glad I ordered the mul-makguksu.

S O G O O D !!

For a side to go with it, I chose the crispy fried mandu (dumplings). Worried it'd be too much, I ordered a half-plate, and the portion was just right. I also got a can of Zero Coke.

The food came out really fast. Turnover must be high here.

Half-plate of crispy fried mandu

The dumpling wrappers were thin — crispy outside, juicy and moist inside, with real broth flavor. Dipped in the soy sauce they gave me, it was excellent.

How spicy is the spicy mul-makguksu, really?

They brought out the makguksu soon after. Wow... the look of it alone was a pass!!

Since it's called "spicy," I worried it might be too much, but no. It wasn't spicy at all — just the right amount of dadegi (chili paste) blended in nicely.

I actually come from the land of makguksu, and this place is the real deal!!! The noodles were so delicious, and the broth was just right, too. I think it's this good because the noodles are house-made.

I slurped down the noodles in an absolute frenzy and pretty much drank the broth straight from the bowl..

Honestly, it's a taste that stays with you for days.. I'm going back to Sinsa-dong just for this..

That was my genuinely satisfying visit to Sammiri Makguksu, a Sinsa-dong favorite.