Gangnam buckwheat noodle spot with hot perilla bowl: Sammiri Makguksu

After yoga, I was thinking about a light but satisfying lunch. With the weather turning cool then warm again, I found myself craving a broth cold enough to clear my whole body out. Looking around for options, I remembered Sammiri Makguksu near Sinsa Station, which had really good reviews, so I headed over.

A neat bowl of noodles met at the border of seasons The grainy scent of buckwheat spreading through my mouth Started a pause from the tiredness of everyday life A moment when both body and mind grew lighter

What kind of place is Sammiri Makguksu, and who will like it?

Sammiri Makguksu is a place where you can deeply enjoy the neat, natural taste of buckwheat itself. If you're looking for a lunch spot near Sinsa Station for Korean food, or just want a clean, unpretentious meal, it's worth remembering.

People I'd recommend it to:

• Anyone looking for a Gangnam makguksu (buckwheat noodle) restaurant with natural, deep flavor
• Anyone who wants a gentle, non-spicy lunch option near Sinsa Station
• Anyone looking for a comfortable solo lunch spot near Sinsa Station

Solo seating and how to order at Sammiri Makguksu during lunch

I visited around 12:50pm and the tables were completely full, so since I was dining solo, I took a spot at the bar table. Throughout my meal, more and more solo diners kept coming in. There was a grandmother who asked me about prices before coming in, a woman in her 20s, a man — makguksu really seems to be loved regardless of gender or generation.

You order and pay at the kiosk.

1. Cold mul-makguksu on a warm day: solo lunch at Sammiri Makguksu near Sinsa Station

Here, they say the buckwheat noodles are cut fresh to 1.3mm thickness and boiled the moment an order comes in. I could actually see little flecks of dark buckwheat husk speckled through the noodles. Maybe that's why, as soon as the bowl arrived, a subtle, nutty buckwheat aroma drifted up.

The noodles had a springy, chewy texture, and the more I chewed, the more that plain yet nutty grain flavor spread. Instead of hitting you with a strong seasoning right from the first bite, it won me over in a very natural, clean way. The blend of the special sauce and dongchimi (radish water kimchi) broth woke up my appetite with a sweet-tart, refreshing edge.

The first taste was cool and tangy, and it finished cleanly with the nutty warmth of buckwheat.

2. Hot perilla buckwheat noodles at Sammiri Makguksu: nutty comfort when the wind turns cold

The owner told me the perilla makguksu was really delicious and prepared it for me to try. I usually love dishes made with perilla, and today, having chosen the cold water makguksu because of the warm weather, I'd been secretly a little disappointed (?) — so this was such a welcome surprise!

The perilla hot buckwheat noodles at Sammiri Makguksu near Sinsa Station had standout nuttiness from the very first spoonful. The broth was thick and savory yet went down smoothly, and that heavy but subtle perilla aroma filled my mouth. The warm, cozy umami had me spooning up the broth again and again without realizing it.

Can you smell the toasty aroma in the video? The perilla hot buckwheat noodles at this Gangnam makguksu favorite.

With the cold water makguksu, rinsing the noodles in cold water tightens the starch, giving them a springy, chewy bite, while the hot perilla noodles kept the buckwheat's natural, softly breaking texture and nutty flavor fully alive. It tasted so natural and gentle that my body seemed to welcome it instinctively. I alternated between the two bowls the whole meal — right when the perilla noodles filled my mouth with heavy, nutty richness, a sip of the cool, sweet-tart mul-makguksu broth felt like it washed everything clean. Thanks to that, the perilla's nuttiness felt fresh every single time, like I was tasting it for the first time. If you're visiting with someone, I'd really recommend ordering one of each and sharing.

3. Mandu and kimchi pancake roll: the sides at Sammiri Makguksu near Sinsa Station

Watching the other solo diners, I noticed many people ordering makguksu paired with a half order of mandu (dumplings) for lunch near Sinsa Station. I asked for a half plate too, but thanks to the owner's generosity, I ended up with a full plate of 4 big dumplings (???). Honestly I didn't expect much from the mandu, but the ones at this Sinsa Station Korean restaurant were golden and hefty-looking, with a filling packed full — clearly a place that takes its sides seriously too! The outside was fried crisp in oil, not overly greasy, with a full, packed filling — it brought back memories of the nutty dumplings I used to eat grilled on the griddle at a famous dumpling shop as a kid.

The kimchi pancake roll at this Gangnam makguksu spot had an appealingly spicy, tangy filling. It went especially well with the perilla makguksu — right when the richness of the perilla threatened to feel heavy, the spicy kimchi filling stepped in to clean up the palate. Adding the crunchy bite of kimchi while eating the soft perilla noodles was pure happiness!

4. Is Sammiri Makguksu worth a solo lunch in Gangnam? Final verdict

I finished nearly two bowls by myself, and it was surprising how comfortable my stomach still felt. Usually when I overeat (and I overeat every day, so I know this feeling better than anyone), my stomach gets bloated — but maybe because the noodles were carefully made from good buckwheat, all I felt afterward was a clean aftertaste. Even eating a lot, it didn't feel heavy, and I felt pleasantly light.

If there's one downside, it's that it's a bit of a walk from Sinsa Station — about 7 minutes on foot from Exit 4 — but it was worth the trek! If you're looking for a Gangnam makguksu spot or a lunch place near Sinsa Station where you can fill up on a heartfelt, healthy bowl, this one's worth adding to your list!