Namyangju noodle restaurant with huge clam kalguksu: Gojip Tongmuneo

I'd arranged to meet some old friends after ages, and the moment the meeting spot was set as Byeollae in Namyangju, I said let's go here and recommended it, so off we went *.* My all-time favorite restaurant in Byeollae, Namyangju: Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu (고집통문어칼국수) +_+ This was already my third visit, and it's the place I come home from impressed every single time... and this time, once again, I ate so well haha

Run it stubbornly, sticking to our principles

That's the mindset the name comes from, apparently. This time I arrived before 11:30, so I was first in line and could go straight in without a long wait *.*

• Hours: Thu–Tue 11:00–21:00 (last order 19:50)
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Closed every Wednesday
• Free parking / takeout available / high chairs available / free Wi-Fi

Large parking lot behind the restaurant

There's a parking lot behind the restaurant, and it's pretty spacious, so I've never once failed to park for lack of a space. And since the tables turn over fairly quickly, even when it's full a spot seems to open up soon :)

When I came out after eating, the waiting list was completely full haha If you're free on a weekday afternoon, arrive like I did around 11:30, right before the lunch peak, and you can eat without a long wait!!!

They say they use clams that have never been frozen

Fresh, never-frozen shellfish

Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu, this Byeollae, Namyangju favorite, uses clams that have never been frozen, so you get a tender texture and fresh flavor! Since they use live shellfish they keep a tank, which must be quite a hassle to maintain, yet they've stuck to this principle for a long time. Maybe that's why one of the must-eat dishes here is the mulchong clam kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) *.* Honestly, I always order the exact same things > <

What did we order from the lunch specials?

Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu menu and recommended dishes

If you visit at lunch, I recommend the cuttlefish bulgogi (spicy stir-fried cuttlefish) as the lunch special, which comes with rice, and I always make sure to order the mulchong clam kalguksu and the fried cuttlefish too haha

• Cuttlefish bulgogi lunch special for 2: ₩28,000
• 1 extra bowl of rice: ₩1,000
• Mulchong clam kalguksu: ₩9,000
• Fried cuttlefish: ₩16,000
• Total for 3 people: ₩54,000

We ate until we were completely, happily stuffed. The portions are enormous, making this a seriously good-value Byeollae, Namyangju restaurant haha

Not long after the basic side dishes, every dish came out one right after another!!! Wow... honestly, if you come here and skip even one of these three dishes, you'll regret it... you have to eat them all.....T_T

How the cuttlefish bulgogi and fried cuttlefish taste

First up, the cuttlefish bulgogi!!!! Even as a lunch special, the portion is big!! It's cuttlefish stir-fried over high heat with their homemade sauce and loads of vegetables; you can mix it into rice, or eat it on its own wrapped in gim (seasoned seaweed), and it's really delicious *.*

Can you see how plump the cuttlefish is? *.* It's not chewy at all, just tender, so it seems like a dish everyone, adults and kids alike, can enjoy :) Actually, the main dish here is the tongmuneo kalguksu with a whole octopus in it, but since I love the combo I always order, I keep putting the octopus off,,,, next time.... I'll have to try it,,,, lol

It's also delicious dipped in the garlic mayonnaise sauce that comes with the fried cuttlefish *.*

I mixed a bowl of rice with the cuttlefish bulgogi and a big handful of bean sprouts! It's moderately spicy with a bit of sweetness too, so I really enjoyed it haha

You can't skip the fried cuttlefish either! It's so big you have to cut it up to eat it, and since the cuttlefish itself is tender, even deep-fried it's not chewy at all, and it's even better dipped in the sauce *.*

A single serving, but a heaping bowl of mulchong clam kalguksu

Insanely generous mulchong kalguksu

And what amazes me every visit is the sheer size of the single-serving mulchong kalguksu..! It's a 'wait, this is one serving...?!' portion, really a one-serving that looks like two, and the bowl itself is enormous haha

It's a secret broth made in-house at Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu, this Byeollae, Namyangju favorite, and the noodles and seafood come together for a rich flavor. The thick broth has real depth, and the springy noodles, made with a freeze-aging process, are really delicious haha

There are so many mulchong clams in it that picking them out is fun in itself *.* As expected,,, Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu Byeollae Byeolgaram Station Branch satisfies even on a repeat visit > < This is the place I always recommend to anyone who says they're heading to Byeollae haha It's good value and genuinely delicious, so I really hope you'll go :)

A lovely wrap-up with friends

Finished off with a thoughtful gift

It was so good to see friends I hadn't met in ages that during our second-round coffee time I caught myself dancing while talking..?! lol That's how much fun it was, and then one friend had made a flower-bouquet keyring and a bracelet by hand and brought them as gifts ?!? So pretty..... my mood got even better.....^.^ I was amazed at the handiwork, and it made for a lovely end to the get-together! If you're heading to Byeollae Byeolgaram, I recommend you visit my favorite Byeollae, Namyangju restaurant, Gojip Tongmuneo Kalguksu, for the mulchong clam kalguksu and cuttlefish bulgogi > <