Songdo Korean restaurant: icy-broth chogye bibim guksu, Eonyang Dak

What do the exterior and interior of Eonyang Dak Kalguksu Incheon Songdo Branch look like?

Eonyang Dak Kalguksu Incheon Songdo Branch is a chicken kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant in Songdo with a Korean feel, thanks to wood, stone and a brush-calligraphy sign. I was craving chicken kalguksu, so I paid a visit. This is Eonyang Dak Kalguksu.

The name is stylish, and the exterior is just as stylish. I think the interior is the coolest one I've seen lately. You can feel a kind of Korean beauty, you know? The handwriting on the sign is great too. The concept is so well put together that everything feels unified, which makes it even better.

Eonyang Dak Kalguksu. It has a look with a distinctly Korean sentiment. The wood and stone go together so harmoniously. And the calligraphy is just so stylish.

What does the spicy kimchi at Eonyang Dak Kalguksu taste like?

There are two kinds of kimchi here: regular kimchi and spicy kimchi. That's the unusual part, and the spicy kimchi has a wonderful savory depth and a thick, rich chili flavor. It's addictive, the kind of taste that keeps pulling you back. If the kimchi is already this good, the kalguksu goes without saying.

What are the table setting and seating like inside?

The basic setting at Eonyang Dak Kalguksu Incheon Songdo Branch has disposable paper cups, small plates and sauce dishes, pepper and salt, and even a bottle opener. Paper cups seem to be the trend these days. They're hygienic and convenient in many ways. It was well equipped, bottle opener included.

The inside feels like this. The tables are spaced fairly far apart, so I could eat in comfort. Maybe it's because the space in the building is so big. Displays of signature dishes like chicken kalguksu and dak-gomtang (chicken soup) were out in plain view, and perhaps because the plating is so neat, every one of them looked delicious. The braised chicken seems famous here too, so I'll have to try it next time.

Having power banks available was really novel. These days you have to take care of even these little details to be recognized as a great restaurant. You can see the thoroughness.

What are the menu and prices at Eonyang Dak Kalguksu?

At Eonyang Dak Kalguksu Incheon Songdo Branch, the signature dak kalguksu is ₩11,000, dak-gomtang is also ₩11,000, and Eonyang-style kalguksu is ₩8,000. You order contactless on a tablet at each table, which struck me as smart.

There are also soy-braised and spicy braised chicken (jjimdak). They serve 2–3 people, and rice isn't included by default. Priced from the high ₩20,000s to ₩30,000, the braised chicken seemed good value too.

For the summer seasonal menu there were chogye guksu (chilled chicken noodles) and chogye bibim guksu (spicy mixed version), and the look of the bibim guksu was too tempting to resist, so I went for it. ₩11,500 is a decent price.

How is the suyuk at Eonyang Dak Kalguksu?

The suyuk (boiled sliced meat) I ordered with the chogye bibim guksu has thick-cut meat, and the only sides are salted shrimp and ssamjang (dipping paste). The meat was really solid and thick, and it looked properly made. The simple accompaniments are so you can focus purely on the meat's own flavor, and proof they're confident in it, right?!

How is the chogye bibim guksu served, and how do you eat it?

The chogye bibim guksu comes as spicy mixed noodles topped with shredded chicken breast, egg strips, radish kimchi and cucumber, with icy broth served separately alongside. Here comes the chogye bibim guksu, and it looks great. The torn chicken breast is lightly sprinkled with pepper, which makes it look even more appetizing. Egg strips, radish kimchi and cucumber make it colorful too.

The cold, icy broth comes along too, and one sip made the summer heat vanish all at once. It was delicious. Next time I should skip the bibim and try plain chogye guksu. I bet it'll be sooo coooooool. I highly recommend the icy broth.

Mixing in the icy broth helps the noodles toss together better

With the chogye bibim guksu, you need to pour in a little of the icy broth to toss it smoothly. The seasoning was just right too. After tasting the icy broth, I figured plain chogye guksu must be amazing too. Try plain chogye guksu next time: saved to my eat-list.

Is the chogye bibim guksu at Eonyang Dak Kalguksu worth going back for?

The chogye bibim guksu at Eonyang Dak Kalguksu Incheon Songdo Branch was delicious, and the icy broth is especially the kick. This made a table spread nobody could complain about, and yes, this place is a keeper. Next time I'll try plain chogye guksu. The suyuk is decent too. It was light, and I could focus on the meat's own flavor! Next time I'll try the spicy kimchi and the main dish, the kalguksu!