# Insadong soba lunch with a friend: tempura cold soba, karaage set - By Sua M. (https://superchart.com/en/@side-dish-counter/) - Written Sep 8, 2026 - Updated Sep 14, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Jongno, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written after receiving a complimentary meal as part of a store-visit sponsorship. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@side-dish-counter/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@side-dish-counter/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/index.md) · [日本語](https://superchart.com/ja/@side-dish-counter/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/index.md) · [简体中文](https://superchart.com/zh-cn/@side-dish-counter/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/index.md) · [繁體中文](https://superchart.com/zh-tw/@side-dish-counter/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/index.md) ## In short Insadong Jemyeonso Annyeong Insadong Branch is a soba restaurant on the 3rd floor of Annyeong Insadong on Insadong-gil in Jongno, Seoul. Visiting on a weekday evening with a friend, the writer ordered tempura cold soba, a cold soba plus karaage set, and croquettes, enjoying the cold broth and freshly fried shrimp and pumpkin tempura. Unlimited rice refills, willingness to adjust seasoning, and affordable side dish prices make Insadong Jemyeonso a place worth returning to. ## Good to know - **Location**: 3rd floor, Room 303, Annyeong Insadong, 49 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea - **Ordered**: Tempura cold soba, cold soba + karaage set, croquettes - **Service**: Unlimited rice refills available; seasoning can be adjusted on request if too salty or bland - **Store features**: Open kitchen, wide table spacing, kids-friendly zone with children's tableware, outdoor menu board and waiting chairs *as written by the visitor on Sep 8, 2026* ![A full spread of tempura cold soba at Insadong Jemyeonso Annyeong Insadong Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-01-1hjcb-1200.webp) > An Insadong favorite: Insadong Jemyeonso This summer was really hot, but I still ended up going all over the place, and the dish that stuck with me most was cold soba. The noodles were great, but it was the cold, perfectly seasoned broth that made it so delicious — and one of the places I had it was Insadong Jemyeonso, an Insadong favorite. I got to enjoy tasty cold soba and take in the whole Insadong scene, and it was such a fun day that I want to go back already. Insadong, sitting between Jonggak Station and Anguk Station, isn't quite as hyped as it used to be, but it's still a hot spot. ![Weekday evening street view of Insadong-gil in Insadong](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-02-185dh-900.webp) ## What's the vibe on the 3rd floor of Annyeong Insadong? Annyeong Insadong has so many unique shops that you could wander around just here and have fun, but first things first — let's fill our stomachs. Taking the escalator up to the 3rd floor, you find the restaurant, which is a nicely sized space — not too big, not too small. Honestly, too small can feel cramped and too big can be hard to manage well, so this size seems like a sweet spot. There's a menu board outside and waiting chairs too, which come in handy if there's a wait or you're meeting a friend. ![Entrance and outdoor menu board of Insadong Jemyeonso on the 3rd floor of Annyeong Insadong](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-03-4403e-m-900.webp) ![Waiting chairs and menu signage in front of the restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-04-1xgdj-900.webp) The kitchen is open, so you can see in if you look, and it still has the original name, Cheonaebu, written on it. I'm guessing the name didn't roll off the tongue easily, so they changed it — but you can tell there's still some affection for the old name, haha. Building up a great restaurant isn't easy, but coming up with a name and sticking with it seems tough too. The tables are spaced generously apart, which I liked, and there's also a kids-friendly zone with separate tableware for children. ![Open kitchen at Insadong Jemyeonso showing the original name Cheonaebu](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-05-nm1ey-900.webp) ![Dining hall interior with wide table spacing at Insadong Jemyeonso](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-06-nn9yw-900.webp) ![Seating in the kids-friendly zone with children's tableware ready](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-07-11kuh-900.webp) ## Seasoning adjustments and unlimited rice refills I heard the restaurant started as Cheonaebu in Suwon, and maybe that's why it feels extra careful about flavor. On the table it says to just let them know if the seasoning is too salty or too bland — amazing. It would already be nice enough if they'd just fix it when asked, but offering it upfront... Of course the food was just the right level of seasoned so there wasn't really anything to say, but this kind of thoughtfulness feels so nice. And unlimited rice refills too — that generosity seems to be exactly what makes Insadong Jemyeonso the Insadong favorite it is. ![Table sign explaining seasoning adjustments and unlimited rice refills](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-08-4p6b4-900.webp) ![Water cup and chopsticks set on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-09-g6xse-m-900.webp) It's been a while since I was in Jongno or Insadong, so I didn't know about this, but there was a unique event going on, so I snapped a photo. It sounded like it covered a few different spots — you'd need to check the QR code for details — but either way, it looked like a good deal. It's limited to once per store, which is a bit of a bummer. If I could've used it twice just at Insadong Jemyeonso, I probably would've bought it. ![Poster advertising a store event at Annyeong Insadong](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-10-1rgli-900.webp) ## Tempura cold soba — that broth is true love The friendly staff brought the dishes out pretty quickly, and I ordered my favorite, tempura cold soba. The broth was so good I felt like I'd basically finished the meal just from that, and getting tempura alongside it made it even better. The prices were reasonably affordable too, which was a nice bonus — my friend, who works nearby, said she'd have to come back more often, clearly satisfied. The tempura was freshly fried, so it was crispy and delicious. Now that the weather's getting colder, next time I'll have to try the hot soba. ![A bowl of tempura cold soba with slushy half-frozen broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-11-12tyb-900.webp) ![Close-up of cold soba noodles and chilled soy sauce broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-12-6wiv0-900.webp) It had that slushy, half-frozen look, but no annoying ice chunks getting in the way while eating — just the right texture, haha. I don't like scallions, and I only regretted not asking them to leave it out after the food arrived — lesson learned, ask ahead next time. If you do that, you can really drink the broth down to the very last sip. Cold soba broth, I... I love you. It might honestly just be a soy sauce–based broth, but why is it so good... that sweet-and-salty flavor has me drooling just thinking about it. ![Cold soba noodles lifted with chopsticks](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-13-11uj4-900.webp) ![Scallion garnish floating on top of cold soba broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-14-1do4c-900.webp) ![A cold soba bowl with the broth nearly finished](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-15-1wv5e-900.webp) ### Shrimp tempura and pumpkin tempura The tempura came out simply as shrimp tempura and pumpkin tempura together, which made it even more enjoyable — nice variety, good stuff. It would've been fine even served just on a plate, but having it laid out neatly on paper like this made it even more satisfying, haha. There was clearly a reason this place is known as an Insadong favorite, and maybe that's why there were quite a few customers even on a quiet weekday evening. The side dishes came out looking clean and tidy too, but I enjoyed the main dishes plain so much that I didn't even touch the sides — such a waste, ㅠㅠ. ![Shrimp tempura and pumpkin tempura served on paper](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-16-1lld9-900.webp) ![Cross-section of crispy fried shrimp tempura](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-17-zt3hz-900.webp) ![A plate of side dishes served with the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-18-119vp-900.webp) ## My friend's pick: cold soba + karaage set My friend also ordered cold soba, but paired it with karaage as a set, and she ate it up happily, haha. Cold soba is good on its own, but a noodle dish all by itself can feel a bit lacking. That's probably why they put together sets with tempura or other sides like this — and the price is still nice and affordable. My friend was dieting at the time, but I'm pretty sure she finished all the karaage that day, right? Lol. ![Friend's cold soba and karaage set](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-19-m13yd-900.webp) ![A plate of freshly fried karaage](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-20-1lixe-900.webp) ### The extra croquettes we ordered After ordering, I somehow still felt like something was missing, so we added croquettes — soft and delicious, nom nom. It tasted exactly like I imagined, which made it even better, and given today's prices, even the side dish prices feel reasonable. (The rent fees for a spot inside Annyeong Insadong must be pricey, so I found myself worrying whether they're actually making any profit at this price, ㅠㅠ.) Since it's fried food, there was a bit of oiliness, but laying it out on paper like this soaked it all up nicely, which I appreciated. ![Croquettes ordered as an extra side dish](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-21-uqnf7-900.webp) ![A croquette cut in half showing its filling](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-22-93n1s-900.webp) ## After lunch, exploring Annyeong Insadong Both my friend and I have been watching our weight and body fat lately, and ironically we ended up eating even more calories than usual. Still, the signature dishes look even higher in calories, so I'll comfort myself with the thought that we did okay, lol. Then we headed to the K-pop store right across the way, which I'd wanted to visit even before coming here. Ahh... so exciting. My friend's a BTS fan and also keeps up with the latest songs in general, so her knowledge was impressively deep and made it extra fun. I was feeling pretty full, but walking around here chatting about this and that helped a lot with digestion. ![Interior of the K-pop store across from Annyeong Insadong](https://img.superchart.com/images/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso-23-3cj4k-m-900.webp) Visiting Insadong on a weekday gave it this nice quiet, timeless feel, which I liked, and Annyeong Insadong had plenty to see too. Between food, coffee, desserts, and even a convenience store and K-pop shop, there's plenty to browse and shop for, haha. There was also a little flea market happening on the 1st floor that day, so I checked it out briefly and found it full of interesting stuff. It's already been a while since this visit, and I'm starting to crave that cold soba again — I should really go back soon, haha. ## Where it is - Insadong Jemyeonso Annyeong Insadong Branch (인사동제면소 안녕인사동점) - 49 Insadong-gil, 3rd Floor, Room 303, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 종로구 인사동길 49 3층 303호 - 37.5744663, 126.9835556 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%9D%B8%EC%82%AC%EB%8F%99%EC%A0%9C%EB%A9%B4%EC%86%8C%20%EC%95%88%EB%85%95%EC%9D%B8%EC%82%AC%EB%8F%99%EC%A0%90/@37.5744663,126.9835556,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@side-dish-counter/insadong-cold-soba-tempura-jemyeonso/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt