Budget snack bar in Seongbok-dong, Yongin: 4:30 p.m. udon and bibimbap

When I was little, I'd get my allowance and go hunting for a cheap, tasty snack bar with my friends. In Seongbok-dong, Suji, there's a place with that same great-value feel and a huge menu: Chilseong Jemyeonso (칠성제면소). I've been several times and just figured "yep, it's good," but on this visit a whole crowd of what looked like middle schoolers poured in to eat, and it took me straight back to my own childhood haha

Where is Chilseong Jemyeonso Suji, and is there parking?

Chilseong Jemyeonso is on the ground floor of Seohui Star Hills in Seongbok-dong, Suji, and the underground car park is well set up, with free parking. Seongbok Station is close enough to walk, but since I don't have to worry about parking fees, I bring the car every time.

Seen from the stream right in front, it's at second-floor height, so walking into the restaurant feels open and airy.

Next to Ediya Coffee, Chilseong Jemyeonso is a well-known Seongbok-dong neighborhood favorite, and whatever time you go, there always seem to be customers^^

Early dinner at 4:30 p.m.: inside Chilseong Jemyeonso

I visited around 4:30, early dinner time, and lots of students from nearby schools were sitting there eating tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), noodles and more.

It's a snack bar, but the interior is very neat and clean, so it almost feels like you've walked into a traditional Korean set-meal restaurant. There are lots of tables and group seating too, so it works well for family gatherings or big groups.

At the self-serve bar you can easily grab plates, scissors and so on.

Chilseong Jemyeonso menu and prices

The menu is really varied, and set meals that include a pork cutlet run about ₩15,500, which is great value. Still, as the name suggests, I find the house-made noodle dishes the tastiest, so I always order a noodle dish whenever I come.

Since it's summer, seasonal items like kongguksu (cold soybean noodle soup) and yeolmu (young radish) bibimbap are on offer too. Set meals with a cutlet are about ₩15,500, which is a great deal.

There's bibimbap too, so if noodles aren't your thing you can order rice. Noodle types are quite varied: fresh noodles, bibim guksu (spicy mixed noodles), udon, maze udon (brothless mixed udon) and more.

There's so much on the menu and the prices are so low that even a big spread rarely goes over ₩30,000. So every time I come, I end up ordering way too much haha

Thanks to the low prices I ordered a wide range again this time, and I liked that at Chilseong Jemyeonso the dishes come out almost all at once.

Daegu Bukseongno udon (8,500 won)

The Daegu Bukseongno udon at Chilseong Jemyeonso is ₩8,500, and it comes with a skewer of fish cake and a very generous amount of fried tofu.

The noodles are much chewier than regular udon, with a lightly sweet flavor, which I loved. The broth is especially great: spicy and refreshing, a different taste from ordinary udon. It tastes slightly different from the best-selling fresh noodles, so comparing the two is fun.

Aqua cutlet soba set (16,500 won)

The aqua cutlet soba set is ₩16,500. I ordered it because of the unusual name, and the cutlet tastes special.

The buckwheat noodles come in a huge portion and are cooked to just the right texture, so they were great dipped in the broth, which has lots of radish in it. The taste is similar to pan-memil (cold buckwheat noodles served on a tray).

The aqua cutlet is piled with vegetables, and the cool, tangy sauce was lovely.

Perilla oil aged kimchi bibimbap

The perilla oil aged kimchi bibimbap at Chilseong Jemyeonso has not-too-salty aged kimchi plus a little meat, so it makes a filling meal.

It also has lots of vegetables like cucumber, bean sprouts and cabbage, and the fresh flavor was great.

Tteok-kkochi (rice cake skewers) for dessert

Tteok skewers (rice cake skewers) were my favorite thing at snack bars growing up, so they've become one of my must-orders whenever I come to Chilseong Jemyeonso haha

The gochujang (red chili paste) sauce isn't too spicy, and with sugar sprinkled on top it's sweet and so good. I don't think there's a better dessert haha

Is Chilseong Jemyeonso Suji a good budget snack bar?

Chilseong Jemyeonso is a Seongbok-dong, Suji favorite where you can eat well for around ₩10,000^^ The menu is huge, so you can try something new every visit, which I like. If kids come in groups to eat here, that says it all, right? haha

Parking is easy, and with nearby Seongbok Station and Lotte Mall Suji, access is good too. If you're looking for a casual, great-value place to go without any fuss, I recommend Chilseong Jemyeonso in Suji!

• Address: 80 Seongbok 1-ro, Suji-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi, South Korea, ground floor of Seohui Star Hills
• Hours: Daily 11:00 - 21:00
• Parking available (free in the underground car park)