70th birthday family lunch at Myeongimong, a Pocheon restaurant

Myeongimong is a Pocheon favorite for makguksu (buckwheat noodles), and it turned out to be a great pick for a family gathering with a kid in tow.

Today I'm telling you about a weekend in September 2026 when we traveled to Pocheon to celebrate my mom's 70th birthday, and had a great meal at Myeongimong with my parents and my kid. When you're traveling, sightseeing matters, but finding a restaurant where both parents and kids can eat comfortably is honestly its own quiet stress. This time, everyone got to pick tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patty), makguksu or buckwheat pancake to their own taste, so it worked out really well as a spot for our three-generation family meal :)

Hours are 11:00 - 20:00, closed Tuesdays. Last order is at 19:20.

Parking at Myeongimong: two lots, easy with grandparents

Myeongimong has two separate parking lots, which made driving in easy. Since we were moving as a whole family, having enough parking space mattered a lot to us. There's a second lot right by the entrance too, so you don't even need to drive further in to find a spot. That's a nice detail if you're doing a weekend family outing or looking for a place to eat after a Pocheon drive.

Is Myeongimong roomy enough for a family gathering?

Myeongimong has outdoor seating too, and the tables are spaced fairly wide apart. There were quite a few families with kids the day we visited, and it was nice that the atmosphere never felt cramped, even with parents and a child at the table.

The menu was simple and easy to choose from. We ordered tteokgalbi, water makguksu and bibim makguksu each for ourselves, and the table ended up pretty full and satisfying haha.

The self-serve side dish bar and complimentary buckwheat pancake

At Myeongimong you can grab extra side dishes from a self-serve bar. Everything was neatly laid out and felt fresh, like it had just been put out.

The spicy broth suited the grown-ups' taste well, and the side dishes paired nicely with the main dishes too.

And I was personally really happy to see the complimentary buckwheat pancake that came out.

The buckwheat pancake was nice and chewy with just the right seasoning, so we ended up finishing it before the meal even started haha.

Tteokgalbi, with an extra bowl of rice for the kid

The tteokgalbi that came out first was the dish my mom picked.

Eaten wrapped with the accompanying lettuce, the savoriness of the meat and the freshness of the greens went really well together. Most of all, my kid ate the tteokgalbi so well. She had it with rice and cleared her bowl, then ended up asking for an extra bowl of rice haha. On a Pocheon family trip with a kid, you usually end up worrying separately about an adult menu and a kids' menu, but having tteokgalbi on the table made things a lot easier.

Water makguksu with ice flakes floating in the broth

Myeongimong's water makguksu looked refreshing just from the floating shaved ice on top. Seeing the neatly plated noodles and broth, I thought it'd be perfect after moving around a lot during the trip.

My husband and dad both picked the water makguksu, and their chopsticks really sped up haha. If you like clean, refreshing flavors, the water makguksu will probably suit you well.

My pick: the nutty bibim makguksu

And my choice was the bibim makguksu (spicy mixed buckwheat noodles) :)

They served the broth separately with the bibim makguksu, so I could pour in as much as I wanted while mixing.

Cutting the noodles into bite-sized pieces and mixing them evenly with the sauce, the flavor came out savory with a nice depth.

Everyone said their own dish was the best, but for me, the bibim makguksu was the most memorable that day haha. It also paired really well with the tteokgalbi.

Free coffee after the meal, no rush to leave

After the meal, coffee was ready too, so instead of rushing off, we got to sit a while longer and chat as a family before wrapping up. When you can slow down a little even after finishing a meal on a trip, that extra time becomes a good memory too. My mom especially, who loves coffee, was happy she got to have dessert coffee as well :)

Final verdict on Myeongimong in Pocheon

Myeongimong in Pocheon was a great family meal spot where everyone could choose tteokgalbi, water or bibim makguksu to their own taste, plus enjoy buckwheat pancake, side dishes and dessert together.

• Two parking lots make driving in easy
• Wide table spacing, good for Pocheon family gatherings
• Tteokgalbi that's easy for kids to eat
• Refreshing water makguksu and savory bibim makguksu
• A comfortable atmosphere for eating with parents during a Pocheon trip
• Can relax over dessert coffee after the meal

If you're looking for a Pocheon restaurant, a makguksu spot in Sinbuk-myeon, or a family restaurant to bring your parents and kids to, Myeongimong is worth considering :)