Jamwon-dong buckwheat noodle spot with half-plate mandu: Sammiri

I heard there was a great new makguksu (cold buckwheat noodle) spot near Jamwon-dong, so I stopped by Sammiri Makguksu (삼미리막국수) for a late lunch.

I've always liked buckwheat noodles and makguksu, so the menu caught my eye right away. I was especially curious about the noodle texture since they make the noodles fresh in-house.

Where is Sammiri Makguksu and when is it open?

Sammiri Makguksu is located in Jamwon-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, about a 7-minute walk from Sinsa Station, so it was easy to reach by public transit.

📍 Sammiri Makguksu store info Address: 48-39 Gangnam-daero 95-gil, 1F, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea Hours: 11:00–20:00, last order 19:30 Subway: within 7 minutes on foot from Sinsa Station Exit 4 (Line 3, Sinbundang Line) Parking: not available

What is Sammiri Makguksu like inside?

A tidy interior with self-serve aprons

Walking in, the first thing you notice is the clean interior centered on white and wood tones. The overall bright, tidy atmosphere made for a comfortable meal, and the 'SAMMIRI NOODLE' logo appears throughout, giving the brand a natural sense of identity.

The kitchen has an open-counter layout, so you can partly see the cooking area and dishware inside.

What caught my eye especially was the phrase '자가제면 (self-made noodles)' written on the kitchen wall. It made clear at a glance that this is a makguksu place that makes its own noodles, which built up my expectations for the food. Disposable aprons are also set out around the tables for guests to use freely — a small but thoughtful touch, since sauce or broth can easily splash onto clothes while eating makguksu.

Seating options for a comfortable meal

By the window there's a bar-style table, which looked fine for dining solo,

and in the center there's a 4-person table. There's also sofa-style bench seating along the wall for a relaxed meal.

Sammiri Makguksu menu and prices

📍 Sammiri Makguksu menu info

Each table has a tablet ordering system, so I could take my time browsing the menu and prices before ordering. There were several kinds — perilla oil makguksu, sesame-oil bibim makguksu, spicy mul-makguksu, and dongchimi (radish water kimchi) makguksu — all priced at ₩12,000.

For sides, there was crispy buckwheat pancake for ₩9,000, crispy fried mandu for ₩8,000, and a half-plate of crispy fried mandu for ₩4,000.

What I ordered this time was: Sesame-oil bibim makguksu ₩12,000 (Half-plate) crispy fried mandu ₩4,000

How does the sesame oil bibim makguksu taste?

Nutty sesame oil bibim makguksu, 12,000 won

For basic side dishes, crunchy pickled radish and tangy-salty pickled onion came out neatly. The pickled radish was refreshing and sweet-and-sour, waking up the appetite, while the pickled onion had a bit of chili kick to it, which paired well with the fried mandu.

After a short wait, the food arrived. The sesame-oil bibim makguksu was neatly plated, and as soon as it arrived, a mild, nutty sesame-oil aroma rose up.

I mixed the noodles and sauce together and tasted it — it was milder than I expected. Unlike typical bibim makguksu with strong tangy or spicy sauce, this one centered on the nuttiness of sesame oil and the clean flavor of the buckwheat noodles.

Cold broth came out in a brass bowl with a handle, which made it easy to enjoy cleanly. Having a handle made it easy to pick up and drink, and the tidy feel of the brass bowl suited it well.

Personally I like this kind of clean flavor, so it suited my taste well. The sauce wasn't overpowering, so it was easy to eat from start to finish without feeling weighed down.

Half plate of crispy fried mandu, 4,000 won

Why the crispy fried mandu works as a side

The half-plate of crispy fried mandu I ordered alongside was good too.

The outside was fried crispy, so the first bite gave a crunchy texture right away.

Eating a mandu alongside the clean-tasting makguksu changed up the texture nicely and worked well together. Best of all, I liked that a half-plate option exists — it makes it easy to order even if you're dining alone or can't eat a lot of side dishes.

House-made 1.3mm buckwheat noodles at Sammiri Makguksu

Sammiri Makguksu makes its 1.3mm buckwheat noodles fresh when an order comes in. They say they tested the thickness many times to find one that pairs well with the broth and sauce.

The clean, nutty character of buckwheat comes through, and the noodles get more appealing the more you chew.

The owner is also on-site the whole time, personally checking everything from ingredient prep to cooking, taste, and the final step before food goes out. Knowing that made me feel how much care goes into the noodles and food here. It was fun to learn the brand name 'Sammiri' actually comes from this 1.3mm noodle thickness.

Final verdict on Sammiri Makguksu

If you're looking for a clean, mild lunch near Jamwon-dong or Sinsa Station, this is worth a visit. It'll especially suit you if you like buckwheat noodles or prefer a makguksu that isn't too intense. Next time I'd like to try the perilla oil makguksu or dongchimi makguksu too.