Bucheon noodle restaurant walking date: Jakdong Hongdukkkae

It was my husband’s weekday off, so the two of us came out for another lunch date. Then one place I hadn’t thought of in ages came to mind. Was it when we were newlyweds..? I remembered following my Bucheon-born husband here once because he said Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu Bucheon Main Branch was famous for kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup).

It was so long ago that I can’t say for sure whether this was the exact same spot as back then, but returning in our 17th year of marriage made me feel nostalgic and oddly happy, haha.

Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu location and getting there

Why had we waited so long to revisit somewhere we enjoyed that much? My husband and I have lived without a car for all 17 years of our marriage. Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu is tucked into a wooded area close to, rather than right in the middle of, Bucheon’s city center, so it had not been an easy place for us to get to.

But I’ve always liked walking and taking strolls, so that day I took the subway and walked over at an easy pace. Stepping just outside the busy city and walking along actually made it feel like a proper weekday date.

• By subway, walk about 800 m from Exit 2 of Kkachiul Station or Exit 1 of Sports Complex Station on Line 7. Follow the road inward from Bucheon Sangnok School.
• Hours are 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM.
• If you drive, there is a dedicated parking lot and staff will guide you, so parking should not be too much of a concern.

Handmade clam kalguksu and meat dumplings

We ordered clam kalguksu for two, ₩22,000, and meat dumplings, ₩8,000.

Before adding the kalguksu to the broth, we warmed up our stomachs with barley rice, haha. They say the kimchi is prepared and made fresh each day, too. Naturally, it went so well with the noodles.

Having Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu again after so long, the first thing I noticed with the very first bite was, of course, the noodles. Maybe because they make them in-house, they were incredibly chewy.

The springy texture when you eat them really was on another level. Anyone who has tried them will know exactly what I mean! The fresh noodles are made from dough in-house, without preservatives, and they were easy to digest, so my stomach felt comfortable even after the meal.

As we happily ate, I thought of our daughter, who absolutely loves noodles. We should have brought her with us ㅜㅠ She really would have eaten so well, haha. In the end, the two of us cleaned our bowls without leaving a single strand of noodle behind.

Rich broth steeped with clams

It wasn’t just the noodles that were good. True to clam kalguksu, the seafood-based broth was rich and refreshing, so I kept spooning it up.

It had been delicious in my memories from long ago, but eating it again, it wasn’t just, “It tastes exactly the same!” If anything, it felt even more delicious?

The deep flavor in the broth, and the way it came together with those chewy noodles, were just so good. I suppose the know-how of a Jakdong favorite that has held its spot for so long does not come from nowhere.

Is there a wait at weekday lunch?

We visited around noon on a Wednesday, and the restaurant was already full of diners, but fortunately we were seated right away without waiting. If anything, around 12:30 PM, when we had finished and came out, cars kept arriving.

There may be a wait, so keep that in mind. You can register through Catchtable at the restaurant entrance.

It may be a little disappointing that it is not somewhere everyone can easily reach by public transit alone. But thinking about it another way, that might be part of Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu’s charm.

Getting away from the city for a moment, seeing nature, breathing good air, and having a steaming bowl of kalguksu! That is why I’d recommend it as a Bucheon kalguksu spot worth visiting on a drive, even if you do not live nearby. And if you enjoy walking like we do, it would be lovely to come with the feeling of taking a light stroll.

Most of all, I was even happier that Jakdong Hongdukkkae Kalguksu was still delicious when we returned after so much time. If you love chewy noodles, or are craving kalguksu with a refreshing, deep clam broth, do pay it a visit. You absolutely will not regret it! Next time, I really have to come with my noodle-loving daughter.