Pyeongtaek cold noodle restaurant 2 minutes from the station: Seoul

While searching for a naengmyeon spot in Pyeongtaek, I ended up visiting Seoul Myeonok.

Seoul Myeonok: location, hours and parking

Seoul Myeonok

• 📍 Location: 12 Pyeongtaek-ro 57beon-gil, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do, Seoul Myeonok
• ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:30–20:00 / Break time 15:00–16:00 / Last order 19:30
• 🚗 Parking: Pyeongtaek-dong public parking lot (free for 1.5 hours)
• 🚻 Restroom: Inside the restaurant

A cold noodle restaurant within walking distance of Pyeongtaek Station

Seoul Myeonok is quite close to Pyeongtaek Station (2-minute walk) and sits right in front of Aekyung, so it was easy to get to by public transit.

You can also park in front of the restaurant, or use the Pyeongtaek-dong public parking lot if you're driving. It's free for the first 1.5 hours, so that's worth keeping in mind.

Open since 1973: inside the third-generation restaurant

Honestly, the moment I saw the exterior I thought, 'ah, this is one of those old-school spots.' Turns out it opened way back in 1973 and is now run by the third generation of naengmyeon specialists.

Seeing the sign about a naengmyeon shop that's held the same spot for over 60 years made me even more excited.

I visited on a weekday evening, and once inside I saw almost every table was full. I guess it really is a well-known spot near Pyeongtaek Station. 😆

It looked like waiting is handled through Catch Table, but the waiting kiosk was turned off when I visited.

Seoul Myeonok's self-serve bar, down to baby spoons and forks

There was also a self-serve bar off to one side. It had everything from small plates and wet wipes to baby spoons and forks, so it looked like a good spot for families too.

Why we refilled Seoul Myeonok's warm broth four times

But what I liked most about Seoul Myeonok was something else entirely.

The warm broth! You seriously have to try this warm broth here. 😂

I've had the warm broth that comes with naengmyeon at a lot of places, but this one was really my style.

It's clean yet deep in flavor, so good that I refilled it about four times. Sip away at the warm broth while waiting for the naengmyeon to arrive, and before you know it a whole cup is gone.

What's on the menu at Seoul Myeonok

🍽️ Everything from naengmyeon to galbitang and braised galbi. I assumed a place called 'Seoul Myeonok' would only serve naengmyeon, but the menu turned out to be much more varied than I expected!

Alongside the signature pyeongyang naengmyeon and bibim naengmyeon, they had beef short rib soup, braised short ribs, hand-made mandu (dumplings), fire-grilled pork bulgogi, mung bean pancakes, and more, from mains to shared dishes.

As you'd expect from a naengmyeon specialist, the noodle dishes stood out, but there are also heartier options like beef short rib soup or fire-grilled pork bulgogi, so it'd work fine for a group that includes people who aren't into naengmyeon. If there are several of you, ordering something like braised short ribs or mung bean pancakes to share could be nice too.

What we ordered and what it cost

• ✔️ Signature pyeongyang naengmyeon ₩11,000
• ✔️ Signature bibim naengmyeon ₩11,000
• ✔️ Signature domestic pork belly suyuk (half plate) ₩16,000

This is what we ordered. We got the pyeongyang naengmyeon, bibim naengmyeon, and a half plate of domestic pork belly suyuk, and in the end I was really glad we added the suyuk alongside the noodles. 😋 Next time I'd like to try the beef short rib soup, mung bean pancakes, and fire-grilled pork bulgogi that we didn't get to this time!

Signature Pyongyang naengmyeon, 11,000 won: how does the broth taste?

First up, we tried the pyeongyang naengmyeon. With pyeongyang naengmyeon, that first sip really matters.

Seoul Myeonok's pyeongyang naengmyeon had an overall clean, refreshing broth that made an impression. I'm not usually a huge pyeongyang naengmyeon person, but my boyfriend loves it and we go hunting for good spots regularly. He tried it and said this was the best he'd had.

Tasting it myself, I thought, 'if you're looking for good pyeongyang naengmyeon in Pyeongtaek, this is worth recommending.' The portion was pretty generous too, and the noodle texture was great.

The bowl was topped with egg strips, pear, radish, and meat, so it was fun eating the toppings along with the noodles. Rather than being strongly seasoned, the broth itself was clean, which made it easy to keep eating.

Bibim naengmyeon, 11,000 won: sauce with a sesame oil aroma

And personally, my favorite menu item was the bibim naengmyeon!

This was exactly my taste. 😋 The moment I mixed the bibim naengmyeon, the aroma of sesame oil rose up.

That nutty aroma hits first, and the sauce is spicy with a good umami kick, so it was hard to put my chopsticks down. One bite in, I immediately thought, 'oh, this would be amazing with suyuk.' Naturally, eating the bibim naengmyeon had me reaching for the suyuk. lol

The sauce itself was so good I could've just kept eating the noodles alone, and the portion was generous enough to fill you up.

Whether you like the plain, clean flavors of pyeongyang naengmyeon or the spicy, nutty style, either dish would suit your taste depending on which you pick.

Domestic pork belly suyuk half plate, 16,000 won: how it pairs with cold noodles

Eating the bibim naengmyeon naturally made me think of the domestic pork belly suyuk!

We ordered a half plate, and it was perfect alongside the noodles. Eating a bite of bibim naengmyeon followed by a piece of suyuk together was a really great combo.

The suyuk came with salted shrimp, chili peppers, garlic, and ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste), so you could pair it however you liked.

Personally, I'd most recommend the bibim naengmyeon + suyuk combo. 👍 Eating the spicy, nutty bibim naengmyeon alongside the mild suyuk felt like each dish balanced the other out.

It was also a lot more filling than eating just the noodles.

Why Seoul Myeonok has lasted since 1973

Rather than thinking of Seoul Myeonok as just an old naengmyeon shop, tasting the food made me understand a bit why it's been loved for so long. They say they stick to traditional methods to make a refreshing, clean broth, and tasting the pyeongyang naengmyeon, the broth really was clean.

On top of that, the bibim naengmyeon was nutty and spicy, and adding suyuk made for a great combination as a full meal. Especially the warm broth — it was so good it still sticks in my memory. 😂

If you're looking for a naengmyeon place near Pyeongtaek Station, or searching for good food near Pyeongtaek Station, I think this is worth a visit. If you like pyeongyang naengmyeon, go with that; if you prefer something spicy, try the bibim naengmyeon. And if you can, order the suyuk too and enjoy it alongside the noodles!

Seoul Myeonok: the verdict

If you're looking for good food near Pyeongtaek Station, Seoul Myeonok is one I'd personally recommend. As you'd expect from a traditional naengmyeon shop that's been going for over 60 years, the food overall tasted clean, and what stuck with me most was the mild broth of the pyeongyang naengmyeon and the nutty, spicy sauce of the bibim naengmyeon.

Above all, the warm broth was truly the best… 👍 I enjoyed it so much I refilled it four times.

• 📌 Anyone looking for a naengmyeon spot near Pyeongtaek Station
• 📌 Anyone looking for a good pyeongyang naengmyeon restaurant
• 📌 Anyone looking for a good place to eat near Pyeongtaek Station
• 📌 Anyone who wants naengmyeon and suyuk together

If any of these describe you, Seoul Myeonok is worth a visit. 😊 It's the kind of place that comes to mind when you want a proper bowl of naengmyeon at an old-school traditional restaurant!