Jinju naengmyeon restaurant with Korean beef yukjeon: Songgiwon Jinju

Whenever I go to Jinju, there's one place I always stop by: Songgiwon Jinju Naengmyeon! My family lives in Jinju, so I've been to pretty much every famous naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodle) place in town, and Songgiwon is the one I've settled on as my go-to Jinju naengmyeon spot. I'm honestly a very average-tastes kind of person, and that's exactly why this place hits the spot for so many people!!

Songgiwon Jinju Naengmyeon Direct Store hours and parking

There are a few famous naengmyeon restaurants in Jinju. Among them, Songgiwon Jinju Naengmyeon is where Song Gi-won, the first-generation successor, keeps the Jinju naengmyeon tradition going. It's also been recognized as a baeknyeon gage (century-old store), so locals genuinely love it. They say it's heading toward its 100th anniversary now, and honestly, I'll still be coming here when I'm in my 80s, so I really hope they keep going for a long time.

• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• Break time: 16:00–17:00
• Dedicated parking lot available in front of the store

In Jinju there's a main branch and a direct store, and the direct store has a much bigger parking lot, so it's convenient to visit by car. No parking stress, love that 🚘

The inside has that classic, old-fashioned traditional feel, so it's always a pleasant atmosphere every time I go. Because of that, tons of family groups come, including a lot of elderly guests.

What to order at Songgiwon Jinju Naengmyeon

This time I ordered yukjeon, galbitang, and bibim naengmyeon (Nongae 1593). I'd been craving bibim naengmyeon for days haha. Gotta eat as much as I can before summer ends!! And since galbitang is a seasonal menu item from September to March, I ordered that too. I had their galbitang maybe two years ago and remember it being so good, so I told myself I had to order it again this time.

Korean beef yukjeon, ₩25,000

First to arrive was the Korean beef yukjeon (raw beef coated in egg and pan-fried) that I always order here without fail! (₩25,000)

Since it's made with Korean beef, one bite and that rich beefy aroma just floods in — so good... my absolute favorite haha. And the egg coating is fried impossibly thin, so the familiar flavors combine into what feels like the ultimate version of this dish 🙌 The yukjeon here is the kind you cut yourself, so you can slice it to whatever size you like.

Eat it fresh and warm and you really get that distinctive nutty Korean beef flavor — great on its own. And pairing it with the bibim naengmyeon is pure bliss 🤩

Seasonal galbitang, ₩16,000

And then there's the Songgiwon galbitang (beef short rib soup) that I love!! (₩16,000)

The rib bones are genuinely huge and there's so much meat attached that it really feels worth the price. Most of all, the meat is so tender... just nudge it with your chopsticks and it falls apart softly....

You can pick up a rib and gnaw on it, or cut it with scissors — either way works. And the broth here is genuinely insane‼️ I'm a galbitang lover so I notice immediately if there's an MSG taste, but here the broth is clearly made with real care, so it's not harsh at all and has a deep flavor that keeps you coming back for more.

And putting some kimchi on top of it is the best 👏👏👏👏 Songgiwon is also a great spot for kimchi haha. I refill it every time I go haha.

Bibim naengmyeon Nongae 1593, ₩13,000

And lastly, the bibim naengmyeon (Nongae 1593) (₩13,000)

I usually don't love naengmyeon noodles because they can be too chewy, but the noodles here have that distinctive nutty buckwheat aroma along with just the right amount of chewiness — exactly my style.

Mul-naengmyeon, bibim-naengmyeon, or mixed — which to choose

I've tried the water-based (mul), spicy-mixed (bibim), and mixed version at Songgiwon, and honestly it really comes down to personal taste... ⭐

• If you like deep, subtle flavors like Pyongyang-style naengmyeon ➡️ mul-naengmyeon (water naengmyeon)
• If you like spicy-sweet seasoning ➡️ bibim-naengmyeon
• If you want both ➡️ mixed naengmyeon

Songgiwon's bibim naengmyeon is tangy and sweet without the seasoning being overly harsh. Overall the flavor doesn't taste artificial, so it sits easy on your stomach haha.

True to its status as a century-old store, Songgiwon Jinju Naengmyeon's broth, simmered for 24 hours, is the real deal. You get a cup with each naengmyeon order, and you can refill it yourself if you want more — just go grab more. (You really have to try this broth, it's genuinely delicious)

Who should visit

Among the famous naengmyeon restaurants in Jinju, Songgiwon feels the cleanest and most natural-tasting to me. If you're like me and prefer flavors without much added seasoning, you'll definitely like it here. It's also a great place to bring your parents, and if you're visiting Jinju, I'd definitely recommend it — if you want to try proper Jinju naengmyeon, stop by Songgiwon Jinju Naengmyeon!