Euljimyeonok
Photo Credit: Lightning Ashe
(을지면옥)
Many local Seoulites consider Euljimyeonok to be the best naengmyeon (cold noodle) restaurant in Seoul. Originally a dish made famous in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, Euljimyeonok makes this cold buckwheat noodle (naengmyeon) dish in the traditional North Korean style — with a clean and refreshing broth, as opposed to the meaty and flavorful broths that most naengmyeon restaurants have started to make this dish in. For traditionalists that love an ultra clean bowl of refreshing ice cold noodles, this is the place to be. But be forewarned, the flavor may be too plain for some. It’s a very subtle flavor that not all modern palettes, bombarded with sugars and spices, know how to appreciate. Funny thing is, no matter how simple the flavor, it’s extremely memorable. And you can actually bite into the noodles at Euljimyeonok, as opposed to the rubbery, factory-made noodles some other restaurants serve.
Order a bowl of mulnaengmyeon for the simple flavor, but you can add hot pepper flakes (gochukkaru) and vinegar to taste. They also have bibimnaengmyeon (cold noodles in spicy sauce) for those that want a bit more kick in their noodles. A popular pairing here is to order a side of boiled beef (suyuk) to add some more meat to your naengmyeon (cold noodles).
16,000 to 44,000 won for meat
mul naengmyeon, bibim naengmyeon
