At Nampo Myeonok 南浦麵店 in Seoul, this one of the most affordable Michelin you can get in the city. They serve naengmyeon, which is a cold noodle dish that originated from North Korea and highly popular in Korea.
Opened in 1968 and located near Seoul City Hall and Cheonggyecheon Stream, Nampo Myeonok is a traditional Korean restaurant. A longtime favourite among patrons of all ages for its authentic Pyeongyang cold buckwheat noodles (aka naengmyeon in South Korea) and beef hot pot, Nampo Myeonok continues to charm with its consistently good food and friendly service.
Tucked away in a small alley among densely populated office buildings that sees a constant stream of foot traffic, the main building of this long-standing institution recently underwent a major facelift. The roof tiles inside are over 300 years (and those outside are over 100 years). So do not be surprised when Google Map brings you to this location that seemed to be closed down. The renovated entrance is now two shops on the left.
접시만두 (국내산 돈육) Jeopsi Mandu | Pork Dumplings
The Hanja characters of mandu are 饅頭 (mántou), which is in Chinese equivalent to buns 包子 (bāozi). Only until recent visits to Korea do I know they are dumplings 餃子 (jiǎozi). 만두 Mandu are Korean-style dumplings that are stuffed with seasoned domestic pork meat and vegetables boiled and served in a plate. It was a generous serving of dumplings, but I find the mince too fine for dumplings.
All orders come with complimentary kimchi (pickled cabbage), banchan (side dishes) and rice. So you get a really hearty meal for around SGD 10~15, depending on what you ordered.
While the mando was good, it was the naengmyeon that I came specifically for.
냉면 (한우) Naengmyeon | Cold Buckwheat Noodles with Chilled Beef Broth
The two main varieties of naengmyeon are mul naengmyeon (물 냉면) and bibim naengmyeon (비빔 냉면). The former is served as a cold noodle soup made from beef, chicken or dongchimi (radish water kimchi) broth. The latter is served with a spicy dressing made primarily from gochujang (red chili paste) and eaten mixed.
Noodles are made with buckwheat and starch, and served a couple of sliced Hanoi beef shank in a chilled beef broth with pickled radish, shredded Korean pear and a hard-boiled egg. It is often served with a dash of vinegar and mustard, but I usually just left them alone. Most of the shops have very chewy noodles that need to be cut into small clumps. Their noodles are perfect in terms of chewiness.
What I really loved was the broth that it was served in. The sweetness and fragrance of the pear came through the delicious beef stock, and you can also taste the slightly sourness and clean dongchimi (radish water pickle) juice. Everything was in perfect harmony, none overpowering the other. That’s why it’s a Michelin dish.
They also give you a piping hot cup of the beef soup that was used in the cold noodles so that you can taste the concentrated goodness of the soup that is made from Hanwoo (Korean beef).
갈비탕 (호주산) Galbitang | Australian Beef Ribs Soup
갈비탕 (호주산) Galbitang is a soup made with simmered Australian beef ribs and radish. Galbitang is a very common and popular Korean soup. The clear and hearty soup is made by slowly simmering galbi or beef short ribs in water for a long time and is eaten as a meal. It’s a hearty, nourishing soup with a delicately clean taste.
Afterthoughts
The reviews online mainly spoke about why it was not worth the Michelin accolade. Many complained about how “bland” the cold noodles were. And even more complained about the bulgogi. Well dudes, this is the traditional taste of mul naengmyeon, which is supposed to be light and chilled for the summer. Other cold noodle restaurants on the main street have succumbed to foreign tastes by spicing up their noodles with heavier tastes. And who asked you to come for their bulgogi, something that they are not famous for.
I am glad the fever has subsided a little, and you can get a table within 30 mins of waiting on a busy day. Come on the weekend, it is most likely you will get an empty table anyway. I hope it keeps to its tradition, I really like their cold noodles.
Nampo Myeonok 남포면옥
24 Eulji-ro 3-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, 04522, South Korea
Tel : +82 2-777-3131
Visited Jul 2024
Michelin Seoul Guide Bib Gourmand 2017-2024
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